Name: Hannah
Subject: What happens in the Hindu afterlife?

Question: Dear John of Allfaith.

I am writing to ask you what happens in the Hindu afterlife. From what I have researched, I gathered information saying that when you die, your spirit parts from your body and joins forefathers and gods. I'd like to know more, and I was wondering if you could help?

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Answer: Hi Hannah,

Hinduism is an incredibly diverse religious system with conflicting teachings depending upon the particular group. The religion is actually a composite term used to describe the religions of Vaisnavism, Sivism, Daivism, the Chandites, Kaliites, Ganeshites, Vedanta, etc. etc. and these groups interweave into ever unique forms as one looks at them. No religion on earth is as diverse as "Hinduism." A more accurate name for this umbrella religion is the Sanatana Dharma (those holding the "Universal Truth"). The Sanatana Dharma is so inclusive that all religions technically fit beneath it.

The most common afterlife belief among Hindus is transmigration. In the Hindu context, "reincarnation" refers to taking rebirth as another human being. Hindus generally accept "transmigration," the belief that the living entity or soul (jiva or jivatman) takes on limitless births in any of the various locally available lifeforms, some material some not.

It is generally held that the human form of life is the highest life form attainable on this planet or within this universe (there are universes without number, in many of which humans are like unto gnats or less!).

According to most Hindus, the purpose of all these rebirths is the gradual realization of "God"; which is to say, the jiva (individualized) atman (self) comes to realize its unity with the parama (Supreme) atman (Self). The nature or tattva of this Paramatman is debated (of course). Some view It as a Transcendent Being (as Visnu, Siva, Krsna, Devi, Kali, Durga, etc.). Many Hindus are monotheists who honor an Ek-devata (or One God, some say this is Visnu, some Siva, some Kali or Chandi, Narayana, etc. while others say the One God is Unmanifested -- but nontheless individualized -- i.e. Brahma), under whose sovereign authority all other gods and goddess act as demi-gods or controlling governors who serve the interests of the One God. Some Hindus are Panthiests who believe in a sort of divine cousel of gods, not unlike Olympus, if Zeus is viewed as a chairman of the board. Yet others, following the traditions of Srila Sankara (believed by many to have been a closet Buddhist) believe in the ultimate Isness of Neti-Neti (Not-This-Not-That) or the Advaita idea of "tat-tvam-asi" or "Thusness", "Isness" (which may be deemed comparable to the Jewish idea of the utterly transcendent En-Soff (or No-Thing), a Reality so utterly transcendent that any attempt at comprehension is ultimately useless folly. "Into" this Oneness the localized jivatma is merged and united with the All, with "Thusness". In this sense, the individual "becomes God" by utterly merging with the brahmajyoti of divine energy of all that is. This state is achieved after innumerable lives. For the groups mentioned previously, what the followers of Advaita have actually attained in this state of "nirvana" is merely the outer effulgence or "halo" that emanates from the Person of God. They merge with the divine energy without ever tasting the nectar (soma) of the actual presence of the One. After so many lifetimes, the individual achieves liberation.

For some this means attaining perfect bodies and living for all eternity in the Vaikuntha loka Multiverses with the High God. For others, it means elevation to new planes of existence and continuing on the Way, a Quest without end but wherein "the journey is worth the trip."

A variation on this is seen as certain masters discuss the Christian faith. They explain that when Christians die they go to heaven, just as they expect. In time however they will realize that Brahmaloka (the Sanskrit name for the "planet" Christians unknowingly refer to as heaven) is truly wonderful, and yet still limited. Upon this realization, they will resume their quest forward.

Likewise, people who have been convinced they will go to Hell, go there! After a while however they stop and think, why isn't my skin burning up? At that point, they likewise continue onward.

For Hindus, life is a cycle, a turning wheel, without end. For the last 5000 years everyone in our tiny universe has been living Kali Yuga (the Age of Confusion and Quarrel). This current age began as God (Visnu) incarnate, instructed the Truth of "God, the universe and everything" to his disciple and friend Arjuna. This dialog takes place on a battlefield just prior to the real First World War, the Battle of Kuruksetra.

The conversation, known as the Bhagavad-Gita or Song of God, is part of a much larger series of books known as the Mahabharata (the history of the Bharata family). If you are interested in the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita you can read my translation for free at: my web site.

The idea that the jiva is joined with the ancestors after death is a little more difficult to understand. Since one is born (takes on an individualized life form) into whatever plane of existence according to one's own karma and dharma (i.e. according to the fruitive results of one's previous life decisions; and in accordance with what is closest described as one's destiny ("marga" or "directed course"), although this isn't quite it...), one is often reborn in similar communities. It is therefore quite conceivable that the jiva who is "me" today may have been the jiva who was "my" grandfather -- or the family cow or shade-giving tree, previously etc.). Honoring the dead accomplishes many things within Hindu society. One common prayer is "May I return among those I love."

Probably more than you wanted to know,

Feel free to write again,

Om Santi (Peace),

~Jagannatha Prakasa

Om Jai Jagannatha!	AllFaith Sanatana Dharma Home Page
	Bhagavad Gita translated by Jagannatha Prakasa
	Gitabhasya of Jagannatha Prakasa