JOURNEY OF A SOUL (JEEVATHMA) – BIRTH, LIFE & DEATH!

Om Namasivaya Nama:

Death is nothing but the Jeevathma (Soul) leaving a body and going to meet its next task. The gap between death and the next birth is a state of deep sleep. The life energy has no expiry, and it will never die nor take birth. Birth and death are for the mortal body only. However, the Jeevathma gets painted by the Thriguna effects, and Karma stinks. This Jeevathma is also known as Sookshma Sareeram (subtle body) made up of 17 elements (Dhathoos) as opposed to the mortal body of 7.

Once the Jeevathma leaves the body it will get a name as “Chethana” also known as Prethathma and by default, it will proceed to Yamapuri (The South Quarter – the abode of Lord Yama Dharma Raja, situated around 2.076 million KM away from Earth in subtle form). Whereas for Punyaathmas it is just a formality to sign the papers of Yamalok and accept the Divya Sareeram (divine body) and proceed to auspicious celestial worlds. Whereas, for Paapaathma a Yathana Sareeram (suffering body) will be given and a long stay at Yamapuri is inevitable by retaining its Prethathma name until the next birth.

When a person dies happily (without much suffering), he/she gets the next birth quickly.  This will help the Jeevathma to clear all its accumulated debts as fast as possible and look forward to getting Moksham (liberation from transmigration). People who die with lots of suffering will not get the next birth easily. Some Scholars and Puranaas say that if a wise person suffers too much in this life while death, God might have decided to wipe off all his/her past Karmas in the current life itself and going to give Moksham (liberation). Therefore, some suffering cannot be underestimated. It is difficult to understand the divine play of God.

Kindly note, God has given certain privileges as well as lifestyle to every Jeevathma before it gets permanent residence in Paralokam or merges with Paramathma. Therefore, show gratitude towards all living beings, God, and Nature. Life with a body is rare, too human life is highly precious. The whole cosmic world is having its representation in our perishable body itself. Those who know this secret will always possess compassionate nature and respect human life along with gratitude towards God. There are infinite Jeevathmaas (life energy) floating in our atmosphere and looking forward to getting human birth so that it can try for Moksham and merge with Paramathma. In all other celestial worlds, Jeevathmas can only enjoy limited benefits as per the credit balance in their account. Whereas, to escape from transmigration the Jeevathma must enter a human body and live on Earth to realize Paramathma.  This rule is fixed by nature and exceptions are rarest.

The unique quality of a Jeevathma is that whenever it enters a particular body, it will do its duty (Dharma) of that living being (whether animal or man or plant or any other species) without any hesitation or error. Jeevathma is one of the most obedient being in this universe.

After the death (leaving the body), the Jeevathma is destined to live first three days in nearby water banks (Jalam), 2^nd three days in fire (Agni) and the next three days in space (Aakasa) then finally on the 10^th day it is allowed to stay in its own house along with relatives and accept the last feast (Prabhootha Bali performed) from family members. Usually, the Brahmins do not allow the Prethathma to roam around due to their rituals. They invoke that Prethathma into a black stone (Paashaana) and place it under the soil to offer water and food until 10 days. On the 10^th day, they will remove its Prethaa-bhootha-thwam (inauspicious) and change the status to Pithru Bhoothamthma (auspicious). By uniting them with their ancestors (Pithru Varga) they will stay in Pithrulok until the next life. Ideally, the same Jeevathma will take birth in the same family/clan until it gets Moksha Prapthi. This cycle can continue up to 144 births.

After death, on the 10^th day, the last Upa-Praana known as Dhananjaya will exit the mortal body (if not cremated) so that the body can decay. If already cremated, then the Upa-Praana will join the Mukhya Praana floating in space. These Dasa Praanaas will always maintain their subtle relationship with the same Jeevathma until the Jeevathma attains Moksham (Liberation). Please note within 10 days from the day of death, the Kartha (Pithru Karmi) will be offering 122 Sraardhams (oblation) to the departed Jeevathma.  

The duty of a Kartha (living blood relatives) is such, he must ensure a permanent seat for his father/mother’s Jeevathma in Pithru Loka to receive a designation and legal status as Pithrus. 

7 clans of Pithrus are known as “Paran-Parai”. 1. Prapithamahan/Prapithamahi (great grandfather/g.g. mother), 2. Pithamahan/Pithamahi (grandfather/g. mother), 3. Pitha/Matha (own father/mother), 4. Self and own brothers, 5. Puthran & his wife, 6. Pouthran & his wife, 7. Pra-prouthran & his wife.

