Generally, in the Eastern traditions it is considered that all forms of life or species have souls, which is the entity who reincarnates. Previous to when an entity is ready to incarnate as a human being on Earth, the soul may have gone through a whole series of lives in order to experience various levels of existence and consciousness. The principle is that an entity may actually progress through the different species of life, gradually working their way up until they reach the human form. Of course, the body is only the covering of the soul in which it appears. The living being will continually move upward in its cycles of reincarnation until it has experienced all the main varieties of existences that the material realm has to offer. This way the living being is fully experienced in working out material desires or longings in all kinds of forms by the time it reaches the human stage. Of course, not every being may have to go through all of this.
How reincarnation works is most elaborately described in the Vedic texts of India. The Bhagavad-gita (8.6) explains that whatever state of consciousness one attains when he or she quits this body, a similar state will be attained in the next life. This means that after the person has lived his or her life, the numerous variegated activities of the person forms an aggregated consciousness. All of our thoughts and actions throughout our life will collectively influence the state of being we are in at the time of death. This consciousness will determine what that person is thinking of at the end of one’s life. This last thought and consciousness will then direct where that person will most likely go in the next life because this state of being carries over from this life into the next.
As it is further explained, the living entity in the material world carries the different levels of consciousness from one body to another in the same way the air carries aromas. In other words, we cannot see the aromas that the air carries, yet it can be perceived by the sense of smell. In a similar way, we cannot see the types of consciousness that the living being has developed, but it is carried from this body at the time of death and proceeds to another body in the next life to take up where it left off from the preceding existence. Of course, the next life may be in another physical body or in a subtle body in between births, or even in heavenly or hellish states of being.
After death, one continues the consciousness that was cultivated during life. It is our thought patterns that build the consciousness, which then directs us toward the required experience after death. One’s state of consciousness or conception of life exists in the subtle body, which consists of mind, intelligence and false ego. The soul is covered by this subtle body, which exists within the gross material form. When the physical vehicle can no longer function, the subtle body and soul are forced out of it. Then, when the time is right, they are placed in another physical frame which properly accommodates the state of mind of the living entity. This is how the mental state which attracts the dying man determines how he begins his next life. If the dying man is absorbed in thoughts of material gain or sensual pleasures of wife, family, relatives, home, etc., then he must, at some point, get another material body to continue pursuing his worldly interests. After all, how can one satisfy his material desires without a material body?
For this reason, it is best that a person always cultivate pious activities and spiritual thoughts to help him or her enter a better life after death. If a person has tried to cut the knots of attachment to materialistic life, and engaged in spiritual activities, to the degree of advancement the person has made, he or she can go to a heavenly realm after death, or even reach the kingdom of God.
In any case, we can begin to understand that dying in the right consciousness in order to become free from the cycle of birth and death is an art that takes practice. We have to prepare for the moment of death so that we are not caught off guard or in an unsuitable state of mind. This is one of the purposes of yoga.After what can be millions of births and deaths through many forms of life, trying to satisfy all of one’s material desires, the soul may begin to get tired of these continuous attempts for happiness that often turn out to be so temporary. Then the person may turn toward finding spiritual meaning in life. In one’s search for higher meaning, depending on the level of consciousness that a person develops, he or she can gradually enter higher and higher levels of development. Finally, if a person detects that he is actually not this body but a spiritual being within it, and reaches a spiritual level of consciousness, he can perfect his life so that he will enter the spiritual strata and no longer have to incarnate in the physical world. Thus, liberation is attained through Self-realization and the development of devotional service to God, which is the perfection of the spiritual path. Through human existence on Earth, the doorway to many other planes of existence is possible, including entrance into the spiritual world. It only depends on how we use this life.
The idea that a person has only one life to either become qualified to enter heaven or enter eternal damnation offers the soul no means of rehabilitation and only endless misery. This is not reasonable. The doctrine of reincarnation gives anyone ample scope to correct and re-educate himself in future births. An eternity in hell means that an infinite effect is produced by a finite cause, which is illogical. God has not created men to become nothing more than ever-lasting fuel to feed the fires of hell. Such a purpose in His creation would not come from an ever-loving God, but comes from the faulty ideas of man and his imperfect conceptions of God. After all, how many spotless men could there be in this world? Who has such a pure character to receive an immediate pass to heaven? The Bhagavad-gita explains that even the worst sinner can cross the ocean of birth and death by ascending the boat of transcendental knowledge. We simply have to be sincere in reaching that boat.
