Chandani: Namaste SwamiJi. Thank you for al your clear answers and hard work you’re performing for society. I live in Holland and have asked you a couple of questions before. Dhanyavaad Guruji.

My first question is about the number of souls (Jivatma) in this universe. Could you explain how it is possible, that in the beginning of this Pralay, there were only a couple of (thousands maybe) people and at this moment there are about 7 billion people on the earth? I’m really looking for an answer for the past few years and still I’m not satisfied with the information I have found. Could you please explain it in detail, because I really would like to understand. Some shastri’s from India came in our mandir, but they had different answers. One of the respected Shastri’s said that it is because there are numerous souls and they take birth in a wide variety, like animals, plants, trees etc. One said that the souls which have reached Moksh, come back for one life to guide humanity. Then they turn back to Moksh. But still, these answers are not satisfying I think. Maybe because the Shastri’s couldn’t explain it very well. There are also siamese twins. It’s also not very clear what this means. Can a jivatma split in two, so a siamese being takes birth? Is that why the human population is growing? Are there also souls who are taking birth on other planets? Does those souls come from other planets to earth to take birth?

My second question is also about the soul and reincarnation. Maharishi DayanandJi has explained that after death, the soul flows away with the wind. The wind reaches earth, water and vegetables. When a man eats these products, the souls enter his body and when he unites with a woman, the soul enters the body. The Upanishad has another explanation and other books also have different explanations I have asked this questions also when the respected Shastri’s came, but they also have different answers. Could you please explain this in detail and in an easy way Swamiji?

Dhanyavaad and Namaste from The Netherlands.
Swami Ram Swarup: Namasteji. Thanking you, please and you are always welcome for further queries. Number of souls is constant but its counting is not possible because in water, several microbes live and in air several living organisms thrive. Some are so minute that those can’t be seen and then mosquitoes, flies, ants etc., etc. are there whose counting is not possible because they all are also souls. Even in every plant, tree etc., soul exists. Because, souls are countless then this can’t be told that in the beginning of creation, only some couple of ( thousands of ) people lived. However, some took birth and rest of the souls were waiting for their birth. ( Rigved mandal 10, sukta 129 refers).

You may put your question again, then I will try to explain the said ved mantras. Now, I am busy, so can’t explain. Jeevatma can’t split into two but only body can do so and we must know that we are alive souls and not non-alive body.

Yes, according to Vedas, souls reside in every planet and in the administration of Almighty God, soul takes birth on this earth because human body within which soul resides on this earth, is only capable to attain final liberation. Maharishi Dayanandji has told the truth from the Vedas. Yajurved chapter 39 speaks that when soul leaves the body soul first under the control of sutratma air goes to
You are also advised to read my book named Vedon se mrityu rahsya jaano (in hindi) worth Rs.140/-, excluding postal charges, if you desire. It can be sent on receipt of your postal address.

After death

Yajurved 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 Atharvaved 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 Yajurved 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 Yajurved 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 Atharvaved 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 Yajurved the process of this cremation is mentioned. This process is also called as “NARMEDH YAJYEN”, “PURUSH MEDH YAJYEN” and “DAH KARAM” and “ANTEYESHATI KARAM”. Atharvaved mantra 10/8/26 says “YEH CHAKAR SAH JAJAR” means He (God) who makes the body, He destroys the same one day. Sense of Yajurved 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). Yajurved 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. Rigved 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.

Rebirth and different yonis

Idea of Yajurved mantra 39/6 is that after leaving the human body, the soul goes to several matters in the space etc., and then according to good or bad deeds takes next birth. Yajurved mantra 39/7 states that those souls who do sins they take birth with violent nature like wolves, bear and those who give fear to others in human body, they take birth in body with dangerous nature like crocodiles, poisonous snakes, tigers, lions, wild boars etc., those who give fear to others, they will be of timid nature also like rabbits, deer etc. Those who give justice and make others fearless, they will take next birth in a fearless nature. Those who are indulged in illusion, they will take birth in a place where the atmosphere will be full of illusion (Yajurved mantra 40/3 also refers).

Those who are learned Yogis but are not yet attained salvation, they will take next birth in a place where there will not be any illusion but divine enlightenment. Those who have not controlled their five senses, five perceptions and mind then in the next birth they will be of restless nature. But those who have controlled their senses etc., will be of calm, peaceful nature. Those who have followed eternal knowledge, they will also be of peaceful nature in the next birth.