According to Rishis and Sastras, at the time of death, the human mind will be in either of the four stages known as Artham or Roudram or Dhanya, or Suklam. 1. Artham = captivated in seeking the sensual pleasures (the reward is rebirth as grass and plants etc). 2. Roudram = Even after knowing the truth (nature will give us an opportunity to turn our mind towards God but due to bad Karma and wrong habits, the mind remains running after sexual pleasures. The reward is rebirth in Neecha Yonis as an animal). 3. Dhanya = Being Jithendriyan by practice (conqueror of sensual pleasures), the mind remains in God’s lotus feet (reward is rebirth in Devalokam as Devan/Devi). 4. Suklam = mind merged in Paramathma Chaithanyam to attain Moksham (Liberation).

After leaving the mortal body the Jeevathma continues its travels to its destination depending upon Karma’s deeds. Jeevathma will travel along with the force of nature / cosmic move. The entire universe is rotating like an air ring known as expansion. All Jeevathmas are floating just like dust particles in this motion. However, as per the choice of Supreme Brahman, they get segregated due to their Karma deeds. Astrology is the only common source to find out its current status. By the grace of Brahman, some planetary positions were identified by the Maharshis and Astrologers. The planetary position to be considered at the time of death is Lagna. Some great scholars can get indications from the birth horoscope Lagna too.

If Venus is positioned in Lagna or aspects or associated with death chart Lagna or Lagna Lord, the Jeevathma after completing the formalities will leave for Pithru Lok (Chandra Mandalam), if Jupiter/Guru is positioned then it will go to Deva Lok/celestial worlds if Mercury/Budhan or Saturn/Sani is positioned or associated then it will proceed to Naraka Lok/Hell.

Note: All you need to know is whether these planets were occupied in the death Lagna or have any associations based on the set rules given here. Lagna could be any one of the 12 Rasis. Unless you know astrology, it is difficult to understand these combinations.

There are many rules for an association of a planet with other planets. The main ones are: (V = Venus), (J = Jupiter), (M = Mercury), and (S = Saturn).

1. V/J/M/S Planet placement in Lagna (top priority and confirmed positive result).
2. V/J/M/S Planet aspect to Death Lagna
3. Death Lagna lord positioned in Venus or Jupiter or Mercury or Saturn’s house
4. Venus or Jupiter or Mercury or Saturn positioned in death Lagna lord’s stars.
5. Death Lagna itself in the house of Venus or Jupiter or Mercury or Saturn.

If natural malefic such as Saturn or afflicted Mercury is associated with death Lagna or Lagna Lord, then the Paraloka Vaasam (stay) will be longer and more difficult. Whereas if associated with Venus or Jupiter, then the enjoyment will be for a longer period.

If Dhaayaathis (blood relatives) do legitimate Dhaana and Dharmic rituals (charity) or special prayers on behalf of the deceased during the final rites, such good deed’s merits will be credited to the deceased account, and his/her Prethathvam will be replaced with purity and gets an entry to Pithru or other celestial worlds. This is the reason why we are doing so many rituals even after death. It is very difficult to estimate who did what during life – because Karma Rahasyam and its rewards are unexplainable. Due to this consideration, if the Jeevathma was supposed to go to hell can be redirected to different Lokaas (world) on account of new Punyam generated by his/her Dhaayaathis during the first 12 days of Pithru Karmas. Kindly note the rituals will differ according to Varna Aasramas.  Eventually, everyone does something good for their ancestors!

Do you want to know why Pithrus are cursing its relatives? (Usually, most astrologers pinpoint this issue while reading horoscope). Because when the Jeevathma tries to enter the Pithru Loka, the authorities will deny its entry due to Prethathvam. Accordingly, the Prethathmaas and their ancestors will curse their relatives out of no choice. (Pithru and Pretha Saap Dosham). The curse’s power will look for its same DNA living on this Earth, especially those who are enjoying the material comforts provided by the deceased.  

Pithru Karmas can be conducted either by Vaideeha Path (Vedic approach) or Avaideeha Path (non-Vedic approach). Pithrus does not demand too many things except a few grains of raw or cooked rice, little water, sesame, curd, and ghee. A very simple 5 food items that can earn huge blessings on Kartha. Out of these five items, even if we offer water alone that is more than sufficient (The Panchanga Thidhi Devatha is the significator of the Water element). In other words, Jeevathma should not de-hydrate whereby the living DNA (Jeeva Rasam) of blood relatives will get suffocation or depletion. This means the side effects will be reflected in those living blood relatives on this earth. One can perform the rituals according to his/her Kula Dharma. Please don’t try to adopt Anya Dharma to satisfy ancestors, it will not work. According to our Varna Aasrama Dharma, everyone is expected to do as per their Kulaa-chaaram. At the end of the day, all Jeevathmaas will reach the right destination according to their Varnaa-srama Dharma only. Everyone is expected to perform their final rites and follow-up Srardhams only as per their Varnaa-asrama Dharma system. We need to do this meticulously to make sure that the Jeevathma’s journey is comfortable and help them to reach Pithru-Loka or other celestial divine worlds. Change of religion is only in the mind not in DNA!