Furthermore, a person reaps the results of his sinful deeds for a limited amount of time. After being purged of one’s sins, meaning suffering the painful reactions from one’s bad activities, a person, knowing right from wrong, can have a fresh chance to freely work for his emancipation from further entanglement in material life. When he deserves and attains such freedom, the soul can enjoy perfect and eternal bliss in its devotional union with the Supreme Being. This is why it is always encouraged for one to strive for spiritual knowledge and the practice of enlightenment. By developing sincere and purified devotion for the Lord, one does not have to worry about one’s future birth. Once a person has started this path of devotion, each life will take one closer to spiritual perfection, in whatever situation one finds him or herself.
So a person is encouraged to repent for one’s sins or ill choices that were made while under the influence of lust, anger or greed, and cultivate forgiveness, purity and generosity. A person should also engage in charity, penance, meditation, japa (personal chanting of the Lord’s holy names), kirtan (congregational singing of the Lord’s holy names), and other spiritual practices, which destroy all sins and removes all doubts about spiritual knowledge. Then through steady practice one can gradually reach the spiritual world and be free from any further entanglement in reincarnation.
Forensic evidence of reincarnation.
Is there a scientific basis for reincarnation? Indian forensic scientist Vikram Raj Singh Chauhan is trying to prove reincarnation is real. He has presented his findings at the National Conference of Forensic Scientists in India.
Chauhan has discovered a six-year-old boy named Taranjijt Singh who says he remembers his previous life. According to his parents, he’s been talking about this since he was two years old and used to run away from home. The boy knew the village he lived in during his former life, as well as his and his father’s names. He knew the name of the school he attended as well. On September 10, 1992, he was riding his bike home when he was hit by a motor scooter. He received head injuries and died the next day.
His present father, Ranjit Singh, says as the boy became more and more insistent, so he and his wife went to the village where he claimed to have lived in the past. At first, they couldn’t find anyone who resembled the descriptions of his former parents. Then someone told him to go to another nearby village, where they met a teacher at the local school who confirmed the story of the motor scooter accident. They found out where the boy had lived and went there to meet the parents.
When they told the family their story, Ranjit Singh mentioned that his son claimed the books he was carrying when the accident occurred had gotten blood on them. He also described how much money he had in his wallet. When the woman heard this, she began to cry and said she had saved the blood-stain books and the money in memory of her dead child. Taranjit Singh’s parents and siblings from his former life soon came to his new home to meet him. The boy recognized a wedding picture his former parents brought with him.
At first, Vikram Chauhan refused to believe this story but he eventually became curious and decided to investigate. He visited both villages and found the boy and both sets of parents repeated the same story. He spoke to a shopkeeper who told him that the boy had owed him the money that was in his wallet when he was hit, and was probably bringing it to him to pay for a notebook he’d gotten on credit.
Chauhan took samples of both boys’ handwriting and compared them. He found they were identical. It’s a basic tenet of forensic science that no two handwriting styles can be identical, because each person’s handwriting has specific characteristics. Experts can usually spot even expertly forged handwriting. A person’s handwriting style is dictated by individual personality traits. Chauhan’s theory is that if the soul is transferred from one person to another, then the mind – and thus the handwriting – will remain the same. A number of other forensic experts examined the handwriting samples and agreed they were identical.
“I have some scientific basis to claim rebirth is possible”, says Chauhan, “but I wish to do more research on the subject and am closely monitoring the development of the child.” Singh’s former parents wanted him to move back with them, but his current family still claims him, even though they are poor. Chauhan says, “In his present birth, Taranjit has never gone to school as he belongs to a poor family, but yet when I told him to write the English and Punjabi alphabet, he wrote them correctly.”
The above is just one of thousands of cases on reincarnation.
Why is life up and down?
One day we are really happy, another day we are really upset. Why? Why aren’t we happy all the time or sad all the time?
The answer is ‘Due to the Law of Karma’.
