Svargam — The Celestial Realm of Merit-Earned Bliss
Svargam (Sanskrit: svar = light/sky + ga = going; 'going to the celestial light') refers to the heavenly realms (svarga loka) presided over by Indra — the celestial planes of extraordinary enjoyment far exceeding anything available in the earthly world (mṛtyu loka).
How One Reaches Svargam: Svargam is earned through the accumulation of virtuous karma (puṇya) — through prescribed Vedic rituals, austerities (tapasyā), charity (dāna), and righteous conduct (dharma). The specific ritual cited in the Vedas is the Jyotiṣṭoma yāga for one who desires svargam.
The Limitation of Svargam: The Vedas and Purāṇas are unanimous: svargam is impermanent. 'Kṣīṇe puṇye martyalokaṃ viśanti' — 'when the merits are spent, they enter the mortal world.' Once the accumulated puṇya is exhausted, the soul descends back to earth and re-enters saṃsāra. Svargam is therefore a temporary respite, not liberation.
Svargam in the Śrī Vaiṣṇava Framework: The Virodhi Parihāraṅgaḷ uses svargam as the starting point of its ascending arc of aspirations — from desire for svargam, to ātmānubhavam (kaivalyam), to Bhagavad anubhavam, to eternal kaiṅkaryam in Paramapadham. A prapanna who has surrendered to Bhagavān does not seek svargam — the Lord's grace grants liberation directly.
Svargam vs. Paramapadham: Svargam = temporary, earned by puṇya, subject to return. Paramapadham = eternal, granted by Bhagavān's grace, free from all return (anavṛtti).