Leaving the body or death and souls further journey is one of the most enquired and interesting topics for almost all the living entities in this world. We have learnt that many people have researched and are still researching the secret of soul travelling after death. The common questions asked are: What happens immediately after death? Where does the soul go? What is the destiny of the soul? Etc.,
There are many theories and explanation on the journey of the soul. The journey of the soul is explained vividly in “Garuda Purana”, how soul leaves the body, what is its journey based on its activities/karma when the soul had a Gross body, Who and how the soul travels from various types of hellish planets, how the soul is given “Yatna Sharira” or body for suffering, what type of punishments one gets for his activities performed during his life time, How one can get sigh of relief when his subjects performs shraddha ceremony etc. All these topics are explained, and this is most of the time very scary to hear for people in general.
In Bhagavad Gita chapter 8, Krishna explains the destiny of different people after death is based on their activities and the state of consciousness at the time of death.
In Bagavad gita 8.16, Krishna informs arjuna:
ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ
punar āvartino ’rjuna
mām upetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate
From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains my abode, O son of kunti, never takes birth again.
Persons who are more attached to material hankering or sense gratification, performs various kinds of activities such as sacrifice, building hospitals, orphanages, gives donations in charity, performs social welfare activities etc, for attaining higher planets such as swargaloka, however in the above verse Krishna clearly explains that even if one is elevated to higher planets such as Brahmaloka, Chandraloka or Indraloka, he has to fall down once his account of pious deeds is nullified.
In the purport of BG 8.24 Srila Prabhupada explains that “If one leaves body during the influence of fiery god, in the light, at an auspicious moment, during fortnight of the moon and during the six months when the sun travels in the north, if one leaves the body during this designated time by natures arrangement or by accident, it is possible for him to attain the impersonal brahmajyoti, This is just a possibility and not guaranteed. However, for the pure devotee in krsna consciousness, there is no fear of returning, whether he leaves the body at an auspicious or inauspicious moment, by accident or arrangement, he attains the supreme abode.
This is also confirmed by Lord Krishna in BG 8.5:
anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ
yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ
And whoever at the time of death, quits his body, remembering me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.
In this verse Krishna assures arjuna that one who quits his body remembering him alone at the time of death, irrespective of time, place, and circumstances, he assured to attain my abode, of this there is no doubt. So, the conclusion is very clear, that when one is in krsna consciousness, he does not have to fear death as he is assured to achieve the highest perfection of life and Go Back Home, Back to Godhead.
Hare Krishna
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