When we are happy, we are reaping the benefits of our good actions, which we took in the past. When we suffer, we are being punished for the bad actions, which we took in the past. It’s common sense really. You get what you deserve. No one is happy all the time or sad all the time, because everyone takes some good actions and some bad actions every day, the result of our good and bad actions will be happiness and suffering in the future which will be in proportion to our actions. Thus life is full of ups and downs.
Death is just around the corner.
“One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again.”(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 2.27)
But for some reason, you are unwilling to accept this fact?
You may think that while death may come to others, you will some how continue to live forever. You will hear about others dying, but it never comes to your mind that you could be next. The whole situation is like that of a slaughterhouse where one animal is being slaughtered and another one is busy munching grass and doesn’t realize that it will be next. This is ignorance.
“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one, who attains to my abode, O son of Kunté, never takes birth again.”(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 8.16)
Material life is full of calamities. The less intelligent persons try to adjust to those calamities, as they have no information on the abode of the Lord, which is full of bliss and without a trace of calamity. The intelligent persons try to give up attachment for this material world.
You may think that your life is very comfortable as you have money, big house, nice cars, beautiful partner etc.. But what is the value of this so-called comfortable life, if one day you are going to lose everything and be slaughtered by nature? What to speak of your next life, which may be in the animal kingdom?
The animals in the slaughterhouse live very comfortably, but they are only waiting to be hacked to death. The same goes for you too.
The animals cannot escape the wrath of the butcher, and you cannot escape the wrath of nature. But you have a choice of either going through the whole drama of material life (birth, old age, disease, death) again, again, and again, or become free from material life (no death, no marital problems, no taxes, no disease, no poverty, no wars, no terrorism, no anxiety and so on)
The souls in the plants and animals are on a fixed cycle of transmigration from one body to the next in the plant and animal kingdoms. They will have to go through 8 million births before they get a human birth.
The humans have been through the 8 million births in the plant and animal kingdoms. But if a human being misuses or fails to utilize the higher consciousness, then he (the soul) will once again have to go through the 8 millions births in the plant and animal kingdoms. Only a complete fool would waste this rare human birth.
Only by engaging in Bhakti Yoga (devotional service onto Lord Krishna) can a human being become free from material life and go to the kingdom of God, called Goluka Vrindavan, the abode of Lord Krishna. Where there is no old age, no disease, no taxes, no wars, no terrorism, no depression.
Where you will be in 50 years time is a serious thought to consider now, because you won’t be here.
Is there life after death?
What will happen to me after death?
The non-Vedic religions preach that this is the only life and after this life, we wait in our grave for the day of judgment and on that day we are either sent to hell or heaven forever. This means that for the sinners there is no second chance, as they will go to hell forever. They also preach that those who don’t follow their religion will go to hell forever.
This philosophy raises some serious questions:
- What happens to those who die in fires? Are they gone forever through no fault of their own?
- What happens to those who are cremated? Are they gone forever?
- If this is the only life, then why is everyone born in different conditions? Some are born rich, some poor, some healthy, some diseased, some die at an early age, some live longer, some suffer more than others, and so on.
- Out of the billions who have been dead and buried, has anyone risen (resurrected) from their grave yet?
- When will the dead rise from their grave (be resurrected)?
According to the Vedic scriptures, the oldest known to mankind. There is hell, heaven, and something beyond them, the spiritual universe called Vaikuntha. Hell and heaven are temporary but the spiritual universe is permanent.
What happens to the sinners?
After this life the sinners will take birth on one of the hellish planets and after their punishment is over they will again return to this or other Earthly planets in a suitable body (human or animal) and conditions of life (rich, poor, diseased, healthy etc..).
What happens to the good?
After this life the pious will take birth on one of the heavenly planets and when their pious credit is over, they will again return to this or other Earthly planets in a suitable body (human) and conditions of life (rich, poor, diseased, healthy etc..).
What happens to those who are very good?
After this life those who are god conscious will take birth in the spiritual universe, Vaikuntha, and will never return to the material world unless they really want to. There is no death, no disease, no anxiety, no taxes, no killing (no meat), no sex, no speculation, and no intoxications in the spiritual universe.
We are not this Body
The main teaching of the Bhagavad-Gita is that we are not this body, but the soul, which is eternal.
