10 curious Hindu beliefs about what's going on "beyond"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Different countries and religions have a huge number of beliefs and rituals associated with death, and their own unique beliefs about what happens to souls in the world of the dead. The fear of death and the afterlife haunts almost every person, and everyone strives to hope that they will go to heaven, although in reality they do not know what awaits them "beyond the bounds." Some of the most unusual ideas about the afterlife in Hinduism.

1. The dead return in the form of crows

Every year, on the day of the death of close relatives, the ritual of feeding the crows is practiced among the Hindus in India. Local people believe that their dead ancestors return to their home in the form of crows. On this day, the birds are fed, asked for their blessings, after which they "return to the world of the dead."

This belief is based on the story described in the epic "Ramayana". Ravana, who is considered a villain in the Ramayana, received a great blessing from Brahma (the god of creation), and this led to the fact that the gods Kubera, Yama, Varuna and others began to hide from him in the bodies of various animals (because they were afraid for their lives) … Fortunately, Ravana was never able to find them, and after he left, these gods, as a token of gratitude to the animals who hid them and saved them from great evil, bestowed their blessings on them. The god of death Yama took the raven under his protection.

2. The dead are born again 7 times

Hindus believe that every person has seven reincarnations. Basically, a person is born in a human body, however there is a possibility that he may be born in an animal body. It is generally accepted that people who commit many sins during their earthly life are usually born as animals the next time. In addition, Hindus believe that they are given seven chances to live a good life before they go to heaven. They also believe that all the events that took place at each birth of a person are stored in his memory. However, very few people can regain these memories.

Another of the tenets of the Hindu faith is that people who engage in religious activities and serve God directly in Hindu temples are likely to go to heaven after death and probably will not have to be reborn in another body. Also interesting is that the Hindus consider the cow and the horse sacred animals. Therefore, supposedly those who do not treat sacred animals with due respect will be born in the body of an animal during the next reincarnation.

3. The dead turn into ghosts

Hindus believe in the existence of ghosts. It is believed that people who die after committing very cruel sins or commit suicide will become ghosts wandering the Earth after death, and this will remain so until they are forgiven for their sins. Such ghosts or spirits fall into two categories. One of them is the category of "good ghosts", which consists of spirits who have recognized their evil deeds on Earth and are ready to accept punishment. It is believed that such ghosts help people, and they live in religious places and in places where funeral ceremonies are held.

Another category is "evil ghosts", consisting of spirits who have not repented for their evil deeds on Earth and do not want to accept punishment. It is believed that such ghosts continue to harm people, and they live in abandoned or destroyed buildings, in large trees and cemeteries.

4. Reunion with dead father and grandfather

Hindus believe that people after death are reunited with their father and grandfather if the rituals are properly performed by the children of the deceased. The house of the deceased is cleansed and the funeral ceremony is performed by the priest on the 31st day after death. The priest makes a large pinda (rice ball), which personifies a dead soul, and three small pinda, symbolizing the souls of the father, great-grandfather and grandfather of a dead person.

Then, to reunite the deceased with the ancestors, the large pinda is cut into 3 small pieces, which are connected to the previously prepared small pindas. The ritual of reuniting with the ancestors ends after the pindas are fed to crows, cows or fish. This ritual is performed 31 days after death or 11 days after cremation. It is believed that any evil spirits in the house of the deceased disappear after the completion of this ritual.

5. Re-incarnation in the same family

Hindus believe that a person's state of mind at the time of death determines whether a person goes to heaven or is born again. If a person fulfilled his earthly destiny, resolved conflicts with others, then he is likely to go to heaven. If a person died as a result of an accident or unexpected illness, then he will have the opportunity to be born again.

Hindus believe that in the event of an unexpected death, a dead soul is likely to be born into the same family (for example, the son of the deceased can give birth to his deceased father if all the rituals are performed correctly). Also, according to the Vedas, the relatives of the dead should not grieve or mourn for them if a person died peacefully. It is believed that such lamentations will keep the dead soul tied to earthly relationships and delay its departure to heaven. For accidental or unexpected death in the Vedas there are no restrictions associated with mourning.

6. Path after death

Hindus believe that the time of death and the environment at the time of death determine where the soul appears in the other world. Hindus believe that death on certain auspicious days can lead a person straight to heaven. It is believed that at the time of death it is best to recite the names of the Hindu gods, mantras and Vedi. It is also believed in India that death on the day of a religious festival or puja will cause a person to go to his god in heaven, regardless of what he has done in his life on Earth.

In addition, the Hindus believe that there are many heavens, and depending on where and how a person died, he goes to one of them (for example, soldiers who died on the battlefield go to their paradise). Some people who feel the imminent approach of death ask their relatives to recite mantras and names of gods next to them until they die. Therefore, Hindus prefer to die at home, with friends and relatives, rather than in a hospital.

7. Sacrifices

In the Vedic period, sacrifice rituals were often performed, since human sacrifice to God was not considered an evil act at this time. As a rule, this was done for reasons such as getting rid of the wrath of God, obtaining magical powers, etc. A person who offers himself as a sacrifice to God is considered a "bhakta." This means that he is devoted to God, and his family members are then considered "privileged." The victim either gets a wonderful place in heaven, or is born into a very wealthy family in the next life.

Such casualties were numerous during times of natural disasters, droughts and epidemics. Although these atrocities are prohibited by law, they are still practiced in remote villages in India.

8. The dead remain at the place of death or grave

Hindus believe that the souls of the dead usually live at the place of death or at the place of burial (cremation) until all the rituals are completed. Dead souls are supposedly bound by worldly emotions, feelings, and relationships. And they cannot leave the world until they are freed by performing certain rituals.

Hindus burn the bodies of the dead, and do not bury them, because they believe that this will help the soul to break its connection with the dead body and move on to the new world. It is believed that souls take time to move from the physical world to the world of the dead, and rituals help shorten this time. Hindus also believe that some souls may be shocked or dissatisfied with sudden death, and rituals help them get rid of shock and fear.

9. Dead bodies in the river Ganges

Hindus believe that the Ganges River is a sacred river that connects heaven and earth. It is not surprising that they believe in the following: if the half-burnt body of the deceased is thrown into this river, then the dead soul will certainly reach the sky, regardless of actions on Earth, circumstances or time of death. This led to a sharp pollution of the Ganges River, turning it into a river of the dead. Thousands of decomposed dead bodies float in the river even today. But people still bathe in the Ganges and even drink water from this river, considering it sacred.

It is found that about 150,000 dead bodies decompose in the river every year. Some people who live far from the river bring the ashes of their burnt relatives to the Ganges and perform ritual ceremonies. Despite the enormous pollution in the areas adjacent to the river, the government has taken no action to stop the dumping of corpses into the Ganges.

10. Prayers to the dead

Hindus believe that dead ancestors can be worshiped and also sought protection in daily life. They believe that dead ancestors and relatives come in a dream and live nearby if they are honored and worshiped. It is also generally accepted in India that all rituals performed in honor of the dead associate them with relatives or family members.

Hindus usually keep photographs of the dead next to the idols of their gods at home, worshiping them every day. The photographs of the deceased are decorated with flowers and are considered sacred.

India never ceases to amaze! Recently the clip of the representatives of the Indian caste of untouchables became a hit on the Internet.