Atharvaved mantra 9/10/16 states that those who are not learned in this birth, they will get the birth as “sthavar” rooted plants etc., as birds and as animals etc., and those who are learned they take next birth as Rishi-munis. So the soul based on his sins or pious deeds takes birth in upper class or lower class. The above said Atharvaved mantra also states that the soul in the human body knows each and everything that is each outer matter of the world but due to involvement in illusion, soul does not know himself.

As Manusmriti states in shlok 1/43-46 the soul according to deeds takes birth as animal, non-violent deer etc., carnivores like tiger, leopards etc., devils, human beings. The said are of “jarayuj” type i.e., those who take birth from their skin i.e., tissue. Soul takes birth as “undaj” type i.e., those who hatch from eggs like birds, snakes, crocodiles, fish, tortoise, etc. Soul takes birth in “Swedaj” type i.e., those who take birth from sweat, humidity, moisture, for-example, lice, mosquitoes, flies, bed-bugs, etc.

Soul also takes birth in Udbhij i.e., who takes birth from within the earth like plants who emerge from seeds etc., and are stable at one place like trees etc. So there are four above quoted main origin (yonis) of which the total number comes as 84 lakhs.

Vikas: Why Raja Janak not invited Raja Dashrath’s Son in Sita Swayamber?
Swami Ram Swarup: It has been a personal problem of Raja Janak aur Raja janak may know that Sri Ram was under age at that time but when Sri Ram reached Raja Janak’s palace then he was 25 years of marriageable age.

Rishi: Swami ji Charan Sparsh, jeevan main guru hona bahut jaroori hai. Phir mujhe ek accha guru kaise milega jo shai salah de aur jeevan main aage badne ka marg dikhaye. Krpa karke batayen ki guru ko kaise khojen.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessings to you. Yeh baat satya hai ki yadi kisi vidwaan ke dwara gyaan nahi diya jayega to gyan kabhi nahi hoga, insaan agyani hee reh jayega . Sat to Ishwar hee hai aur usne vedon mein hee sachcha gyan khud diya hai, isliye manushya ko vedon aur yog vidya ke gyata guru kee khoj karnee chahiye. in this connection, I paste my article below:-

Vedas’ Philosophy

God has made universe and blessed us with human body to do pious deeds to attain salvation only. He has not made any heaven or hell. All have to face the result of their deeds, good or bad here only, even by taking rebirth. (Rigved mantras 10/135/1,2 refer)

God has not only made universe but has also given knowledge of four Vedas where answers to your and everyone’s questions have been given. There are four Vedas:

1. Rig Veda – gives knowledge of science, matter of the universe like sun, moon, air, body etc., etc.

2. Yajurved – gives knowledge of all the deeds and duties to be performed by men, women, students, leaders, king, agriculturist etc., etc., etc.

3. Samved – gives knowledge how to worship God who gives peace and long happy life etc. In this way, details of Yoga philosophy, qualities, supreme deeds and nature of the God are also given.

4. Atharvaved – gives details of God, medical science and details of medicine etc.

Actually in four Vedas there is unlimited knowledge. Yajurved mantra 40/8 says that God is everywhere, is Almighty, formless, devoid of nervous system, purest, away from sins and does not have to face any result of any karmas (deeds), knows every soul, knows what is in everyone’s mind, no body has made God, but God creates universe, has given the eternal knowledge of four Vedas and always gives the said knowledge at the beginning of every universe to know the science and deeds to all concern. Similarly four Vedas say about God that God is an omnipresent, omniscient, formless, beyond imagination and beyond calculation. Actually God has unlimited qualities. There is only one God who creates, nurses, destroys the universe and recreates. Atharvaved mantra 4/1/1 also says that God gives the knowledge of Vedas at the beginning of the earth to four Rishis of non-sexual creation. And thereafter only public listens Vedas through Rishis- Munis as yet and become learned. Rig-Veda gives knowledge of Almighty, Yajurved gives knowledge of karmas (deeds), Samved tells about worship-Yoga philosophy and Atharvaved about medicines and God. Actually all Vedas commonly says about God also, so this is about Vedas in short. But the knowledge of Vedas is endless.

It is a fundamental law that knowledge is always given by somebody. Otherwise knowledge can’t be gained at any cost. If a new born baby is nursed well in a dense jungle and is not educated then he will not be able to gain any knowledge even if he becomes young or old. So we have to think about the origin of the knowledge prevalent in the world today. In this connection the Vedas themselves say that God gives this knowledge to four Rishis. As said by Rishi Patanjali in Yog shastra sutra 1/26, God is the first Guru of the four Rishis. Yajurved mantra 31/7 also refers. This is all in short about Vedas.