“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.”(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)Living beings are souls covered in a particular material body. Being material, the body is by nature temporary, and must at some point deteriorate and die. The soul on the other hand is spiritual in nature, which can never be destroyed. Material life is temporary, full of ignorance, and suffering. The soul is eternal, full of knowledge and bliss.
What goes up will come down. Similarly, anything that has a beginning will also have an end. Thus the body, which has a beginning, will inevitably have an end, but the soul, which has no beginning, will continue to exist after the body is slain.
“One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 2.27)Lord Krishna describes death in the Bhagavad-Gita as being nothing more than a change of dress:
“As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 2.22)
This body is nothing but a vehicle, and the soul is the passenger. When this vehicle is no longer suitable for the soul, due to old age and decay, the soul is given a new vehicle. Thus death is simply the transition from one vehicle to the next.
“As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)What determines the next body that one will get after this body?
Lord Krishna answers this question as follows:
“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 8.6)According to our consciousness at the time of death we receive a suitable body. What we remember at the time of death is not just a matter of the momentary thought that occurs. What we have done throughout our entire life will naturally come to our mind as we leave our body. Just prior to death, our entire life is flashed before our mind’s eye in a split second. One particular event will be very attractive to us, and we will focus on that. Based on that desire we will be given our next body, sometimes higher and sometimes lower.
If our mind focuses on an activity, which is very ignorant, we will receive a suitable body among the lower species of life – as a plant, a fish, a tree, or an animal.
If our mind focuses on an activity, which is passionate, we will be given a body within the human categories of life.
If our mind focuses on an activity, which is primarily within the mode of goodness, we will receive a body on one of the higher planets – Brahmaloka, Indraloka etc.
At death our mind will focus on an activity based on how we have lived our entire life. It is not possible to suddenly make our consciousness pure if we have spent our entire life engaged in sinful activities.
Lord Krishna describes this entire universe as temporary and full of suffering. No matter which body one has, these two qualities are there. But there is an alternative, a solution to this seemingly endless cycle. Lord Krishna says:
For a self-realized person the situation is completely different. He understands he is not the body. He knows the body is just a vehicle, a machine, and as such he has no attachment to the external body. And because his consciousness is always fixed on the Lord, his destination is complete freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
There is over whelming evidence to support the reincarnation theory. Millions of humans around the world have had past life memories. There are numerous books and video documentaries with supporting evidence. Some evidence is also on the home page of this site.
Description of life on the helish planets.
What exactly is hell? The Vedic scriptures describe hell as planets where the sinners are taken after this life for their punishment.
The following are statements from the Srimad Bhagavatam canto 5.
There are thousands of hellish planets. Here are the names and details of life on some of these hellish planets. Each planet is meant for punishing the humans according to their sins.
What Punishment Awaits Animal Killers?
In this life, an envious person commits violent acts against many living entities. After death, such a person is taken to hell by Yamarāja. And those living entities that were hurt by him appear as animals called rurus to inflict very severe pain upon him. This hell is called Raurava. Not generally seen in this world, the ruru is more envious than a snake.
Punishment in the hell called Mahāraurava is compulsory for a person who maintains his own body by hurting others. In this hell, ruru animals known as kravyāda torment him and eat his flesh.
For the maintenance of their bodies and the satisfaction of their tongues, cruel persons cook poor animals and birds alive. Such persons are condemned even by man-eaters. In their next lives they are carried by the Yamadūtas to the hell known as Kumbhīpāka, where they are cooked in boiling oil.
If a human being kills or torments insignificant creatures. The Supreme Lord punishes such a person by putting him into the hell known as Andhakūpa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakūpa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.
Those who hunt and kill animals unnecessarily, he is placed after death into the hell known as Prāṇarodha. There the assistants of Yamarāja make him their targets and pierce him with arrows.
What Is The Punishment For Sex Outside of Marriage?
A man or woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with an unworthy member of the opposite sex is punished after death by the assistants of Yamarāja in the hell known as Taptasūrmi. There such men and women are beaten with whips. The man is forced to embrace a red-hot iron form of a woman, and the woman is forced to embrace a similar form of a man. Such is the punishment for illicit sex.
