In one of the previous posts, we have discussed the importance of good and bad deeds, the characteristics of the different planes and residents of them. It is common knowledge now that the consequences of karma lead you to the deserved destination after birth. In Hinduism, the ancient texts highlight that death is not the end of the journey. It is merely the hit of a reset button. Once a body is too sick or old to host a soul, the soul simply sheds it to move onto the next milestone.

The nature of the milestone is dependent on the karmas that were done by a human being during the course of their life span. Considering the moral dilemmas that we continuously face from time to time, sometimes it becomes difficult to determine which path to take to make sure the action is accounted for in the good karma list. While there is a clarity on some deeds, for others, the dilemma still exists. 

For example, if a man is beating his wife day and night, is it ethical or moral for the wife to leave him or should she continue to serve him despite the everyday challenges. A choice arises here – preservation of self or following the Dharma as prescribed in legends and historical texts of the religion? The confusion exists. Free will is given to a human being for a reason. Your moral compass has to decide which path you would like to take forward.

Which Actions Account as Good Karma or Equity?

Keeping the deliberations aside, I bring a small account of some of the typical karmic actions that can incur good karma. The karmic decision is not just based on the action itself but also on the intention behind the action. If your intentions are bad towards a person but you are doing something good, this might also be considered a bad deed. 

It is often said that God is a witness to not just the actions but also the thoughts that spike up in the minds of people. In the Bhagwat Geeta, Krishna highlighted that he was the Sakshi of everyone’s mind and walked beside every individual to keep an account of their deeds. So, let’s list down some of the Good Karma (that can help in reducing the debts of the past lives):

• Accepting misfortune as the will of God and continue to work hard
• Completion of the Duties towards Family members without any attachment or expectation of anything in return
• Giving Dakshina or charity without expecting anything in return
• Giving gifts to people as a matter of Thanks 
• Pilgrimage – travelling to the tirth sthan as per the religion. For example – 4 Dhaam, 12 Jyotirlinga, 7 Puris, 51 shakti peethas etc. 
• Bhakti towards God. There are different Gods in the Hindu religion. As per the liking and personality of an individual, the right kind of God can be chosen. 
• Puja on a regular basis to the God of choice. Temples can be visited for the same purpose or a temple can be built at home. 
• Sacrifices through Yagna or offerings to Gods in one form or the other. For example, some people give up drinking, eating meat, bad habits etc. 

All the above actions are treated as good karma as God expects humans to walk on the right path of life conduct. The more we upheld Dharma, the more we are walking towards the path of incurring good equity. 

Which Actions Account as Bad Karma or Debt?

While you should be aware of the good karma, you must also be aware of the bad karma that can cause you to incur debts. Sometimes it can take several lives or rebirths to clear the bad karma futuristically. If a conscious effort is made, bad karma can be avoided. It can also help in escaping the Narka after death. 

Let’s grab a look at some of the most common bad karma that are listed in our ancient texts. You can easily find a reference to the lists in Puranas and more specifically the Garuda Purana. I have gone through several texts and books to bring a gist of the list here. 

• Enjoying life without thinking about hard work, consequences and ignoring responsibilities towards family or the community as a whole. 
• Caressing your Ego through actions
• Ambition that causes harm to others
• Greed towards money or other materialistic things while causing harm to other people
• Dominating other people without thinking about their needs and forcing people to submit to you
• People who commit sexual crimes
• Adultery, rape, leaving a spouse or engaging in any activity that causes harm to the partner
• Indulging in bad habits like alcoholism and ignoring of responsibilities towards home and family
• Selfishness. For example, denial of food, water, hospitality and respect to the guests.
• Oppressors, dictators, mass murderers, serial killers etc. 
• Individuals who torture or mistreat animals. Also, people who disrespect the earth and the fruits that sprout from it. 

If you really want to really love yourself and would love to take a step forward in your spiritual growth, now is the time to know everything that you can. One step in the right direction can go a long way. Make it a lifestyle to incur good karma on a regular basis. A conscious effort made by a person can really help in improving your odds and making your future lives much easier. Eventually, you will be able to live in the heavens and lead a moral life.

