Brihadharanya Upanishad

Excerpts from Kila Kanda (you may not understand a word of what is written below, and that is perfectly ok). Someonene who has gone through Upanishadic teachings will understand this easily. Some others who have gone through Bhagavad Gita's teachings may understand a few things but not fully.

As everyone is quite interested to know about what happens after death, the following is the direct verbatim translation on the topic from Brihadharanya Upanishads. It is ultra simplified, I apologize for the simplification. The intent is to make it reach a few soul-searchers at least, 

People are of 3 types

·        People who do Upasana (selfless spiritual devotion)

·        People who do Yajna-Dhana-Tapas Karma

·        People who are Charuvakhyas (just merrymaking on earth, the people who waste the Manusha Janama by being materialistic)

 

I.                 People who do Upasana (selfless spiritual devotion)

 

1)     People who do Upasana (spiritual devotion or in other words selfless devotion) on passing away will go through the bright path -> guided by Shuklamarga god, Uttarayana God, the god of sunshine, and will go to Surya Loka, Vidhyut Loka and finally guided by the Manasa Devata will be guided to BrahmaLoka. BrahmaLoka is also called SatyaLoka.

2)     Here Brahma will take classes and teach them about Swarupa (SatChit Ananda) from the Upanishads. It is mentioned clearly that they will not be taught the VedaPurva section (the section that deals with karmakanda) but only the Vedantha section (only the Spiritual guidance section like the Madu Kanda and Muni Kanda of Brihadharanyam).

3)     Brahmaji years are very long, and these souls will stay with Brahmaji until Pralaya Kalam.

4)     The souls that get Jnanam,(self-knowledge) will attain Jeevan Mukhti. They will then attain Videha Mukhti at the end of Pralaya Kalam. Then the entire process of New Srishti will start after Pralaya.

5)     Impt point: Such people do not come back to Earth. There is no Re-birth. Punaravarthathe... Punaravarthathe…. (they will not come back to Earth, they will not come back to Earth)

 

II.               People who do Yajna-Dhana-Tapas Karma 

6)     People who do Yajna-Dhana-Tapas karma earn Punya. Yajna in very short terms means Upasana but for worldly seeks (e.g. Jothishya homam for Swarga, Arthi, Arthathi types of devotees), Dhana is Charity, and Tapas is Self-discipline (self-denial, moderation of everything). This Punya will take them based on the gradation of Punya to Bhuloka, Bhuvar loka, Svarga loka, Maharloka, Janaloka, Taparlok etc

7)     They travel through the Krishnapaksha path, guided by Smoke god, night god, dhakshinayana god, god for Krishnapaksha and will reach one of the Swarga Lokas above.

8)     They will stay there doing Sevas to the Devas there (like assistants etc.) and enjoy the Swarga until the Punya gets depleted gradually and fully gets exhausted. There is no suffering, pain, disease there. Once the Punya gets over they will come back to Earth taking a Rebirth.

 

III.              People who are Charuvakyas (materialistic people who have wasted their Manusha Janama by being materialistic, neither did Upasana or Yajna-Dhana-Tapas)

9)     Charuvakis go through a path called “AdoGathi”. It is written that they will be born as germs, moths (patangs), biting insects and other smaller insects.

 

What is PanchaAgni Vidhya (doctrine of 5 fires)

This is one of the most toughest part of Rebirth that every Jivatma has to undergo. The travel journey after disposal of one body and attaining a new one is through a process called Panchagni Vidhya. The 5 fires are Heaven, Cloud (produces rain), Earth (produces plant eaten as food by the male), Male (Progeny), and Female (baby). The process is guarded by the guardrails of Sanchita Karma, Aagami Karma that will result in Prarabhda (new body, shape, color, which parents rich, poor, diseased, where etc. etc.)

https://www.advaita-vision.org/the-fires-of-reincarnation/

 

Side notes

               Sanchita Karma is the bank of karma for a Jivatma. All the pluses and minuses (Punya and Papam) account goes to Sanchita

               Prarabhda is a portion of Sanchita that is taken out for that particular birth (there is much more left behind in the bank). Prarabhda results in shape, color, parents, place, disease, luck, fortune, wealth etc. for the Jivatama for that particular Janam.

               Aagami Karma is the Karma that is created newly in the birth itself. If it can be consummated in the same birth, this will be fructified in the same birth (karma begets karma or as you sow, so you reap). In case the current body and circumstances are constrained and then the karma cannot fructify, then this will go to the Sanchita bank.

It is written that No karma will escape. Not even a pinpoint of both good or bad karma can escape a Jivatma. This is a self-regulated cycle across several Janamas.

  Best Way 

The best it appears is to attain Jnanam and attain JivanMukti on Earth.

There is only one way to attain Jnanam > Systematic study of Vedas and Upanishads under the guidance of an able Guru. This will purify the mind, elevate the person from materialism and make him/her understand the truest bliss of Satchitananda.

For such a Jnani, as quoted by Upanishads and Gita there is no Rebirth. For such people, the Sanchita and Aagami will burn, and at the end of Prarabhda such Jivas are released to respective forces of nature, never to be born again.