What is the Punishment For Thieves?
A person who appropriates another’s legitimate wife, children or money is arrested at the time of death by the fierce Yamadūtas, who bind him with the rope of time and forcibly throw him into the hellish planet known as Tamisra. On this very dark planet, the sinful person is chastised by the Yamadūtas, who beat and rebuke him. He is starved, and he is given no water to drink. Thus the wrathful assistants of Yamarāja cause him severe suffering, and sometimes he faints from their chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits The Misers and Those Who Are Not Charitable?
A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Kṛmibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Kṛmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake (thus 800,000 years).
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Lie?
A person who in this life bears false witness or lies while transacting business or giving charity is severely punished after death by the agents of Yamarāja. Such a sinful man is taken to the top of a mountain eight hundred miles high and thrown headfirst into the hell known as Avīcimat. This hell has no shelter and is made of strong stone resembling the waves of water. There is no water there, however, and thus it is called Avīcimat [waterless]. Although the sinful man is repeatedly thrown from the mountain and his body broken to tiny pieces, he still does not die but continuously suffers chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Are Not Friendly or Compassionate?
A householder who receives guests or visitors with cruel glances, as if to burn them to ashes, is put into the hell called Paryāvartana, where he is gazed at by hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds, which suddenly swoop down and pluck out his eyes with great force.
What is Karma?
A Christian woman went to a Christian preacher and asked him why her young son had died at a young age. The Christian preacher could not give her an answer. She found the answer to her satisfaction in the Bhagavad-Gita.
The answers to all the above questions is:
The Law of Karma
For every action you take there will be a reaction in the future. This is the law of Karma.
Karma and the Human Law and Order System.
Why do we have the police, judges, courts and jails? We have a system of Law and Order in each and every country, which makes us responsible for our actions. If we break the Law, we are arrested, taken to court and the Judge decides on the punishment we receive, which will be in proportion to the crime committed, then sent to jail, punishment for our crimes.
Without the Law and Order system that we have, without the police enforcing the law, life would be pure hell. People would go round killing, looting, stealing, raping and vandalizing property. Simply because people, would not be held responsible for their actions.
Without the Law and Order system there would be no peace and justice in the world.
We have the human Law and Order System in every country and the citizens of each country are held responsible for the actions they take; those who break the law are punished.
Just as we have the Human Law and Order system. God has a Law and Order system, the Law of Karma. We are held responsible for all our actions. The differences between the human system and God’s system are:
Sanatan Dharma is the only religion, which preaches the Law of Karma as this knowledge comes from God and man.
What is right and what is wrong?
Killing is wrong, humans or animals. Thus no meat eating, no eggs, no leather goods like sofa, car seats etc. Leather is made from cows.
Sex before marriage is wrong, sex outside marriage is wrong. Thus no girlfriends/boyfriends. In Vedic culture a girl with a boyfriend is called a prostitute.
Taking intoxications is wrong. Thus no drugs, no alcohol, and no smoking.
Gambling is wrong. This means no betting on horses. No playing cards/games for money. One should not even visit gambling cities (like Las Vegas). By visiting a gambling city, you are supporting gambling and thus gambling indirectly.
Having disrespect for others is wrong. Everyone (regardless of religion, color, fat, thin, good looking, ugly looking, old etc.) should be greatly respected. The eldest should be given the greatest respect.
Not socializing with friends and relatives is wrong. This means one should visit the friends and relatives as often as possible. Even some animals socialize. So those who do not socialize are lower than the animals.
Not being compassionate is wrong. Being compassionate is one of the most important human qualities. The first chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita is all about how compassionate Arjuna was to even those who wanted to kill him. Lord Krishna only gives divine knowledge (BG) to such compassionate people.
Not being considerate of others is wrong. One should always be considerate of others at all times. Always consider the welfare, well-being, and safety of others before yours.
Not being charitable is wrong. One should give a portion of all income in charity to competent temples and the poor on a regular basis (whenever the income is received). Giving charity to unworthy people or to in-competent temples is a waste.
Competent temples are those that give knowledge (preach) on a daily or weekly basis and have qualified Brahmans who are based on qualifications and not because of birth. The Bhagavad-Gita clearly states that one can only become a Brahman by qualifications and not by birth.
