Hindu Views of Death
The Hindu faith is thousands of years old and is founded upon a belief in the cycle of life and death. Hindus believe that the soul is eternal, transmigrating and reborn after death. The death of a person marks the end of their current life, but it is also seen as the beginning of another life on a different physical plane. In Hinduism, death is viewed as an integral part of life and is accepted with peace, dignity and calmness.
Hindus believe that when a person dies, their soul is released from the physical body and awaits rebirth in the same soul-cycle. At this point, Hindus believe that the soul moves through a process of purification and transformation that is necessary for its eventual reincarnation. Hindus also believe that the person’s soul will suffer or rejoice, depending on the actions taken during their previous life on earth.
Process of Reincarnation
In Hinduism, the process of reincarnation is known as Punarjanma. Punarjanma is the cycle of death and rebirth that Hindus believe occurs with all souls. Hindus believe that after the death of a person, their soul is released from the physical body and enters a state of Pralaya, or purgatorial relaxation. It is during this time that the soul is purified, transforming it into a pure form ready to inhabit a new physical body.
The next stage in the cycle of death and rebirth is known as Pravesha, or entry. During this stage, the soul enters a new physical body through the process of birth. Hindus believe that the soul has the opportunity to choose its own future life, based on its actions in the past life. Therefore, it is possible for the soul to be reborn in any species, from plants and animals to humans.
Inheritance of Personality
Hindus believe that a person’s personality is determined by the karmic inheritance of the soul from previous incarnations. Hindus call this the vasanas, or accumulated spiritual impressions that remain with the soul and influence its fate in future lives. Hindus believe that the vasanas give the soul its nature and accompany it through each reincarnation. It is the vasanas that determine the fate of the soul in the process of reincarnation and give it its unique characteristics.
Hindus also believe that after death, the soul experiences a period of rest and adjustment before entering its new physical body. During this time, the soul is said to experience a gradual process of transformation and refinement that is necessary for its ultimate destiny on a higher plane. This is known as the process of atonement, during which the soul finds its own individual path and goes through a process of adaptation and adjustment for its new life.
Prayer and Last Rites
Hindus believe that when someone dies, there are certain rituals and ceremonies that must be carried out in order to ensure the safe passage of the soul. Prayers are said in honor of the departed and special rites are performed to help the soul in its new journey. These include the Lighting of the Sacred Fire, the Cleaning of the Family, the Placement of Symbols, the Smearing of Sandalwood Paste and the Reading of Mantras.
In addition to these rites, Hindus believe that there are certain things that must be done for the departed soul. These include offerings of food and water, prayers for the wellbeing of the soul and the recitation of psalms and mantras. These are said to bring peace and harmony to the departing soul, allowing it to experience a safe transition from this physical world to the spiritual one.
Advice for the Mourning
The Hindu faith offers many words of comfort for those who are mourning the death of a loved one. Hindus are encouraged to remember that death is not the end of life, but simply the beginning of a new journey for the soul. Hindus also believe that although the body may cease to exist, death does not mean the end of the soul’s existence.
Hindus are advised to accept death as an inevitable part of life, not to fear it and to live their life in accordance with dharma or righteousness. This is said to ensure that the soul will be able to find peace in its afterlife and prepare for a good rebirth. Hindus are also encouraged to take comfort in the knowledge that their loved ones may be reborn into a better form.
Karma and The Afterlife
According to Hindu teachings, the afterlife is a realm of existence in which the soul is liberated from the physical world and experiences the ultimate freedom from all suffering. This realm is said to be one in which the soul experiences absolute union with the divine and is liberated from the cycle of life and death. Hindus believe that this realm is ultimately determined by the actions taken in the physical world, known as karma.
Karma is the law of cause and effect in Hinduism – for every action taken, there is a corresponding reaction that the individual must face. Hindus believe that the soul will be reborn depending on its own karma and the way in which it has acted in previous lives. Good karma will lead to a good afterlife, while bad karma will lead to suffering and hardships in the afterlife.
Creating Good Karma
Hindus believe that the soul is reborn again and again, depending on its own karma. This means that Hindus must strive to create good karma in this life in order to ensure a better future. By living in accordance with dharma, or righteousness, Hindus believe that they can create good karma, attract positive energy and increase the chances of a better afterlife.
Hindus are encouraged to follow a life of charity, humility, compassion and kindness to others in order to attract positive energy and create a karma that will move the soul toward peace and liberation. In this way, Hindus hope to create a better and brighter future for their souls in the afterlife.
Rituals for the Dead
The Hindu faith emphasises the importance of performing rituals for the dead in order to help the soul in its journey. These rituals are said to help the soul in its passage from this physical world to the spiritual one. They include the recitation of holy texts and mantras, offerings of flowers and incense, feeding of holy fire and the donation of food.
Hindus believe that these rituals help to ensure the peace and wellbeing of the departed soul and also bring balm to the grieving family. Hindus also perform rituals to celebrate the life of the departed and to honour their memory. These rituals are said to help the bereaved family to accept death as an unavoidable part of life and to focus on the good memories they shared with their loved one.
Reconciling with Death
Hindu teachings emphasize the need to accept death with peace and acceptance. Hindus believe that death is just a transition from one state of existence to another and that it is not the end but merely a new beginning for the soul. Hindus are encouraged to look upon death with a positive frame of mind and to focus not on the sorrow of losing a loved one, but on the joy of a new journey for the soul.
Hindus are also encouraged to use death to inspire growth and change within themselves and to look upon it as an opportunity to become more aware and mindful of their own life and the lives of those around them. By coming to terms with death and understanding that it is just a part of life, Hindus believe it is possible to move forward with acceptance and hope.
