This Is Your Journey After Death! | Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Summary

The script explains the process of a soul's journey after death, focusing on the ten days of transition called Pret Yoni. During this phase, the soul is confused, detached from its body, but not fully acclimated to the afterlife. Rituals like Tarpan help guide the soul to move on and merge back into nature. The process culminates in the soul joining ancestors in Pitru Loka. Shraddh rituals are performed to encourage the deceased to let go of worldly desires and transition peacefully, transforming mourning into a celebration of life.

Takeaways

• 🕊️ In Hindu tradition, the soul after leaving the body enters a transitional state known as Pret Yoni for ten days, symbolizing confusion and adjustment to the afterlife.
• 🧘 The soul is advised to let go of its physical form, recognizing it as something no longer desired, akin to an excretion, and to embrace the new state of being.
• 🌐 The concept of Pret Yoni represents a liminal space where the soul is neither fully in the physical world nor fully in the spiritual realm.
• 🔥 The ritual of Tarpan involves the deceased's family encouraging the soul to release its attachments, symbolized by the elements of the body returning to nature.
• 🌱 The guidance during Tarpan helps the soul to understand its true nature beyond the physical, intellectual, and mental aspects.
• 🌊 The metaphor of crossing the Vaitarani river by holding onto the tail of a cow signifies the importance of knowledge in navigating the spiritual journey.
• 📚 Even a small amount of knowledge can be instrumental in overcoming significant challenges, as illustrated by the life jacket analogy.
• 👪 Tarpan is a ritual performed by loved ones to provide comfort and assurance to the soul, helping it to let go of worldly desires and unfinished tasks.
• 🎉 Shraddh is a celebration that marks the soul's transition from Pret Yoni to Pitru Loka, where it reunites with ancestors.
• 🌟 The rituals performed after 10, 12, or 13 days aim to shift the focus from grief to celebration, encouraging the living to honor and remember the deceased with joy.

Q & A

What is Pret Yoni according to the Garuda Purana?

Pret Yoni refers to the state where the soul lingers for ten days after leaving the body, being confused by the significant transition and not yet accustomed to the afterlife.

Why does the soul not want to return to its body after death in the context of Pret Yoni?

The body is likened to an excretion, something undesirable to return to, as the soul is in the process of adjusting to its new state.

What role does knowledge play during the Pret Yoni period?

Knowledge, particularly the understanding of one's true nature beyond the physical body, helps the soul to transition and move on from the Pret Yoni state.

What is the significance of the ritual where the priest instructs the deceased to let go of the elements of their body?

This ritual is meant to guide the soul to release its attachment to the physical elements, aiding in the process of merging back into nature and moving beyond the identity with the body.

What is the metaphorical meaning of holding the tail of a cow to cross the river Vaitarani?

It symbolizes that even a small amount of knowledge or guidance can help the soul navigate the challenges of the afterlife, much like a life jacket helps one float on water.

What is Tarpan and how does it relate to the deceased?

Tarpan is a ritual performed by the living to fulfill the desires and unfinished missions of the deceased, providing them with the assurance to move on from the Pret Yoni state.

How does the concept of Tarpan help the deceased in the afterlife?

Tarpan offers the deceased a sense of fulfillment and closure, encouraging them to let go of worldly attachments and move forward in their spiritual journey.

What is the purpose of the Shraddh ritual mentioned in the script?

Shraddh is a celebration that connects the deceased with their ancestral lineage, providing them with a sense of belonging and reassurance that they will be received by their ancestors.

Why are the rituals performed after specific intervals such as 10, 12, or 13 days post-death?

These intervals are chosen to coincide with the period of Pret Yoni, allowing the soul to transition and move on, thus the rituals are meant to mark the end of mourning and the beginning of celebration.

What is the significance of the sesame seed analogy used in the script?

The sesame seed represents the insignificance of worldly desires and attachments when compared to the vastness of the spiritual journey, encouraging the deceased to let go of these minor concerns.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ Pret Yoni and the Soul's Journey

The first paragraph delves into the concept of Pret Yoni from the Garuda Purana, explaining the soul's confusion and transitional state after leaving the body. It describes the soul's initial reluctance to return to its physical form, which it now views as repulsive, and its gradual adjustment to its new state. The importance of knowledge and awareness during this period is highlighted, with guidance provided by priests or family members to help the soul understand its true nature beyond the physical and mental realms. The paragraph also touches on the ritual of Tarpan, where the deceased is encouraged to let go of earthly attachments and desires, and the process of merging back into nature. The concept of crossing the metaphorical river Vaitarani, symbolizing the soul's journey to the afterlife, is introduced, emphasizing the value of even a small amount of knowledge in aiding this transition.

Keywords

💡Garuda Purana

The Garuda Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas in Hinduism, a genre of religious texts that contain a vast array of topics including cosmology, genealogies of gods, and rituals. In the context of the video, it is referenced to explain the concept of Pret Yoni and the journey of the soul after death, which is central to the theme of the video.

💡Pret Yoni

Pret Yoni refers to the transitional state of the soul after it leaves the body but before it fully transitions to the afterlife. The script describes this state as a period of confusion for the soul, which lingers for ten days. This concept is integral to the video's exploration of the soul's journey and the rituals performed to assist the soul in moving on.

💡Tarpan

Tarpan is a Hindu ritual performed for the peace of the departed souls and to fulfill the duties of the living towards their ancestors. In the video, Tarpan is mentioned as a ritual where the living offer prayers and seek the well-being of the deceased, symbolizing a release from worldly attachments and a transition to the next phase of existence.

