Durgati

durgati (P. duggati; T. ngan 'gro; C. equ 惡趣). Literally, "bad destiny". Translated as “unfortunate destinies,” "bad transmigration," "miserable existence," "lower rebirths," "lower realms," etc. Durgati refers to the unfortunate or unfavorable rebirths that occur as a consequence of performing unwholesome actions (akuśalakarmapatha). It is synonymous with "bad transmigration" (apāya).

Buddhist cosmology typically identifies of six rebirth destinies, of which:

• two or three are considered fortunate rebirth destinies (sugati), a.k.a "higher realms", and
• three or four are considered unfortunate rebirth destinies (durgati).

The three unfortunate destinies mentioned in all texts are:

• hell denizens (nāraka),
• hungry ghosts (preta), and
• animals (tiryak).

Some texts also include the demi-gods (asura) among the durgati.

See also

• akuśala
• rebirth
• Buddhist cosmology
• Six classes of beings

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• ngan 'gro, Christian-Steinert Dictionary