In-competent temples are those that give no knowledge (no preaching) and have Brahmans who are based on birth and not qualifications.
The Divine Qualities
Non-violence
Truthfulness
Simplicity
Charity
Self-control
Austerity
Cleanliness
Forgivenes
The Demonic Qualities
Violence
Untruthful
Materialism
Pride
Arrogance
Conceit
Lust
Anger
Greed
Harshness
Ignorance
Ego
By: +Prof: Koti Madhav Balu Chowdary
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Lord Krishna describes this entire universe as temporary and full of suffering. No matter which body one has, these two qualities are there. But there is an alternative, a solution to this seemingly endless cycle. Lord Krishna says:
“And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 8.5)If we are able to remember Lord Krishna at the time of death, we will become free from the external covering of the body and attain His eternal abode. This sounds very simple, but again it is not such an easy thing. Death is the ultimate test we must all face. What will be our consciousness at that moment? For those who are attached to the body due to identifying the body as the self, death is the most difficult occurrence.
For a self-realized person the situation is completely different. He understands he is not the body. He knows the body is just a vehicle, a machine, and as such he has no attachment to the external body. And because his consciousness is always fixed on the Lord, his destination is complete freedom from the cycle of birth and death.
- “After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)
- “That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)
- “Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita)
There is over whelming evidence to support the reincarnation theory. Millions of humans around the world have had past life memories. There are numerous books and video documentaries with supporting evidence. Some evidence is also on the home page of this site.
Description of life on the helish planets.
What exactly is hell? The Vedic scriptures describe hell as planets where the sinners are taken after this life for their punishment.
The following are statements from the Srimad Bhagavatam canto 5.
There are thousands of hellish planets. Here are the names and details of life on some of these hellish planets. Each planet is meant for punishing the humans according to their sins.
What Punishment Awaits Animal Killers?
In this life, an envious person commits violent acts against many living entities. After death, such a person is taken to hell by Yamarāja. And those living entities that were hurt by him appear as animals called rurus to inflict very severe pain upon him. This hell is called Raurava. Not generally seen in this world, the ruru is more envious than a snake.
Punishment in the hell called Mahāraurava is compulsory for a person who maintains his own body by hurting others. In this hell, ruru animals known as kravyāda torment him and eat his flesh.
For the maintenance of their bodies and the satisfaction of their tongues, cruel persons cook poor animals and birds alive. Such persons are condemned even by man-eaters. In their next lives they are carried by the Yamadūtas to the hell known as Kumbhīpāka, where they are cooked in boiling oil.
If a human being kills or torments insignificant creatures. The Supreme Lord punishes such a person by putting him into the hell known as Andhakūpa, where he is attacked by all the birds and beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and any other creatures he tormented during his life. They attack him from all sides, robbing him of the pleasure of sleep. Unable to rest, he constantly wanders about in the darkness. Thus in Andhakūpa his suffering is just like that of a creature in the lower species.
Those who hunt and kill animals unnecessarily, he is placed after death into the hell known as Prāṇarodha. There the assistants of Yamarāja make him their targets and pierce him with arrows.
What Is The Punishment For Sex Outside of Marriage?
A man or woman who indulges in sexual intercourse with an unworthy member of the opposite sex is punished after death by the assistants of Yamarāja in the hell known as Taptasūrmi. There such men and women are beaten with whips. The man is forced to embrace a red-hot iron form of a woman, and the woman is forced to embrace a similar form of a man. Such is the punishment for illicit sex.
What is the Punishment For Thieves?
A person who appropriates another’s legitimate wife, children or money is arrested at the time of death by the fierce Yamadūtas, who bind him with the rope of time and forcibly throw him into the hellish planet known as Tamisra. On this very dark planet, the sinful person is chastised by the Yamadūtas, who beat and rebuke him. He is starved, and he is given no water to drink. Thus the wrathful assistants of Yamarāja cause him severe suffering, and sometimes he faints from their chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits The Misers and Those Who Are Not Charitable?