💡Shraddh

Shraddh is a significant Hindu ritual performed to honor and remember deceased ancestors. It is a ceremony that helps in the spiritual progress of the departed souls. The video describes Shraddh as a celebration, indicating a shift from mourning to honoring the life and journey of the deceased.

💡Pitru Loka

Pitru Loka, or the realm of the ancestors, is a concept in Hinduism that refers to the afterlife destination of souls after death. The video mentions Pitru Loka as the place where the soul moves to after the Pret Yoni stage, signifying a reunion with ancestors and a continuation of the soul's journey.

💡Vaitarani

The river Vaitarani is a mythical river in Hinduism that separates the earthly realm from the afterlife. The video uses the metaphor of crossing the Vaitarani to illustrate the soul's transition from the Pret Yoni state to the afterlife, with the tail of a cow symbolizing the guidance and support provided by knowledge and rituals.

💡Rituals

Rituals are formal acts or ceremonies with a religious or symbolic significance. In the video, rituals are discussed as a means to help the soul transition from the Pret Yoni state to Pitru Loka. These rituals are performed to provide comfort, guidance, and a sense of closure for both the deceased and the living.

💡Awareness

Awareness, in the context of the video, refers to the realization and understanding that the soul is not the physical body or mind, but a separate entity. This awareness is crucial for the soul's journey after death, as it helps the soul to detach from the physical world and move towards the afterlife.

💡Desires

Desires are wants or longings that are often associated with worldly attachments. The video encourages the release of desires as part of the process of letting go and moving on after death. It suggests that the living should take on the responsibilities of the deceased, allowing the soul to be free from any unfinished business.

💡Ancestors

Ancestors, in the context of the video, refer to the deceased family members who have passed on. The script mentions ancestors as part of the spiritual lineage and the support system in the afterlife. The rituals and prayers are performed to connect with these ancestors and ensure the soul's safe passage.

💡Celebration

Celebration, as used in the video, signifies a shift in perspective from mourning to honoring the life of the deceased. It is about recognizing the soul's journey and the completion of its earthly cycle. The video suggests that after the rituals are performed, the focus should be on celebrating the life and legacy of the departed.

Highlights

The soul lingers as Pret Yoni for ten days after leaving the body, experiencing confusion due to the significant transition.

The body is viewed as an excretion, not something the soul wishes to return to.

The Pret Yoni state represents an in-between phase where the soul is adjusting to its new existence.

Knowledge plays a crucial role in guiding the soul through the Pret Yoni phase.

The deceased is reminded that they are not their body, mind, or intellect, encouraging them to move beyond these earthly attachments.

The process of returning the body's elements to nature is described as a natural and necessary step.

The soul's journey is likened to crossing the river Vaitarani, with knowledge as the means to navigate.

The importance of even a small amount of knowledge is emphasized, as it can guide the soul through vast challenges.

Tarpan is a ritual performed by the living to help the deceased find fulfillment and move on.

The world and its desires are compared to a sesame seed, suggesting their insignificance in the grand scheme.

The living are encouraged to take on the incomplete missions of the deceased, allowing the soul to let go.

The concept of Shraddh is introduced as a celebration of the soul's transition to Pitru Loka.

The soul's journey is supported by the ancestral lineage, who are said to be waiting to receive it.

Rituals are performed over 10 to 13 days to transition from mourning to celebration.

The rituals are designed to help the living move from sadness to celebration, embracing the soul's journey.

The process of letting go and moving on is a central theme, emphasizing the soul's progression beyond the physical world.

Transcripts

In the Garuda Purana it is said after the soul leaves

It lingers on as Pret Yoni for ten days

because the transition is so big that it gets so confused

now the body it has dropped

it doesn't want to get back to that body because it looks like an excretion

the body doesn't feel like something that one wants to get into

but one is not used to the other side

this is called Pret Yoni

they are in between now

and then after sometime it gets used to this in between state

then it moves on

this is where the knowledge helps when someone dies,

the son or daughter, their priest says you are not the body

you are not the mind,

you are not your intellect, move beyond this let this earth element absorb

the earth element in your body

let the water in your body go to the water

let the fire element engulf this entire thing

so we merge our body back into the nature

till now it was holding this is me

now it says no I am not this. What am I? Who am I?

This awareness starts happening

And so its said, holding the tail of a cow, the soul crosses the river Vaitarani

even the tail of the knowledge - even a little bit of knowledge, if you hold on to

you can cross oceans, the ocean may be very big,

but a small life jacket is good enough for you to float

this is the knowledge that the children give to the parents or the deceased people

it's called Tarpan

all that you see in the world is equivalent to a sesame seed, it's nothing not very significant.

like the sesame seed, drop all your desires

whatever incomplete missions you had in your life,

leave it to us, we will take care of it. you be satisfied and move on.

so this encouragement by the near and dear ones

even relatives, everybody - they all do Tarpan.

Tarpan means be fulfilled move on.

one understands - from this in-between stage of Pret Yoni,

they have moved on to Pitru Loka

and you conjoin them with your grandfather, grandmother,

and the previous ancestral lineage

tell them, they are there, and waiting for you. they will receive you.

that is what is Shraddh all about

that is why it is a celebration

after the 10 days, 12 days, 13 days - this rituals are made like that

so that no more crying and no more sadness

but from now on you should celebrate