In Hinduism, the concept of life after death is a central belief, and it is widely accepted that death is not the end of an individual’s journey. According to Hinduism, after death, the soul continues to exist and is reborn into a new body based on the individual’s karma, or actions in the previous life. This cycle of birth and rebirth is known as samsara, and it continues until the individual achieves moksha, which is liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
In Hinduism, death is not seen as the end of life, but rather as a transition from one life to the next. It is believed that the soul is eternal and that it continues to exist after death, either in a new physical form or in a non-physical realm.
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What is “Atma or Atman”?
According to Hinduism, the soul, or atman, is the true essence of a person and is separate from the body. The body is seen as a temporary vessel that the soul inhabits during a lifetime. When a person dies, the soul leaves the body and begins a new journey.
Atma and our karma
The next destination of the soul depends on a person’s karma, or the sum of their actions in this life and previous lives. Karma is seen as a natural law of cause and effect, where every action has a consequence. Good actions lead to positive karma, while bad actions lead to negative karma.
If a person has accumulated good karma, they may be reborn into a higher realm of existence, such as a heavenly realm or a noble human birth. On the other hand, if a person has accumulated negative karma, they may be reborn into a lower realm of existence, such as an animal or insect.
Atma and Reincarnation
Reincarnation, or the cycle of birth and death, is a fundamental concept in Hinduism. It is believed that the soul is reborn again and again until it achieves moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
In addition to reincarnation, Hinduism also accepts as true existence of the afterlife. The afterlife is seen as a temporary stop for the soul before it is reincarnated. It is believed that the soul may spend time in different realms of existence, depending on their karma.
Atma and Moksha
Moksha is the ultimate goal of Hinduism, and it is achieved by realizing the true nature of the self and the universe. It is a state of enlightenment, where the soul is liberated from the illusion of the material world and merges with the ultimate reality, Brahman.
There are different paths to achieve moksha in Hinduism, including karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga. Karma yoga involves selfless action, bhakti yoga involves devotion to a personal god, and jnana yoga involves the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
Why do Hindus Cremate Their Body?
According to Hinduism, the soul is surrounded by both a physical and non-physical body. When the physical body dies, the non-physical body keeps going, and the soul moves on to its next destination. But because of strong attachments formed during life, the soul can have difficulty moving on and may linger.
In Gita, Krishna Says ”All beings are eternal and spiritual”. while the physical body is temporary. That’s why Hindus burn the body after death, as a way of freeing the soul to move on to the next life.
Cremation is also seen as the final sacrifice of one’s life. The Vedas teach that sacrifice is important for spiritual growth. To become a more loving person, one must become more selfless, and true selflessness involves serving others. Sacrifice is at the heart of service, which is why the Vedas recommend many different kinds of sacrifice to help instill a mentality of selflessness.
Agni and Death Ritual
Agni, the deity of fire, consumes the body and returns it to the Earth while conveying the soul to its next destination. After cremation, the ashes are typically placed in the Ganges or another sacred river, symbolizing the end of the physical body and the beginning of a new auspicious life for the soul.
In the case of particularly exalted swamis or special saints, who are said to have already relinquished all material attachments, it’s not necessary to cremate the body for the soul to move on. Instead, due to the spiritual potency of such a person, the body can be buried at a site that becomes known as a samadhi, or place of pilgrimage.
Various Lokas or Realm of Atma
Yam-Loka
One of the most famous afterlife destinations in Hinduism is Yam-Loka or the realm of Yama, the lord of death. It is believed that Yama judges the soul after death and sends it to the appropriate realm based on its karma. In some traditions, it is believed that the soul may be punished in Yama’s realm before being reborn.
Pitru-Loka or Pitr-Loka
Another afterlife destination is the realm of ancestors, named as Pitru-Loka or Pitr-Loka. This is where the souls of the deceased ancestors reside, and it is believed that they can influence the lives of their descendants. It is common for Hindus to perform ancestor worship and offer food and prayers to their ancestors so they get peace and leave for swarga-Loka.
Swarg-Loka and Patal-Loka
In addition to Yama’s realm and the realm of ancestors, there are other realms of existence in Hinduism, including the heavenly realm of the gods called Swarg-Loka and the hellish realm of demons Patal-Loka.
It is important to note that the concept of the afterlife and reincarnation in Hinduism is not a one-size-fits-all belief. Different Hindu traditions may have different interpretations of what happens after death and what the ultimate goal of life is.
For example, in the Advaita Vedanta tradition, the goal of life is to realize the oneness of the self and Brahman, while in the Bhakti tradition, the goal is to attain devotion to a personal god.
