Vedika: Namastay swamiji i want to know from where these words swarg and narak came from. I have come to from my Guruji that there is no swarg or narak.
Swami Ram Swarup: Namasteji.
Swarg and narak words are mentioned in eighteen puranns. Swarg word is also mentioned in Vedas, its meaning is to spend life happily and with pleasure. But the said pleasure and happiness is attained by those who by discharging all moral duties, follow eternal Vedic path and thus performs daily yajyen/hawan , listen to Vedas, do daily name jaap of God and hard practice of Ashtang yoga under the guidance of learned acharya . So, there is no swarg or narak in the sky etc. Narak means where a person does not follow true spiritual path and thus faces the result of bad deeds of previous life in his present life, in the shape of sorrows, tensions, problems etc.
Deepak: SWAMIJI CHARAN SPARSH SWAMIJI JAB MAI DHYAAN HAVAN KARTA HOON TO AAPKA CHITRA BHEE SAMNE RAKHTA HOON , IS IT OK YOUR SON DEEPAK
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessing to you. Havan ke chitra samay rakhne ki tumharee shradha hai to rakh liya karien vaise na bhee rakheinege to farak nahin padega.
Ashwin: Swamiji,my pranams to you. I read in a Vedic website that when someone asked a question if the number of souls are constant, how the world population is increasing these days. They answered that the souls move from one living planet to another in rebirths. Now considering that,recently NASA found a planet (Kepler 22b, maybe a living planet) like our earth at about 600 light years in the nearest solar system from here. So if as per their belief,it would take 600 years to reach there by a soul after it’s death even transferring at the velocity of light. But there is a long gap between the births which is not possible in Vedic system as you have mentioned that it would take only 13 days for a soul to take rebirth according to Vedas. If what they believe are wrong,how we can account for the increase in the number of souls? So,I want your views about this. Thank you.
Swami Ram Swarup: My blessing to you. Number of souls are constant and not unlimited having bodies. I mean to say we can calculate (Assumption) number of human bodies or some animals which are decreasing etc. so, souls remains constant but takes birth in different yonis. In this connection I also paste my answer below:-
Rebirth and different yonis
Idea of Yajurveda 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 (Yajurveda 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.
Atharvaveda 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 Atharvaveda 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. Ths 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.
No doubt lives exist also in space and planets. Our scientists are supporting it but Vedas have been preaching the same always before the search of any scientist etc. You see Vedas is an eternal knowledge so the system of life at planets is also eternal and everlasting. The rule of 600 years does not apply in case of souls. Chapter 39 of Yajurveda states that when a soul leaves a body he first day reaches at sun. So nobody can calculate the speed and timing of the soul to reach the sun in first day. In this connection I paste my articles 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.
QUALITIES OF SOULS (JEEVATAMA)
Soul is alive. Soul has to face the result of his deeds. Soul takes body of human beings, animals, birds, trees etc., according to deeds of past lives. Soul feels sorrow, happiness etc., through body. When soul leaves body, it feels nothing but carries all karma to be faced in next birth through his chitta’s (chitta) vritti (vritti).
Souls are innumerable but are constant in number having similar qualities like being pure, immortal, alive etc. Soul is infinitesimally small, is invisible. The bodies of all living beings contain souls.
Not God but soul has desire, hatred/malice, merriment, sufferings, attachment etc. While attracting itself towards materialistic articles made of prakriti soul forgets his original form. As a result, soul recognizes himself as body. This is the stage of soul being unwise.
“NA TAM VIDATH YA IMA JAJAANANYUDYUSHMAKAMANTARAM BABHOOVA,
NEEHAREINN PRAVRITA JALAPYA CHASUTRIP UKTHASHASCHARANTI.”
(RIGVEDA MANTRA 10/82/7)
(TAM) that God (NA) not ( VIDATH) known (YAH) who (EMA) all worlds (JAJANN) creates and (YAT) from you (ANYAT) separate from other souls(YUSHMAKAM) from you (ANTARAM) with in all (BABHOOVA) is (NIHAREINN) fog like smoke (YAT) that God (PRAVARITAHA) covered (JALAPYAHA) baseless discussion (ASUTRIPAHA) satisfied only in Prann [breathing system] (UKTHASHASAHA) only paying lip service (CHARANTI) deals or behaves.
Meaning: Like an invisible matter which is covered with fog similarly dealing in only lip service and indulging in baseless discussion and are satisfied in their breathing system, Oh! Man-woman, you do not know the God who creates the five matters/universe and the God who is separate from other souls and who is within all.
Secondly Vedas is an eternal knowledge which emanates direct from God and everybody knows the process of death and birth is controlled by Almighty God. So a person who is ignorant of the vedic knowledge is not able to know/understand the secrets of Vedas until he starts learning Vedas, performing daily yaj/havan form ved Mantras and hard practice of Ashtang Yoga philosophy. Even those who only listens Vedas but do not follow it in daily life they cannot also get the benefit of listening Vedas as per Rigveda mantra 1/164/39. So whatever we say or our scientists do is totally based on mind and intellect which is also blessed us by God but the vedic knowledge if attained by daily Yajyen and hard practice of Ashtang Yoga philosophy is beyond imagination and beyond calculation etc., we, I and everybody should respect the scientists and science because they had/ have been doing their level best to know the secrets of universe for the benefit of human beings and their true formulae/investigations have already been mentioned in Vedas. It is our bad luck that we have no doubt on Sun, Moon, Air, Water, Earth, Planets, food, Milk, building etc., because we need the said matters to live upon. But we start misunderstanding about those matters made of God which are not required to live upon. For example – In Vedas it is mentioned that to know the secrets of the Universe and secrets of alive and non-alive matters i.e., God, souls (alive) and prakriti made up of all universal matters like Sun, Moon, earth, planets, living bodies etc., a deep study of Rigveda along with daily Yajyen from ved Mantras and hard practice of ashtang Yog philosophy is required, failing which there remains doubts in all matters like the timings of re-birth etc. Vedas also state that he cannot be considered a Sadhu if he does not know about the creation. Secondly Vedas states to start worship by doing daily Yajyen in which we offer our services to take care of our parents, learned acharyas, thereafter the question of name-Jaap etc. So if a scientist, ordinary man, woman, educated persons, leaders, I mean to say human beings do not take care of their parents, do not love them, do not serve them properly, do no serve the athiti i.e., the learned acharya of Vedas and Yoga philosophy then all our hard work to become educated and get higher posts and to be a businessman etc., by the above persons etc., will go in Vain, says Vedas. So what will be the use of mere counting of souls and becoming scientist etc. My blessings to you.