The Vedas are not a book, rather it is a knowledge originated in the heart of Rishis. At the time of beginning of the earth those Rishis preached Vedas by mouth and all others remembered the same orally. At that time there was no pen, pencil, paper, etc. This process of studying Vedas orally remained till Mahabharata time. Muni Vyas too remembered Vedas traditionally by heart. Then Muni Vyas for the first time wrote the Vedas on Bhoj patra about 5300 years ago. In 16th century when printing press came into existence then the Vedas were printed. Still Vedas are not those which have been printed but those which are preached by mouth by an Acharya/yogi and the printed Vedas are called Sanhita.

Now if somebody worships a statue etc., then it is their own creation please but Vedas deny. According to Vedas the best worship of the God is Yajyen for which all Vedas are self-proof. Yajurved mantra 31/16 says that the learned persons worship God by Yajyen.

So many people have asked me that most of the scholars/preachers of different religion state that their religion incorporates all matters of the world including science. What about Vedas? I wrote so many Ved Mantras describing science matters therein. For example, Yajurved Mantra 3/6 states

“Ayam Gauhu Swaha Pitram Puraha Prayan Mataram Prishnihi
Aakrameet Asadat”.

Meaning:
This earth revolves around the Sun in the space and it also rotates on its own axis. Vedas are eternal like God because Vedas emanate from God. Now, according to Vedas, this present creation is about 1 Arab, 96 crores, 8 lakh 53,111 years old. So are theVedas but as said in Rigved Mantra 10/191/3 the present creation is same as was the previous one and this process of creation is eternal. So are the Vedas which emanate from eternal God. This all concludes that Vedas are the oldest in this creation also and no other book of science, maths or pertaining to spiritualism is written before Vedas.

Like the above example of rotation and revolution of earth, the significance of whole present science is mentioned in Vedas. We can see that whatever is happening in the universe, is all according to the Vedas. For example, occurrence of six seasons, actions of Sun, moon, process of death, birth, worship, yoga philosophy, atomic energy, agriculture, animal husbandry, knowledge of politics, administration, architecture, solar energy, knowledge of home appliances like mixer, grinder, business rules, about men, women, children, marriage, Brahmacharya, education, clothes etc., etc., i.e., knowledge right from a straw to Brahma is all in Vedas. God is Almighty and has unlimited powers. So through His power He is able to originate the knowledge of Vedas in the heart of four Rishis without pencil, paper, help of mouth or any other worldly assistance.

We, i.e., the whole world depends on Almighty God but God is forever independent. That is why, He is God. We are the souls who reside in human bodies. We need assistance of senses, perceptions, mind and body to do deeds but not God.

Nowadays, so many saints are writing books. What is the background to write their books? Background is clear that they have first studied or listened the preach from their Gurus, keeping aside the matter of truth or falsehood. And after studying or listening the same, they became able to write the books. So this is also fundamental law, based on which, the ancient Rishis first listened Vedas and when they became learned then only they wrote the Vedic books like Valmiki Ramayana, six shastras, Mahabharat (Bhagwad Geeta), Upanishads, etc., etc. So, first the knowledge of Vedas is initiated in the universe and afterwards other books come into existence.

Somebody may say that human beings have knowledge by their nature to create anything like books etc., but we see that the newly born baby who is nursed in a jungle, in the absence of knowledge of a learned person, he becomes incapable to do anything. Thus, he can’t be M.A, M.Sc, doctor etc. So there are two types of the words and meanings. First, eternal which are from Almighty God and second, natural made by human beings. Eternal word meanings are always from Vedas i.e., from God. After listening/studying Vedas, human beings become learned and then too based on their own natural knowledge, they make their own words and meanings, literature etc. But it is very much clear that in the absence of knowledge of Vedas, no one can become learned. Nowadays, also people live in dense jungle and do not lead a civilized life because they are not learned as cited above. Vedas are not sects because they emanate direct from God and God is one for all human beings. God creates sun, moon, air, water, food etc., which are meant for the best use of all human beings for their long, happy life, so are the Vedas.

So all human beings must accept Vedas as an eternal knowledge from God, for the benefit of whole creation.

So before worshipping God we will have to make sure from Vedic knowledge that Who is God. One God is mentioned in vedas by God Himself and the said Vedic worship existed on this earth before 5,300 years i.e., up to Mahabharat war and a person of that period were all satisfied and were away from any kind of illusion. Thereafter several religions originated by us, exists now and most of the people are following accordingly i.e., we have left God made Vedic worship. For example Durga pooja and idol worship and any kind of devi-devta’s worship do not exist in Vedas. God in Vedas has told to worship Him only i.e., to worship formless, omnipresent, omniscient, unchangeable and unchallengeable God Who creates universe, nurses and destroys it.