Various Dimensions of Our Subtle Bodies
In Yoga, we think of the body as having five different parts or layers. We call them “dimensions” or “sheaths.”
- The first one is called Annamaya Kosha, which means “food body.” This is our physical body made up of the food we eat. It’s like a light bulb that needs electricity to work – our body needs food to function.
- The second one is called Manomaya Kosha or the “mental body.” This is how we think and feel. It’s like the light bulb’s brightness – it’s not physical, but it’s related to the physical body.
- The third one is called Pranamaya Kosha, which means “energy body.” This is the energy that flows through our body and gives us life. It’s like the electricity that flows through the light bulb.
- All three of these are physical parts of our body, but they become more and more subtle, or harder to see or feel.
- The next two dimensions are called Vignanamaya Kosha and Anandamaya Kosha. Vignanamaya Kosha is a non-physical layer that’s related to the physical body. It’s like a link between the physical and non-physical world.
- Anandamaya Kosha is the last layer, and it’s completely non-physical. It’s like the light that comes from the light bulb, but you can’t see it because it has no form.
- One important thing to remember is that our actions, or karma, are imprinted on our body, mind, and energy. This is like a “cement” that holds us to our physical body, but it also helps us stay here and learn and grow.
What Happens to Us After Death
According to Hinduism, when a person dies, their soul goes through a series of changes. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad explains that when the soul leaves the body, the breath and organs. Then, the Atma gains a specific consciousness and moves towards a body that matches that consciousness, along with its knowledge, past experiences, and actions.
The soul then discards the old body and takes on a new one. It is more like changing the old cloths to a new one, which can be better suited for different beings in different size. The soul’s actions or karma determine its nature – if it does good things, it becomes good, and if it does bad things, it becomes bad.
Time of Death
In Hinduism, it’s believed that the state of a person’s consciousness at the moment of death is very important in determining their next life. That’s why Hindus prefer to die at home, surrounded by family and friends who can create a spiritual environment to help the soul depart in a good way. However, since more people are now dying in hospitals, loved ones still try to create a spiritual environment there.
Mantra Canting at the Time of Death
When a person is dying, the goal is to concentrate on a preferred mantra that calls upon the Divine. As the dying person may lose the ability to focus, family members sing prayers and hymns and read from scripture to provide support. When the person becomes fully unconscious and stops breathing, a family member may chant the mantra in their ear.
Sacred Water of Mata Ganga
It’s also considered auspicious to pour a few spoons of water from the Ganges River, which is considered sacred in India, into the dying person’s mouth. The deity of Ganga is worshipped as Divine, so her presence at the time of death is believed to ensure a good transition to the next life.
Experience of Soul After Death
In Hinduism, dying is like falling asleep and the experiences after death are like dreams. Just like the nature of our dreams is determined by our thoughts and actions while awake, the soul’s experiences after death are determined by their thoughts and actions in life.
These experiences can be real and may last a long time. When the soul wakes up from this sleep, it is reborn as a human being or sometimes directly as a human without going through experiences of heaven or hell. The soul’s journey towards self-knowledge continues even if it takes a detour into sub-human life.
The Last Thought of Dying Person Determines Their Next Life
The last thought of a dying person determines their next life. The Bhagavad Gita says that whatever a person thinks of in their final moment is what they will attain. So, it’s important to focus on self-knowledge to attain immortality and eternal peace and happiness. The different paths after death are described to remind people not to neglect the path of self-knowledge.
As Many Opinions so Many Ways! ~ Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa
Hinduism has many different views on the nature of the afterlife. Some believe that after death, the soul goes to a specific place, such as heaven or hell, while others believe that the soul remains on Earth until it is reborn. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to achieve moksha, which is the liberation from the cycle of rebirth and the attainment of spiritual enlightenment.
Conclusion
The concept of life after death in Hinduism is complex and multifaceted. It is based on the belief in samsara, karma, and moksha, and it holds that the soul continues to exist after death and is reborn into a new body. While there are many different beliefs about the nature of the afterlife, the ultimate goal of Hinduism is to achieve spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
References
- Yuvraj Krishan (1997). The Doctrine of Karma: Its Origin and Development in Brāhmaṇical, Buddhist, and Jaina Traditions. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 17–27. ISBN 978-81-208-1233-8.
- Lal, Mohan (2006). The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature, Volume 5 (Sasay To Zorgot). Sahitya Akademi. p. 4396. ISBN 8126012218.
- Tiwari 1983, p. 210.
- Hajime Nakamura, A History of Early Vedānta Philosophy: Part One. Reprint by Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1990, page 139.
- Nagalingam, Pathmarajah (2009). “Chapter 3”. The Religion of the Agamas. Siddhanta Publications.