Five types of Srardhams are recommended by the Dharma Sasthram. They are 1. Paarvana Homa Srardham, 2. Hiranya Srardham, 3. Tharpana Srardham, 4. Anna Srardham, 5. Smarana Srardham. Out of these, ideally, 1, 2 & 3 are religiously recommended for Brahmins and 4 & 5 for other Varnees. Now it is Kali Yugam and no special importance is given to any particular Varna Aasrama, therefore everyone can do whatever is possible on the Srardham day (Thidhi). This is the least thing we can do for our ancestors who sacrificed their lives for our comfort.

Please note our ancestors used to conduct 96 Srardhams in a year for one deceased!

The departed Jeevathma will eventually attain Sadh Gathi (Good Paralokam) if one of these conditions is met at the time of death. They are Utharayana Punya Kaalam, Krishna Paksham, Day time, Thought of God, hearing the holy sound OM or any divine mantra or Paropakaara Chintha, wearing or associated with Vibhoothi, Gopi Chandhan, Kumkum, Rudraksha Maala, Thulasi Maala, Punya Nadhi Theertham, holy books, holy Yantras or Symbols, Mangalya Soothram, Upaveetham, having accumulated holy credits, etc. Alternatively, one can donate these auspicious divine items while living (Dhaan in Advance), or blood relatives i.e., Dhayaathees, after death. There are 84 Dhaanams prescribed in our Sasthram. All or at least 24 Dhaanams are to be offered during the initial Pithru Karma.

There is a saying that one’s birth should be during Sukla Paksham, and death occur in Krishna Paksham to enjoy Iha Para Sukham. 

In the death horoscope, if the Yogi Lord (In Panchang the Yoga lord is called Yogi) is posited in the Yogi stars or its friends’ stars then also the Paralokam life will be excellent. Such people might have done lots of holy deeds while living and even if nobody offers any external support to such Jeevathmas, still they will find their own way to enter the divine Paralokam i.e., Pithru Devathaas will help such Jeevathmas to attain Sadh Gathi. Those who attained children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren also get seats in celestial divine worlds.

Kindly note all Boothas (living elements or beings) are under the control of Lord Siva, Prethas (departed souls) are under the command of Lord Vishnu and Pisachas are under the control of Sakthi. Therefore, to remove their evil effects, the sastras recommend we conduct Saiva, Vaishna, and Saaktha poojas, respectively. Please note these vibrations are felt in the Sookshma Sareeram (subtle form) and hence are not visible to the naked eye or among normal people. They don’t have the physical body since the Earth element is missing in their body constitution. They are simply dark negative energy in the form of dark air (just like carbon dioxide). 

A person who empties the Sanchitha Karma deeds can alone achieve Moksham (Liberation). Whereas the mortal body can achieve Mukthi from temporary issues. Sanchitha and Prarabdha Karma deeds will follow the Sookshma Sareeram (Jeevathma/Soul). Sanchitha can be eradicated by chanting God’s name, especially Lord Siva, and Prarabdham can be nullified by undergoing the Karma deeds while living. Kindly seek the help of God to fulfil the Prarabdha Karma and avoid doing non-Vedic Prayaschithams/Remedies. Usually, non-Vedic Prayaschitham may provide temporary relief, but it will surely produce more sin and bad Karma deeds that will mess up the next life because unlawful activities may be initiated by the doer involving Himsa (torture) to others.

Due to past good karma deeds, a person gets a sound and self-sufficient life in this birth. However, that person while living encash all good rewards quickly without knowing that these comforts are due to the good deeds of the past, and it is going to dry up soon! This is the fact and effects of Maya (Goddess of illusion). However, even after knowing this truth by himself OR being reminded by the scriptures or Wisemen, never bothered to recredit the encashed good deeds by doing meritorious acts. One must thank God and continue with meritorious acts so that when he/she meets the final day, there will be surplus credits balance in his/her account. Many people do more harm to others and to nature owing to the current comfortable life and accumulate demerits. Please note, no one is permanent on this Earth therefore one day, at a destined time the last breath will take place and the Jeevathma leaves the body with an accumulated net balance of demerits (Paapam). An intelligent person must remember to accumulate maximum Punyam (merits) during life before all Punya gets exhausted, so that the Paraloka life will be great and even after taking re-birth on Earth it will be a good life.

After understanding all this information, I would like to strongly recommend a simple prayer to Almighty God on daily basis. That.

Anaayaasena Maranam, Vina Dhainyena Jeevatham, Marana Samaye Thava Paada Darsanam, Dhehime Paramaathmane!

Om Nama Parvathi Pathaye Hara Hara Mahadeva

Authored By R V Venkiteswaran (Venky) – April 2023

Om That Sath Brahmarpanam Asthu