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In Katha Upanishad, the conversation between Lord Yama and Nachiketa is highly
enlightening to the seekers of ‘Knowledge’ (Jnaana). The answer, with analogies,
given by Yama to the questions posed by Nachiketa about the life after death and
existence of Atman is unique in its simplicity and depth.
Lord Yama answers,
“All Jeevas originate from the Supreme Reality, like sparks from a fire. They are pure
to start with. The Jiva changes due to environment and circumstances, just like pure
rain-water is contaminated coming down due to gravity. The Atman, though a passive
passenger, gets involved, but still in its essence is pure. It is the contaminants which
are carried by it, much as desires and actions contaminate the intellect and ego-
enity.”
“Atman exists in us as the passenger. Our ego is the charioteer. The rein is the mental
process and horses are our senses as well as motor organs. It is the ego which drives us
either in right or wrong direction. The directions are ‘Sreya’ (good) and ‘Preya’
(pleasing). Most drive to the latter. Some, who direct the ego to the former, are fit
candidates to know the Atman. Atman exists in the body and even without it. Usually
people with an active conscience appreciate Atman and lead righteous life and
opposite is true about people without conscience.”
“Garuda Puraana”, one of the ‘Eighteen Puranaas’ of Sage Veda Vyaasa, deals at a
great length (in the second half), with the life after death.
Usually, the above (two) scriptures are recited during a period of ten days following
the day of death of a person.
4. The cycle of births and deaths:
Hinduism believes in rebirth after death.
Lord Krishna, in the Bhagavad-Gita, reveals,
“Mrityuh sarva haraschaaham udbhavascha bhavishyataam”. (10-34)
“I am the all-devouring death and also the origin of future beings”
Creation and destruction are the two sides of the same reality. Creation begins with
destruction and in creation there is already a seed of the destruction to come. The
same is true in case of destruction. If the birth of an individual is creation, his death is
destruction. It is through this repeated process of creation and destruction that the
individual being evolves gradually in series and stages. According to Hinduism a soul
reincarnates again and again on earth till it becomes perfect and reunites with its
Source. During this process the soul enters many bodies, assumes many forms and
passes through many births and deaths. This concept is summarily described in the
following popular verses of the Bhagavad-Gita,
“Jaatasya hi dhruvo mrityuh, dhruvam janma mritasyacha.” (2-27)
meaning,
‘Death is certain for the born, and rebirth is inevitable for the dead’. Every mortal is
bound to be reborn;
“Vaasaamsi jeernani…..navaani dehi” (2-22)
meaning,
"Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul casts off
worn out bodies and enters new ones."
In Charpata Panjarikaa Stotram, (Bhaja Govindam), Adi Sankara cautions that suffering
is a part of this endless cycle of births and deaths.
“Punarapi jananam….paahi murare”
Meaning of the sloka
“Birth unceasing, death unceasing! Ever to pass through a mother's womb, Hard to
cross is the world's wide ocean Lord! Redeem me through thy mercy.”
The Jiva undergoes the cycle of innumerable births and deaths. It becomes bound to
the mortal life and the laws of nature under the cover of Maaya (illusion). Death
provides temporary relief, but exposes the individual Jiva to the risk of falling into
greater depths of suffering.
Every individual soul possesses three bodies, namely, the gross, the subtle and causal
(sthula. sukshma and kaarana sareeraas). When the soul leaves one body and enters
another, all these three bodies undergo changes.
The actions of a man are responsible for the modification of the above three bodies
and consequently, his nature.
At the end of each life, the physical body and the gross mind return to the elements of
the earth. But the Jiva survives death. Depending upon the nature of the past deeds,
and the number of subtle bodies it has developed, the Jiva either ascends to the
heaven or descends to the hell. The Jiva stays in these worlds till it exhausts (many a
time, partly), the fruits of its good or bad actions. Having learnt some new lessons, it
then returns to the earth again to take another birth (by virtue of the balance of
karma).
“Hinduism speaks of the existence of heavens above and hells below. The former are
sun filled (Surya lokas), inhabited by gods and innumerable divine souls. The latter are
dark worlds (Asurya lokas) and populated by all the dark and demonic forces. The
individual souls go to these worlds according to their deeds. But they do not stay there
permanently till the end of destruction. They go there, basically as a consequence of
their actions, either to enjoy or to suffer. In either case, they learn the lesson and
come back to earth to start a new earthly life all over again.”
“The Hindu concept of reincarnation is based upon the logical notion that life on earth
did not emerge suddenly, but evolved gradually, involving great epochs of time and a
vast multitude of beings. During this process the static consciousness of matter yielded
place to the dynamic movement of life and consciousness. ‘Karma’ is the sculptor
through out this grand drama. It is the correction mechanism, to carve out a deity out
of an inert stone. The Jiva thus drifts, sailing in the boat of his own karma, in a sea of
worldly illusion (samsaara saagarah), towards the shores of liberation, through trial
and error, self effort, with the soul remaining as its silent, witnessing companion.”