In the Sanatan Dharm, a cosmic timeline is given to understand the evolution and development of the society from the start. Many of us have heard about the Epic stories from our History that include – Ramayana and Mahabharata primarily. When the new generation is told to follow the traits of the prominent characters, they often argue that these events occurred in a different time when the nature of the society was completely different. This fact is extremely true. For this reason, an understanding of societal development is shared through the Four Yugas. Not only do the traits of the characters differ but also the society as a whole differs. 

Background to Understand What is a Yuga

A Yuga is a timeline of a few thousand years put together in which society’s salient features continue to deteriorate. For example, the Satya Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the Dwapar Yuga and the Kali/Kal Yuga. Many experts also state that a Ghor Kal Yuga is also scheduled to happen which will mark the end of times for this cycle of the world. 

The lens of understanding the four yugas should not rely only on the stories that have come to us from the different eras but also societal growth and evolution. Every Mahayuga consists of four yugas. And there are 1000 Mahayugas in one Kalpa. So, if you think you are the only one living in Kalyug, this might be completely wrong.

In the past, the Vedas highlight that our world was created as a part of one Mahayuga. The cycle of creation and destruction continues to happen to complete one cycle of life. Before the onset of a Mahayuga, Brahma creates the world which then completes one cycle. It is then destroyed by Kalki Avatar and Shiva in unison. This event paves way for the creation of another one. 

To give a small understanding of the number of years in each category, I have worked out a simple math for you as per the readings:

1 Mahayuga (Chaturyuga) includes:

• Satya Yuga: 1.728 million years
• Treta Yuga: 1.296 million years
• Dvapara Yuga: 864,000 years
• Kali Yuga: 432,000 years
  A Total of = 4.32 million years

1 Kalpa = 1,000 Mahayugas

This means: 4.32 million years × 1,000 = 4.32 billion years

In some versions, it is said that it takes 1 Kalpa to complete Brahma’s Day and 1 Kalpa to complete Brahma’s night. With the completion of one day of Brahma, 8.64 billion years pass.

Characteristics of the Four Yugas

Now that you have a basic understanding of the workings, let’s get down to knowing the basic features of the four yugas. I have made an attempt to accumulate all the information that I have gained from readings and popular understandings of the ancient texts in a tabular form:

Parallel Worlds

Have you ever heard of the concept of parallel worlds? If you haven’t, it’s time to research it. While science is catching up to these ideas, there are several stories in our history like Ramayana and Mahabharata where God himself shares insight into the existence of parallel worlds. If you think this is the only world existent then you are in for a surprise. 

According to the ancient texts, the same series of events continue to happen with the onset of each Mahayuga. It is for human beings to make the right choices and alleviate their stature with their rebirths. The ultimate goal is to remove the attachments to Maya and realise the ultimate truths of the world and God. 

In this article, I have made an attempt to put some light into the vastness of our world and its history. Just because we have chosen to turn a blind eye or rely on science more than the information in books at hand, does not diminish the fact that we as humans collectively have a choice to make. We can either continue to reject the realities and be comfortable with the environment we have built for ourselves. Or, just for this once, take a leap of faith, read the ancient texts and believe in the word of God. 

Where do you want to start? Let’s talk and explore the ultimate ways to make progress in your spiritual journey. Take the step forward with me.

Did you like this read, then you might also like to read about: Treasures of Samudra Manthan

The Ocean of Milk, on which Vishnu permanently resides atop the Sheshnag, was once churned – this activity is also known as the Samudra Manthan. The churning brought with itself a big number of gifts and presents that were not anticipated by the Devas or the Asuras. Of course, every gift brought with itself a different level of excitement that could be seen on the faces of sides. In the following few sections, we will take a deep dive into the varied aspects of the Samudra Manthan and make an attempt to understand it closely.

Objective of Samudra Manthan in the First Place

Rishi Durvasa was one of the most feared priests in all realms. He had a history of getting angry fast and cursing people if they did not live up to his expectations. The story dictates that once Durvasa received a magical fragrant garland from a Nymph. This was no ordinary garland. The flowers were blessed to never wither, give a divine fragrance and were treated as a symbol of prosperity. 

Durvasa gave this garland as a gift to Indra in an attempt to please him. However, Indra did not give much importance to the gift and placed it in the neck of his elephant (his vahan named Airavata). As Indra started riding Airavata, the elephant threw the garland on the floor and crumpled it with his feet.

