This is a very mysterious question that has surely crossed your mind at some point: What happens after death?
No one has ever truly known what happens after death — but today, I’m going to tell you what Hinduism, the world’s oldest religion, says about it. Once you understand this, you’ll see how practical it really is and chances are, you’ll be able to relate to it at some point in your life.
Table of Contents
What is death?
After birth, there is only one future that is certain and that is death. Whether it’s a living being, animal, human, or even an insect death comes to all. According to Hinduism, the body and the soul are separate. When the body becomes destroyed or becomes too old, the soul need a different body — just like we wear new clothes when the old ones are torn or worn out. Similarly, the soul also needs a new body to enter.
What Happens after death?
As I have already mentioned, the soul resides in the body, and the two are distinct entities.Here, I am going to tell you about the journey of the soul from the moment it leaves the body to the very end.
1.Flashback of Memories and self realisation
When the life force is leaving the body, the person feels as if they are lost in a world of dreams. They see everyone their children, wife, relatives, and all the wealth they have earned. They feel the pain of having to leave everything behind. They begin to cry, and a sense of self-realization starts to awaken within them,they realize that the time has come to leave this body behind.
2.Soul Leaving the Body
When a person dies, their soul exits the body through one of the many possible exit points present in body it could be the nose ,eyes,mouth etc.The doorway it takes and the amount of pain or suffering experienced during this process all depend on their karma.The amount of pain the soul has to endure while leaving the body depends on a person’s karma. If the person has performed good deeds in their life, the soul experiences very little suffering during its departure.Thats why all say ,the result of good deeds is always positive. Just like a person, a soul also forms a bond with the body it has lived in for so long — and because of that connection, it does not want to leave the body but it is bound by a universal rule — that it must leave the body at some point, no matter what.
3.The soul can see its physical form lying motionless below
As the soul leaves the body, it stays near it for some time. It sees its own body lying below and watches its family members crying. Though the soul wants to speak to them, it cannot — and even if it tries, no one can hear its voice in the soul’s form
4.The Path of the Soul After Leaving the Body
After staying near its body for some time, the soul is approached by Yamdoots (messengers of death) the agents of yama( god of death and justice).Those who have committed bad deeds face punishment from the Yamdoots as they are taken away to the afterlife (a world where Register of deeds ,Bad or Good are analysed).On its way to the afterlife, the soul must cross a river of fire. Whether it has to cross it or not is determined entirely by its karma. Each time a soul is taken to the other world, it faces various challenges and hardships — all based on the deeds it performed during its lifetime.
5.Opening of the Register of Deeds
As the soul enters the realm beyond, a divine moment unfolds the Register of Deeds is opened. Every action, word, and thought from its lifetime is laid bare. Nothing is hidden. The soul witnesses its own karma being read out — the good, the bad, and everything in between.This is like a court for the soul, where the divine judges have a complete record of the truth. Nothing can be hidden here, and no one can escape it
This record determines the path ahead: peace or punishment, rebirth or liberation. The soul cannot argue, for it knows everything written is the truth — a mirror reflecting the choices it made in its earthly journey.
6.Judgement Day
According to one’s deeds, the soul attains either heaven or hell. It is important to understand that if a person has performed both good and bad karma, the soul will have to spend time in both places. The amount of time spent in heaven will depend on the good deeds, and the time in hell will be based on the bad ones
7.Aftermath
After spending time in heaven or hell, the soul receives a new body according to its karma. Some may be reborn as humans, others as animals, insects, or into any of the countless species — all based on the actions of their previous lives.
For example, suppose someone lived their past life as a butcher, causing pain and killing animals — in the next birth, they may be given a body in which they too experience the same kind of suffering, possibly being slaughtered in the way they once treated others. This is the law of karma — whatever you do comes back to you
That is why, when one is born into the human form, they should focus on performing good deeds. An interesting truth is that even humans must endure suffering in their lifetime — why? Because not all the consequences of past bad karma are fully experienced in hell. Some of that pain carries over into the next birth and must be faced in the new body as well
Is there any way to escape this cycle?
Yes — there is. The only true path is Bhakti Yoga — the path of devotion. Through sincere devotion to the Divine, one can purify their karma, transcend suffering, and move closer to liberation (moksha).To break the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth Bhakti yoga is the only possible way.
To know more in detail about what happens after death, one can read the Garuda Purana — an ancient Hindu scripture that explains the soul’s journey, karma, the afterlife, and the laws of dharma in great depth.
Also read:How to start your spiritual journey
