Harshad: Why after death the soul takes 13 days for rebirth. Is it related to the travelling of soul to some other planets (God’s dham where justice is given)? At what speed does the soul travel?
The following story from Shrimad Bhagwat reveal about the theory of relativity. There is a story on relativity in Shrimad Bhagwat about the King Muchukand of Ikshwaky vansh. Is that true or just a story? The king Muchukand was in treta yug, he assisted to Indra in a battle with asur. At the end of the war and victory, the Indra asked Muchukand for vardan. Muchukand said I want to see my family members in happiness. Then Indra said that it is not possible, you can ask something else, as we have battled here (in Indra lok) for few years, and by that time so many years have passed on the earth and right now dwapar yug is going on the earth. (So this gives indication of relativity in the universe, is this true?). Then Muchukand asked for a peaceful sleeping. And then Indra immediately said if anybody disturbs you while you sleeping, he will get fire on his body and will die. This fact Lord Krishna was knowing. As even Sudarshan chakra was not to work against a king called Kal-yavan of some Muslim country (because his father had taken vardan from Lord Shiv), Lord Krishna used Muchukand to kill Kal-Yavan (who was sent by Jarasandh). Is it just a story or has some Vedic significance? What do you say about relativity, and 13 days of limbo state of soul after death. What happens with soul during these 13 days? Why the days are not just 12, 50 or something else? What is equivalent of 13 days of this earth with the God’s time.
Swami Ram Swarup: The process of creation, nursing, destruction and again creation is eternal, everlasting, unchangeable and takes place at a stipulated time automatically because the divine knowledge, power and deeds of Almighty God occur naturally. I mean to say, here the putting forth of question-as to why this process occurs, becomes irrelevant due to the above quoted reason. There is no God’s dham where justice is imported nor any Indralok. As regards story of Bhagwad Purann quoted by you, it does not tally with fundamental law of Vedas and hence learned of Vedas do not accept it. In this regard, I paste my relevant answer-
1. The creation, its stability, destruction and again creation is an eternal unchangeable and everlasting process which takes place under the command of Almighty God. Secondly, it is natural process because Shwetashwataropnishad shloka 6/8 also states “Swabhaviki Gyan Bal Kriya Cha” i.e., the divine knowledge, power and deeds of Almighty God are natural i.e., take place at a stipulated time automatically. Rigveda mantra 3/56/1 states that fundamental laws of God mentioned in Vedas are unchangeable. So, the process of death/rebirth is unchangeable, please. I also paste an article below:-
After death
Yajurveda mantra 3/55, says, “DEVAIYAH JANAH NAH PUNAH MANAH DADATU” i.e., by blessings (preach and true education of Vedas) may learned Acharya give us next birth of human being so that we may again be able to learn the truth of Vedas and to get salvation. So one must always adopt true path by which he gets rebirth of human being to continue the real
spiritualism to get salvation etc., because Atharvaveda mantra 9/10/16 further says that human being who has done pious deeds and adopted true path they get pious human body in the next birth, otherwise soul gets the lowest/contemptible body, like animals, birds etc. Mantra is APAANG PRAANGETI SWDHAYAA GRIBHITAH AMARTYO MARTYENAA SAYONIHI. TA SHASHVANTA VISHUCHINA VIYANTA NYA NYAM CHIKYURN NI CHIKYURNYAM.
Soul according to its good or bad deeds(APANGETI) takes bodies of animals, birds, insects etc., and (PRANG) bodies of Rishis, Munis, i.e., (uuch Yoni) best bodies after leaving the present body. The soul (SWDHAYAA GRIBHITAH) duly attached with its own power of taking birth according to pious deeds and sins, enters other bodies (AMARTAYAH) though the soul is away from death, being immortal but after death of bodies, takes new bodies. These ideas of Vedas has very well been mentioned in Bhagwad Geeta shlok 2/20 wherein Yogeshwar Shri Krishna says (AJO NITYAH SHASHWATOAYAM PURAANNO NA HANYTE HANYAMANNE SHARIRE ) i.e., the soul is (AJAH NITAYAH SHASHWATOH) never takes birth and is eternal (NAHANYATE HANAYMANNE SHARIRE) in fact after death of body too soul is never dead being immortal. (TASHASHVANTA) this process of death and birth of bodies and souls is eternal.
(VISHUCHINA VYANTA) soul and bodies go far away to different directions [soul goes to Savita etc., {given below} according to Yajurveda chapter 39 and then takes birth and gets another body and five elements of body go to space and are mixed within air, fire etc., according to Yajurveda mantra 40/15] (ANYAM NICHIKYHU) many learned know about this fact (ANYAM NICHIKYHU) another who lack knowledge of Vedas, do not know the fact, i.e., we mostly know our body but not ourselves, i.e., soul. Death is sure i.e., the body will have to be cremated one day.
In Atharvaveda mantra 8/8/11 ‘Yamdut’ means = ‘YAM’ means God, and ‘dut’ means storm, cyclone, flood, earthquake, heavy rains, etc., etc., in mantra the air is Yam. So when a soul is to leave the body then by the power of God, sutratma air enters the body and takes the soul out of it then goes to Savita, etc.
In 39th chapter of Yajurveda the process of this cremation is mentioned. This process is also called as “NARMEDH YAJYEN”, “PURUSH MEDH YAJYEN” and “DAH KARAM” and “ANTEYESHATI KARAM”. Atharvaveda mantra 10/8/26 says “YEH CHAKAR SAH JAJAR” means He (God) who makes the body, He destroys the same one day. Sense of Yajurveda mantra 39/5 is that when the soul leaves the body then the soul wanders in so many places, takes another body according to its previous deeds (karmas). Yajurveda mantra 39/6 says that the soul after leaving the body, on the first day goes to Savita (sun), second day agnihi (fire), third Vaayu (normal air), fourth Aditya, fifth chandrma (moon), sixth ritu (seasons), seventh marutah, eighth brihaspati (tiniest air), ninth mitrah (breathing), tenth varunah (udan air), eleventh indrah (electricity), twelfth Vishvedevah (in all divine qualities). Then, after wandering in sky, gets body according to previous deeds. So these twelve days are completed, then after 13 days the soul takes another body. Rigveda mandal 10 sukta 135 says that normally soul after getting body faces the result of its past lives’ deeds and under influence of illusion (duly attracted towards illusion) does sins and again gets birth to face the sins. The soul is immortal and always separate from body. When an aspirant meets with a learned Acharya and gets spiritual education, then the fourth mantra says that the soul gets salvation.
Anonymous: Pranam guru ji, as you told me that not following brahmcharya is a sin and it leads to various diseases. I will follow Brahmcharya. But can you please suggest me some tips to recover my health? As I am so sick and always suffer from diseases.. Please suggest a good diet. Is their is any arurvedic medicine?
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. I appreciate you to stop the act. My blessings are always with you. Perhaps, I’ve advised you to read my book named “Brahmcharya- Dukh Nivarak Divya Manni” wherein you’ll get several good advises and about balanced food as well. You may send your problem again and again. I would advise you to make contact with an Ayurvedic experienced doctor. He should be qualified and not R M P. He’ll give you the proper medicine to recoup your health at the earliest. Book will be forwarded on the receipt of your postal address, if you desire.
India10: Thanks for your answer.
Swami Ram Swarup: You are most welcome, please.