This sequence of events angered Durvasa tremendously. Then and there, he cursed Indra that he would lose all his splendour and prosperity in Swarga. 

Note: In some versions of the story, there is a saying that the objective behind the Samudra Manthan was not only to get Lakshmi out of the Ocean of Milk but also to get Amrit which could bestow immortality on the Devas. It was the most powerful weapon that the Devas could have against the Asuras (who were the pillars of evil). As the Asuras were getting equally powerful as Devas, an element for a permanent one-upmanship was needed for the ultimate objective of the Good side winning the battles.

Why did Lakshmi Leave Swarga?

Lakshmi is seen as the Goddess of money and prosperity. When Durvasa cursed Indra, who was the lord of all the devas in Swarga, Goddess Lakshmi immediately left Swarga and hid herself in the Ocean of Milk. The curses of Rishis were so effective that the consequences came into effect immediately. 

Once Goddess Lakshmi left Swarga, Amravati was shadowed with gloom. All the happiness from the realm turned down and every pillar of wealth and prosperity ceased to exist. With this sequence of events, all the Devas ran to Vishnu to seek his advice on the best way to handle the situation and reinstate Goddess Lakshmi in Swarga. 

Elements used for the Samudra Manthan

When all the Devas begged Vishnu to share a solution to the curse, he asked them to make arrangements for the churning of the Ocean of the Milk to invite Lakshmi back to the realms. However, Vishnu also said that the churning could not be completed without the help of the Asuras. 

As the Asuras also missed Lakshmi, they agreed to the arrangement on the condition that they will share the wealth that stems out of the Samudra Manthan. The Devas and Asuras especially had their eye on the Amrit which was expected to come out of the Samudra Manthan as well. 

The main elements used for the Samudra Manthan were: 

• Mount Meru – Spindle of the Churn
• Vishnu took the Avatar of Kurma to ensure the Mountain remained Afloat – He became the base of the Churn
• Sesha (Vishnu’s Serpent) – became the rope that the Devas and Asuras pulled for the Churn and wound himself around the mountain

The Devas held the tail of the Sesha while the Asuras held the head.

Treasures from the Samudra Manthan

Once the churning started, it continued for 1000s of years. During this period, a number of gifts were bestowed upon the Devas and Asuras. A brief explanation of each of these treasures is given in the following table:

Learnings from the Churning of the Ocean of Milk

As an individual, I learnt a big number of hidden meanings from the entire process of the churning of the Ocean of Milk. I have made a small list of my learnings, if any of these resonate with you, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think:

• Without the assistance of Vishnu or God, nothing can happen in your life.
• Lakshmi or money and prosperity, demands sacrifice and a big amount of hard work. It does not just come to your doorstep due to luck. 
• Alakshmi is Lakshmi’s sister that spreads bad omens and feeding her should come before serving sweets to Lakshmi herself. Upon research I found out that the hanging of Green Chillies and Lemon outside the main door of your homes can keep Alakshmi at bay (as this is one of her favourite foods). 
• You cannot achieve anything in life without help. A person would always need friends and family members to help them through the worst times to reach the peak in their lives. 
• Patience is the key to success. Perseverance and self-belief can help you go a long way!
• Arrogance and disrespect to anyone can cause misfortune. It is essential for an individual to remain humble and down-to-earth even if he/she becomes the God of Heavens. Stay close to your roots and remind yourself about hardships of the journey you had to take to make it where you are today.
• It is ok to seek help from the experts. They will always extend a hand of assistance to the best of their ability.

Hinduism is the only religion in the world today that gives a clear picture on the cycle of birth, rebirth and the journey of a soul, once the body is dead. The ancient texts share information on exactly what happens after death and answers your questions relating to ghosts, demons, angels etc. Rather than painting a fancy picture, our granth brings clarity on the deeds and misdeeds. It gives us a clear cut view of the consequences a person faces for the bad deeds done in a lifetime.

Even though God has created us, he has given us a free will as well. We are free to do whatever we want. You can either put into action every bad or good thought or control your bad thoughts and work on practicing only the good deeds. The choice is practically yours. 

Who is Yama God and Why is he called the Dharmaraj?

