Garuda Purana: Those 47 days of the soul after death, what happens to the soul during these days? Know
Garuda Purana: After death, the soul of the deceased reaches Yamaloka. But this journey takes 47 days for the soul and what happens to the soul during these days is described in Garuda Purana.
Garuda Purana, Lord Vishnu Niti: Death is the inevitable truth of life, that is, whoever is born, his death is certain. Every creature that comes to earth has to leave this world. Lord Krishna has also said about the soul in the Geeta Updesh that the body is mortal and the soul is immortal. That is, after death the body may be destroyed but the soul remains alive. Now the question is that if the soul remains alive, then what happens to the soul after death? You will find the answer to this in the important and sacred text of Hinduism, Garuda Purana.
In Garuda Purana, Lord Vishnu's vehicle, the bird king Garuda, asks, Narayan! What happens to the soul after death and after how many days does the soul reach Yamaloka? Answering Garuda's question, Lord Vishnu says, after death, the soul takes 47 days to travel to Yamaloka. During these 47 days, it has to face many kinds of tortures.
These signs are found before death
Bhagwan tells that when someone's death is near, first of all the voice of the person goes away. After this, some time before death, the person gets divine sight, in which the person starts seeing the whole world in one form and in this way all the senses of his body become weak. When a person dies, two messengers come from Yamlok and on seeing the messengers, the soul leaves the body and goes out. After the soul leaves the body, the messengers of Yamraj tie a noose around the neck of the soul and take it to Yamlok.
Why is the thirteenth day ritual and Pinddaan necessary after death?
If the deceased person has committed sins in his life, then the Yamdoots take the sinful soul to Yamlok through hot air and dark path and he has to face many kinds of tortures on the way. After this, the soul is left back to his home through the sky route. It is said that after death, the soul of the deceased stays with his family for a full 13 days and also watches the last rites and rituals that take place after death. After 13 days, when the soul's Pinddaan, thirteenth day and Brahmin feast etc. are done, then Yamraj's Yamdoots come to take the soul again. Therefore, in Hinduism, it is considered necessary to do Pinddaan on thirteenth day and for 10 days after someone's death. Because this gives strength to the soul to travel to Yamlok. But even after this, the journey to Yamlok is not easy for the soul.
Those 47 days after death
When after 13 days Yamdoots come to take the soul to Yamlok, the soul first has to cross the Vaitarni river. This river is considered to be the fierce form of the Ganga river. This river is red in colour because flames keep coming out of it. While crossing the river, the soul has to bear the bites of dangerous creatures. It takes a full 47 days to cross this river. But if the person has done good deeds or donated a cow in his lifetime, then he does not have to bear these tortures. Because the soul crosses the Vaitarni river by holding the tail of the same cow.
After crossing the Vaitarni river, when the soul reaches Yamalok, Yamraj keeps a record of its deeds. In this way, according to the deeds done in lifetime, Yamraj sends the soul to heaven or hell. Therefore, a person should always do good deeds in his life. Because the fruits of good deeds are received not only in life but also after death. After death, only your deeds go with you.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on beliefs and information only. It is important to mention here that NC does not confirm any kind of belief, or information. Before implementing any information or belief, consult the concerned expert.