A person is considered no better than a crow if after receiving some food, he does not divide it among guests, old men and children, but simply eats it himself, or if he eats it without performing the five kinds of sacrifice. After death he is put into the most abominable hell, known as Kṛmibhojana. In that hell is a lake 100,000 yojanas [800,000 miles] wide and filled with worms. He becomes a worm in that lake and feeds on the other worms there, who also feed on him. Unless he atones for his actions before his death, such a sinful man remains in the hellish lake of Kṛmibhojana for as many years as there are yojanas in the width of the lake (thus 800,000 years).
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Lie?
A person who in this life bears false witness or lies while transacting business or giving charity is severely punished after death by the agents of Yamarāja. Such a sinful man is taken to the top of a mountain eight hundred miles high and thrown headfirst into the hell known as Avīcimat. This hell has no shelter and is made of strong stone resembling the waves of water. There is no water there, however, and thus it is called Avīcimat [waterless]. Although the sinful man is repeatedly thrown from the mountain and his body broken to tiny pieces, he still does not die but continuously suffers chastisement.
What Punishment Awaits Those Who Are Not Friendly or Compassionate?
A householder who receives guests or visitors with cruel glances, as if to burn them to ashes, is put into the hell called Paryāvartana, where he is gazed at by hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds, which suddenly swoop down and pluck out his eyes with great force.
What is Karma?
- Do you have the answers to the following questions?
- Why are some born healthy and some with severe health problems?
- Why do some people suffer more than others?
- Why do some people live a good life and some a miserable one?
- Why is life full of ups and downs? One day we are happy, another day we are sad
- Why do some people die from diseases like cancer and some naturally?
- Why are some people born more fortunate than others?
- Why is there a difference between each person’s lives?
- Why do some children suffer from birth and die at very young age?
A Christian woman went to a Christian preacher and asked him why her young son had died at a young age. The Christian preacher could not give her an answer. She found the answer to her satisfaction in the Bhagavad-Gita.
The answers to all the above questions is:
The Law of Karma
For every action you take there will be a reaction in the future. This is the law of Karma.
- Whatever activity we do, good or bad, brings us good or bad reactions. For every action you take, you will face a reaction in the future, which could be a few seconds away or 20 years away or your next incarnation. If you take good actions, you will face good reactions. This may come in the form of good health, wealth or birth on higher planets etc. If you take bad actions, you will face bad reactions in the future. The bad reactions may come in the form of disease, poverty or birth on one of the hellish planets etc.
- When we suffer, we are facing the bad reactions to our bad actions taken in the past.
- Our actions include everything we do, including our physical deeds, our words and thoughts. There will be a reaction to all our actions.
- Taking good actions builds our good karma (joy and happiness in the future).
- Taking bad actions builds our bad karma (disease and suffering in the future).
- Actions, which result in bad Karma: Eating meat, violence, ignorance, harshness, untruthfulness, lust, anger, greed, attachments, desires, gambling, ego, and alcohol.
- Actions, which build good Karma: Vegetarianism, non-violence, generosity, charity, self-control, truthfulness, simplicity, forgiveness, religiousness, and cleanliness. Free from attachments, desires and ego.
- Your destiny is in your own hands. You are held responsible for all your actions.
- The reason why some people suffer more than others is that they sinned more than others in their past and thus they are now facing the bad reactions to the bad actions taken in their past.
- The reason why some good people suffer all their life is because although they are now good. They still suffer because they are now facing the bad reactions to the bad actions taken in their previous lives. But because they are now taking good actions they will face good reactions (be happy) in their next life.
- The reason why some really rotten people enjoy a good life despite being rotten, is that they are now facing the good reactions to the good actions they took in their previous lives. However, because they are taking bad actions now (being rotten), they will face bad reactions in the future (suffer).
- God does not make one happy for no reason nor does God make one suffer for no reason. Karma is a very just law.
Karma and the Human Law and Order System.
Why do we have the police, judges, courts and jails? We have a system of Law and Order in each and every country, which makes us responsible for our actions. If we break the Law, we are arrested, taken to court and the Judge decides on the punishment we receive, which will be in proportion to the crime committed, then sent to jail, punishment for our crimes.
Without the Law and Order system that we have, without the police enforcing the law, life would be pure hell. People would go round killing, looting, stealing, raping and vandalizing property. Simply because people, would not be held responsible for their actions.
Without the Law and Order system there would be no peace and justice in the world.
