In Aztec religion, Tlalocan was the paradise believed to receive people who died by drowning or lightning.
Tlalocan was associated with Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain, water, fertility, and agriculture. Unlike the general underworld journey expected for many dead, this watery paradise was linked to particular deaths connected with rain and water.
Aztec descriptions portray Tlalocan as a lush, abundant place filled with vegetation and food. Its imagery reflects the importance of rainfall to agriculture in central Mexico. People who died from certain diseases associated with water and moisture could also be connected with Tlaloc’s realm.
Tlalocan is often confused with Mictlan, the underworld ruled by Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacihuatl. Mictlan was a destination for many ordinary dead, whereas Tlalocan was a special paradise associated with Tlaloc and water-related deaths.