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| # Why do fewer जीवात्मा || jivatmas attain पित्र् लोक || Pitr loka (loka of ancestors)? | | # Why do fewer जीवात्मा || jivatmas attain पित्र् लोक || Pitr loka (loka of ancestors)? |
| # In पञ्चाग्नि || Panchagni, the fifth आहुती || ahuti (oblation), how does अप तत्त्व || Apa Tattva get the name of पुरुष || Purusha? | | # In पञ्चाग्नि || Panchagni, the fifth आहुती || ahuti (oblation), how does अप तत्त्व || Apa Tattva get the name of पुरुष || Purusha? |
| + | In Chandogya Upanishad, in answer to these questions, the explanation about the Devayana and Pitruyana is given. |
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| == [[देवयान मार्ग|देवयान ||]] [[देवयान मार्ग|Devayana]] (Path to the Realm of Brahma) == | | == [[देवयान मार्ग|देवयान ||]] [[देवयान मार्ग|Devayana]] (Path to the Realm of Brahma) == |
| The Devayana path also called as Northern path or the path of light is the path by which the student or sadhaka of Brahmavidya goes to Brahman. This path leads to salvation and takes the devotee to Brahmaloka. These sadhakas consider the worship of Brahman above the religious rites and are called Aparavidya upasakas. The student who receives [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या || Brahmavidya]] with श्रद्धा || shraddha (devotion) while doing तपस् || tapas in the forest follows the following path. | | The Devayana path also called as Northern path or the path of light is the path by which the student or sadhaka of Brahmavidya goes to Brahman. This path leads to salvation and takes the devotee to Brahmaloka. These sadhakas consider the worship of Brahman above the religious rites and are called Aparavidya upasakas. The student who receives [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या || Brahmavidya]] with श्रद्धा || shraddha (devotion) while doing तपस् || tapas in the forest follows the following path. |
− | * He reaches the अर्चिर्देवाः || archirdeva (the God of Light) during उत्क्रमन || Utkramana time or during departing time. | + | * He reaches the अर्चिर्देवाः || archirdeva (the Adityas) during उत्क्रमन || Utkramana time or during departing time. |
− | * The ब्रह्मज्ञानी || Brahmajñāni continues on his journey through the daytime (God of Day) through the शुक्लपक्ष || shukla paksha (bright half of the lunar month). | + | * The ब्रह्मज्ञानी || Brahmajnani continues on his journey through the daytime (God of Day) through the शुक्लपक्ष || shukla paksha (bright half of the lunar month). |
| * From there they go higher into the realm when the Sun is in the Uttarayayana or Northern hemisphere. From here they go to the realm of the संवत्सर देवताः || samvatsara devata. This realm is the point of separation of the Devayana and Pitrayana paths. | | * From there they go higher into the realm when the Sun is in the Uttarayayana or Northern hemisphere. From here they go to the realm of the संवत्सर देवताः || samvatsara devata. This realm is the point of separation of the Devayana and Pitrayana paths. |
| * Then through the देवताः || devta he reaches आदित्य || [[aditya]] which is the passage for the soul to liberation and from there to the subtle realm of चन्द्र || chandra (the Moon God). | | * Then through the देवताः || devta he reaches आदित्य || [[aditya]] which is the passage for the soul to liberation and from there to the subtle realm of चन्द्र || chandra (the Moon God). |
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| == Jnanamarga and Karmamarga == | | == Jnanamarga and Karmamarga == |
| One important question raised is who traverses which path? What kind of actions leads one on either of these paths? Do all beings take either one of these paths? Answers to such questions is given extensively in Brahmasutras and Upanishads. | | One important question raised is who traverses which path? What kind of actions leads one on either of these paths? Do all beings take either one of these paths? Answers to such questions is given extensively in Brahmasutras and Upanishads. |
− | | + | * The BrihadAraNyaka (6.2.15 and 6.2.16) says that those who meditate on the Panchagni's (five fires), Satya or Brahman reach the world of Hiranyagarbha (brahmaloka) eventually by the path of the gods. This is the Jnanamarga. |
− | The BrihadAraNyaka (6.2.15 and 6.2.16) says that those who meditate on the Panchagnividya (five fires), Satya or Brahman reach the world of Hiranyagarbha (brahmaloka) eventually by the path of the gods. This is the Jnanamarga. | + | * Those who perform yajnas, give away gifts, and undergo penances, eventually reach the world of chandra (moon), by the path of the ancestors. The path of the manes is clearly identified as those who take up the karma marga, not necessarily karma yoga which involves giving up the fruits of actions. As such, those who take the path of the manes and reach the world of chandra will have to be reborn on the earth after their merits have been exhausted. |
− | | + | * Those who do take neither the path of the gods nor the path of ancestors are reborn as insects, moths, mosquitoes, etc. and lead a lowly existence on earth. |
− | Those who perform yajnas, give away gifts, and undergo penances, eventually reach the world of chandra (moon), by the path of the manes. | |
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| == As in Bhagavad Gita == | | == As in Bhagavad Gita == |
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| Devayaana which means the path of the gods, and PitR^iyAna which | | Devayaana which means the path of the gods, and PitR^iyAna which |
− | means the path of the manes, are indicated in the upanishhads. | + | means the path of the manes, are indicated in the upanishhads. |
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− | The path of the manes is clearly identified as those who take up
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− | the karma mArga, not necessarily karma yoga which involves giving
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− | up the fruits of actions. As such, those who take the path of the
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− | manes and reach the world of chandra will have to be reborn on the
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− | earth after their merits have been exhausted.
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| == References == | | == References == |