We have the human Law and Order System in every country and the citizens of each country are held responsible for the actions they take; those who break the law are punished.
Just as we have the Human Law and Order system. God has a Law and Order system, the Law of Karma. We are held responsible for all our actions. The differences between the human system and God’s system are:
With Karma, we are responsible for all our actions, including words and thoughts.If you accept that we cannot live peacefully and be treated fairly without the human system of Law and Order, then you must accept that God also has a Law and Order system, the Law of Karma.
With Karma, there is no escape; you will face reactions to each and every action you take in the future, that is guaranteed. With the human system, some people do get away with murder and other crimes.
With Karma, we are punished for our bad actions and rewarded for good actions, in the human system we are punished if we are caught breaking the law, but we are not rewarded for abiding by the laws.
Sanatan Dharma is the only religion, which preaches the Law of Karma as this knowledge comes from God and man.
What is right and what is wrong?
Killing is wrong, humans or animals. Thus no meat eating, no eggs, no leather goods like sofa, car seats etc. Leather is made from cows.
Sex before marriage is wrong, sex outside marriage is wrong. Thus no girlfriends/boyfriends. In Vedic culture a girl with a boyfriend is called a prostitute.
Taking intoxications is wrong. Thus no drugs, no alcohol, and no smoking.
Gambling is wrong. This means no betting on horses. No playing cards/games for money. One should not even visit gambling cities (like Las Vegas). By visiting a gambling city, you are supporting gambling and thus gambling indirectly.
Having disrespect for others is wrong. Everyone (regardless of religion, color, fat, thin, good looking, ugly looking, old etc.) should be greatly respected. The eldest should be given the greatest respect.
Not socializing with friends and relatives is wrong. This means one should visit the friends and relatives as often as possible. Even some animals socialize. So those who do not socialize are lower than the animals.
Not being compassionate is wrong. Being compassionate is one of the most important human qualities. The first chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita is all about how compassionate Arjuna was to even those who wanted to kill him. Lord Krishna only gives divine knowledge (BG) to such compassionate people.
Not being considerate of others is wrong. One should always be considerate of others at all times. Always consider the welfare, well-being, and safety of others before yours.
Not being charitable is wrong. One should give a portion of all income in charity to competent temples and the poor on a regular basis (whenever the income is received). Giving charity to unworthy people or to in-competent temples is a waste.
Competent temples are those that give knowledge (preach) on a daily or weekly basis and have qualified Brahmans who are based on qualifications and not because of birth. The Bhagavad-Gita clearly states that one can only become a Brahman by qualifications and not by birth.
In-competent temples are those that give no knowledge (no preaching) and have Brahmans who are based on birth and not qualifications.
The Divine Qualities
Non-violence Truthfulness Simplicity Charity Self-control Austerity Cleanliness ForgivenesThe Demonic Qualities
Violence Untruthful Materialism Pride Arrogance Conceit Lust Anger Greed Harshness Ignorance EgoBy: +Prof: Koti Madhav Balu Chowdary
Scientific awareness of reincarnation is necessary for universal religion and communal harmony. Resurgence of hinduism is imminent.
ReplyDeleteUnaccomplished activities of past lives are also one of the causes for reincarnation. Some of us reincarnate to complete the unfinished tasks of previous birth. This is evident from my own story of reincarnation:
“My most Revered Guru of my previous life His Holiness Maharaj Sahab, 3rd Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith had revealed this secret to me during trance like state of mine. This was sort of REVELATION.
HE told me, “Tum Sarkar Sahab Ho” (You are Sarkar Sahab). Sarkar Sahab was one of the most beloved disciple of His Holiness Maharj Sahab. Sarkar Sahab later on became Fourth Spiritual Head of Radhasoami Faith.
Since I don’t have any direct realization of it so I can not claim the extent of its correctness. But it seems to be correct. During my previous birth I wanted to sing the song of ‘Infinite’ (Agam Geet yeh gawan chahoon tumhri mauj nihara, mauj hoi to satguru soami karoon supanth vichara) but I could not do so then since I had to leave the mortal frame at a very early age. But through the unbounded Grace and Mercy of my most Revered Guru that desire of my past birth is being fulfilled now.” .