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“We showed the horoscopes of all in the family to a good astrologer. After reading through all the horoscopes he says that an unnatural death (‘dur-marana’) has occurred in the family. But, to our knowledge no such death has taken place in our family. What is the reason for the astrologer to say this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“In today’s world unnatural deaths can occur even without our knowledge. Having conceived a child many people abort it, through modern medical aid, as they decide against having a child. Even these are certainly murders; unnatural deaths; murder of a fetus. Such occurrences might have taken place in your family without your knowledge; or even if you had knowledge of it you would not have considered it as a murder.”

“If it were so what is the expiation for this?”

Sri Swamiji:

“Normally, the only expiation for such unnatural deaths that take place knowingly or unknowingly is the ‘shrãddha’ that is performed in Gaya Kshetra. The ‘pinda’ offered in ‘Vishnu Pãda’ here is given to the ‘pitrus’ by none other than Vishnu Himself and He takes them ashore. Moreover, in Gaya we can offer ‘pinda’ for anyone - to someone known to us, friends, teachers, neighbours, co-travellers, orphans, etc. It is said that a man begets many sons only with the thought, ‘Atleast one of them would certainly go to Gaya and offer ‘pinda’ for me.’ ”

“Has anything been said in the Vedas about the ‘gati’ (state) that a ‘jiva’ attains after death?”

Sri Swamiji:

“The different states that are attained by the ‘jiva’ is detailed in the Upanishads. There are two kinds of state (‘avasthai’) for all creatures, beginning from Brahma to a tiny insect. One is drinking and the other is eating.
The one who dies with the thought that he is verily the ‘sarîra’ (body) is reborn as any one of these creatures.
The one who dies with the thought that he is verily the ‘prãna’ (breath), i.e. those who control their mind and take it on the path of dharma and thus earn ‘punya (good merits), attains the heaven (‘swarga’).
The one who dies with the thought that he is verily the ‘arivu’ (intellect) attains the higher worlds (‘lokãs’).
The one who goes beyond this and annihilates the mind realizing that he is verily the ‘Ãtma’ becomes Jivan Mukta (Liberated while yet living in the body).
All these have been said in the Upanishads!”

“Bhaktãs speak only of ‘premai’ (Love) as the goal to be attained. Does this mean that their goal is not to attain ‘Ãtma swaroopa’ (Self-Realisation)?”

Sri Swamiji:

“In the Upanishads, while speaking of the ‘Ãtma swaroopa’ it is said ‘Priyameva shirah’. The Upanishads says, ‘Brahma swaroopa is verily the form of Love (‘prema’), verily the form of Compassion (‘karuna’).’ ‘Ãtma swaroopa’ (Self) is verily ‘Prema swaroopa’ (form of Love) only.”

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