Aap Vedic diksha prapt karne ke liye mere paas toh aa nahi sakte isliye main aapko advise karta hoon ki aap local Arya Samaj mandir mein jaakar vahaan ke purohit se advise lein. In the meantime, Gayatri mantra se roz havan karein. Vedon ka gyan prapt karne ke liye Vedic pustak padhein. Vedic pustkon kee list neechey paste kar rahein hain. Aapk ek ya do ya jitni bhi marzi ho maga kar padhein.

List of books is appended below, please —–

S. No. NAMES OF BOOK COST PAGES

(IN HINDI)

1. PATANJAL YOG DARSHAN PT I 131.00 332
2. PATANJAL YOG DARSHAN PT II 300.00 295
3. VEDIC PRAVACHAN SANGRAH(Reprinted) 120.00 118
4. VEDIC SATSANG SANGRAH PT II 12.00 29
5. MANAV DHARAM SHIKSHA 21.00 88
6. ATMIK UDGAR 51.00 42
7. DIL SE DIL KI BAAT 21.00 20
8 YAJ KARAM SARVSHRESHTH ISHWAR POOJA 65.00 132
9. BRAHAMCHARYA DUKH NIVARAK
DIVYA MANNI 100.00 173
10. MRITYU EK KATU SATYA 20.00 63
11. BHAJAN KIRTAN 40.00 64
12. SHRIMADBHAGWAD GEETA
EK VEDIC RAHSYA (CHAP. 1-6) 400.00 739
13. SHRIMADBHAGWAD GEETA
EK VEDIC REHASYA (CHAP. 7-12) 400.00 594
14. SANDHYA MANTRA 25.00 33
15. VEDIC PRAVACHAN SANGRAH PT II 120.00 124
16. SHRIMADBHAGWAD GEETA
EK VEDIC RAHSYA (Chap. 13-15) 250.00 246
17. NAARI DUSHKARMIYON
PAR VEDON DWARA DAND 25.00 38
18.VEDON SE MRITYU REHSYA JANO 140.00 101

(IN ENGLISH)

1. VEDANTA & ETERNAL VEDAS’
PHILOSOPHY PT I 31.00 77
2. VEDANTA AND ETERNAL VEDAS’
PHILOSOPHY PT II 20.00 92
3. YOGA A DIVINE VEDAS PHILOSOPHY 65.00 123
4. VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT PT. I 80.00 190
5. PROTECT THE HOLY COW, SAY VEDAS 40.00 58
6. VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT PT. II 121.00 279
7. VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT PT. III 100.00 126
8. VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT PT. IV 100.00 154
9. VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT PT. V 140.00 104
10. VEDIC PUNISHMENT FOR CRIMINALS 25.00 54
(Women offenders)

(IN OTHER LANGUAGES)

1. VEDA – DIVYA GNANA (translated in Kannada)
(Originally in English as vedas a divine light Pt. I) 120.00 202
2. VEDAM–VAAZHVIN VAZHIKATTI
(Translated in Tamil) 120.00 218
(Originally in English as VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT PT. I)
3. VEDA – DIVYA GNANA (translated in Kannada)
(Originally in English as vedas a divine light Pt. II) 100.00 111
4. PROTECT THE HOLY COW, SAY VEDAS
(Translated in Tamil) 50.00 68
5. VEDANU DIVA GYAN (Translated in Gujrati)
(Originally in English as VEDAS A DIVINE LIGHT Pt.I) 120 178

LIST OF CASSETTES & CDs Sung by Swamiji

1. SANT VANNI CASSETTES (PT 1-8) 35.00 EACH
2. BHAJ GOVINDAM CASSETTE 35.00
3. VCDS VEDOIN KEE CHHAWON TALE PT1&2 50.00 EACH
4. ISHWAR KEE AWAZ SUNO (ACD) 36.00
5. SAB MEIN VYAPAK JYOTI EK (ACD) 36.00
6. SANT VANNI PT. 1-4 (ACD) 35.00 EACH
7. VALMIKI RAMAYAN (ACD) 36.00
8. ISHWAR BIN SUKH NAHIN (ACD) 36.00
9.SARVAVYAPAK ISHWAR MAHIMA SUNO(ACD) 36.00
10. SAB GOBIND HAI (ACD) 45.00
11. AMRIT VANNI VED (ACD) 36.00
12. BHAJ GOVINDAM (ACD) 35.00
13. VED VANNI KE UPDESH (ACD) 36.00
14. PRABHU SA KOI NA DOOJA (ACD) 30.00