After the Sun God married Saranyu (daughter of Tvastr – the celestial artisan), she gave birth to twins who were named – Yama and Yami. Saranyu could not bear the heat and light that came from the Sun God. One day, she placed her shadow named Chaya in place of her to look after the twins and the rest of the duties. For a long period of time, the Sun God was unable to tell the difference between Saranyu and Chaya. This eventually led to Chaya giving birth to her own children from Surya. She also hated the stepchildren and often treated them badly. Yama once struck Chaya when he could not tolerate her misbehavior any longer. This gave away the disguise and the Sun God left in search for his wife. The rest of the story will be told another day!

There are different stories that estimate the reasons behind Yama becoming Yama God (The God of Death). The first story is that – Yami wanted to have children and reached out to Yama with love so she could become a mother. Yama hated the idea of incest and turned away. He asked his sister to seek another man for her desires as he regarded incest as one of the biggest sins.

Yama died without having children and thus became the first Pitr. He found himself trapped in the land of the dead. He did not have any children who could facilitate his rebirth in the land of the living. As he was the first of them all, he was given the task of becoming the God of Death and to direct all souls. It is also said that since Yami mourned for her brother, she became Yamini – the sad lady of the night. She became a part of the nature.

In another version of the story, it is said that when Yama kicked Chaya, his leg got infested with maggots. This act also put a curse on him and made him the God of Death.

On a related note:

For those of you who paid attention to the story of Mahabharata or watched the popular TV shows that narrate the story, you must be well aware that Yuddhishthir (eldest of the Pandava sons), was also called Dharmaraj. Don’t jump to the conclusion that Yuddhisthir is Yama God. Rather he was the son of Yama born from the womb of Kunti (the story of Yama God’s son being named as Pandava son will be discussed another day).

What are the Main Features of the Yama God?

Every God in the Sanatan Dharm has a role to play. As Lord Krishna said, everyone has to perform Karm. The roles and duties of every God are carefully outlined and the code of law is marked out for them to follow. Let’s break down the features and role of this God in a brief way. 

According to the varied readings, you can easily say that Dharmaraj has complete control on his emotions. The internal or external circumstances do not affect him. His duty is to give strict adherence to the laws of the world. He is never seen to be biased towards anyone. The reflection of this conduct can be easily seen in the picturisation of the characteristics of Yudhishthir in the Mahabharata Purana as well. 

The Yama God is given the responsibility to keep an account of all the good and bad deeds. He is the ultimate Dharmaraja who walks along with a person throughout his lifetime. Quietly taking note of everything, he gives his judgement upon death alone. 

The Yama God as per our Vedas is not like the Devil or Lucifer as described in the Bible. He is not evil. He is just the carrier of the scales of justice and ensuring balance is his job. When a Pitr or a soul has debts to pay from the past lives, he makes sure the payment is done in the next or the next. The cycle goes on until you are debt free. For example, if you are an honest person, you will repay the money you owe to the bank in due time. The nature of deeds is just like the bank and account keeper is Yama God. 

Based on the deeds done in a particular life, the Yama God then decides the place, time, circumstances, family, type of body, fortunes and misfortunes etc. that are to be given to a particular soul in the next lifetime (when the time is right). 

Can you Escape the Cycle of Karma?

When you are sent back to the Bhuloka by Yama God to balance the scales of deeds and debts, a human being does not carry the memories of the past lives. So, how can one determine whether the debts are paid or which good deed to perform to ensure the scales are balanced for the next life? 

Another popular question that I have come across is – If we keep doing new karmas while trying to balance the old ones, is there ever an end to the cycle? You can never escape doing Karma. The following explanation might come of some help here:

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita –

“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥”

It means that performing Karma is the duty of every human being. Even if you draw a single breath or eat food, you are performing a Karma. The one thing that separates the good people from the bad is consuming only the amount you absolutely need. When people start knowing the difference between Need and Want that is when nature and the world starts thriving again. 

The only way to escape the cycle of karma, birth and rebirth – is to keep your actions in check at all times. Refrain from conducting any bad actions. A description of actions that constitute equities and debts will be explained in another post. Another way of escaping the cycle is meditation, spiritual growth and commitment to enlightenment. 

Your Spiritual growth and investment is the only thing that is carried forward by the soul from one birth to another. If you have not embarked on your journey to spiritualism, now is the time!

If you liked this article, you might also want to read about – Main Elements of Creation