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देवयानम् ॥ Devayana (Path to the Realm of Gods) and पितृयानम् ॥ Pitruyana (Path to the Realm of Ancestors) is the description of the path of the soul's journey to the higher realms. Existence of [[Atman (आत्मन्)|आत्मन् ॥ Atma]] (soul), after-death life, cycles of birth and death, and [[Moksha Dristipath|मोक्षः ॥ moksha]] (liberation from the cycles of birth and death) are the core principles laid down by the Vedas, on which the [[Upanishads]] elucidate the path for attainment of moksha. Knowledge of [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या ॥ brahmavidya]] is an important path towards the attainment of moksha. The path taken by a ब्रह्मजिज्ञासुः ॥ brahmajijnasu and those who go through the cycles of birth and death are elucidated in many vedic texts.

देवयानम् ॥ Devayana (Path to the Realm of Gods) and पितृयानम् ॥ Pitruyana (Path to the Realm of Ancestors) is the description of the path of the soul's journey to the higher realms. Existence of [[Atman (आत्मन्)|आत्मन् ॥ Atma]] (soul), after-death life, cycles of birth and death, and [[Moksha Dristipath|मोक्षः ॥ moksha]] (liberation from the cycles of birth and death) are the core principles laid down by the Vedas, on which the [[Upanishads (उपनिषदाः)|Upanishads]] elucidate the path for attainment of moksha. Knowledge of [[Brahmavidya (ब्रह्मविद्या)|ब्रह्मविद्या ॥ brahmavidya]] is an important path towards the attainment of moksha. The path taken by a ब्रह्मजिज्ञासुः ॥ brahmajijnasu and those who go through the cycles of birth and death are elucidated in many vedic texts.

== परिचयः || Introduction ==

== परिचयः || Introduction ==

[[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|सनातनधर्मः ॥ Sanatana Dharma]] through various texts and treatises expounded the existence of जीवात्मन् ||  [[Jivatma]] (soul) and पुनर्जन्म || [[Punarjanma]] (rebirth or reincarnation) of the soul going through cycles of birth and death according to the person's Karma.  When the Jivatma of an individual leaves the body or [[Upadhi (उपाधिः)|उपाधिः || Upadhi]] (carnal attibutes) it is called Death. Cycles of birth and death are based on the पुण्यकर्म ॥ Punya karma and पापकर्म ॥ Papa karma of the individual, and it goes on until the soul attains moksha (salvation).<ref name=":1">Mani, Vettam. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass. (Page 613 and 614)</ref>

[[Sanatana Dharma (सनातनधर्मः)|सनातनधर्मः ॥ Sanatana Dharma]] through various texts and treatises expounded the existence of जीवात्मन् ||  [[Atman (आत्मन्)|Jivatma]] (soul) and पुनर्जन्म || [[Punarjanma]] (rebirth or reincarnation) of the soul going through cycles of birth and death according to the person's Karma.  When the Jivatma of an individual leaves the body or [[Upadhi (उपाधिः)|उपाधिः || Upadhi]] (carnal attibutes) it is called Death. Cycles of birth and death are based on the पुण्यकर्म ॥ Punya karma and पापकर्म ॥ Papa karma of the individual, and it goes on until the soul attains moksha (salvation).<ref name=":1">Mani, Vettam. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass. (Page 613 and 614)</ref>

This can be explained with reference to the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य-उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad]] of the [[Samaveda (सामवेदः)|सामवेद: ॥ Sama Veda]] (5-3), where [[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतुः)|श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu]] once came to the assembly of पाञ्चाल-s || Panchalas, whose reigning monarch was Pravahana Jaivali.   

This can be explained with reference to the [[Chaandogya Upanishad (छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्)|छान्दोग्य-उपनिषद् ॥ Chandogya Upanishad]] of the [[Samaveda (सामवेदः)|सामवेद: ॥ Sama Veda]] (5-3), where [[Shvetaketu (श्वेतकेतुः)|श्वेतकेतुः ॥ Shvetaketu]] once came to the assembly of पाञ्चाल-s || Panchalas, whose reigning monarch was Pravahana Jaivali.   

[[File:Pritruyana.jpg|left|thumb|706x706px|'''''Pitruyana Marg : The Jivatma (soul) returning to the earth follows the above path.''''']]

[[File:Pritruyana.jpg|left|thumb|706x706px|'''''Pitruyana Marg : The Jivatma (soul) returning to the earth follows the above path.''''']]

<blockquote>तस्मिन्यवात्संपातमुषित्वाथैतमेवाध्वानं पुनर्निवर्तन्ते यथेतमाकाशमाकाशाद्वायुं वायुर्भूत्वा धूमो भवति धूमो भूत्वाऽभ्रं भवति ॥ ५ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>tasminyavātsaṃpātamuṣitvāthaitamevādhvānaṃ punarnivartante yathetamākāśamākāśādvāyuṃ vāyurbhūtvā dhūmo bhavati dhūmo bhūtvā'bhraṃ bhavati ॥ 5 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>अभ्रं भूत्वा मेघो भवति मेघो भूत्वा प्रवर्षति त इह व्रीहियवा ओषधिवनस्पतयस्तिलमाषा इति जायन्तेऽतो वै खलु दुर्निष्प्रपतरं यो यो ह्यन्नमत्ति यो रेतः सिञ्चति तद्भूय एव भवति ॥ ६ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote><blockquote>abhraṃ bhūtvā megho bhavati megho bhūtvā pravarṣati ta iha vrīhiyavā oṣadhivanaspatayastilamāṣā iti jāyante'to vai khalu durniṣprapataraṃ yo yo hyannamatti yo retaḥ siñcati tadbhūya eva bhavati ॥ 6 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote>

<blockquote>तस्मिन्यवात्संपातमुषित्वाथैतमेवाध्वानं पुनर्निवर्तन्ते यथेतमाकाशमाकाशाद्वायुं वायुर्भूत्वा धूमो भवति धूमो भूत्वाऽभ्रं भवति ॥ ५ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>tasminyavātsaṃpātamuṣitvāthaitamevādhvānaṃ punarnivartante yathetamākāśamākāśādvāyuṃ vāyurbhūtvā dhūmo bhavati dhūmo bhūtvā'bhraṃ bhavati ॥ 5 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.5)</blockquote><blockquote>अभ्रं भूत्वा मेघो भवति मेघो भूत्वा प्रवर्षति त इह व्रीहियवा ओषधिवनस्पतयस्तिलमाषा इति जायन्तेऽतो वै खलु दुर्निष्प्रपतरं यो यो ह्यन्नमत्ति यो रेतः सिञ्चति तद्भूय एव भवति ॥ ६ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote><blockquote>abhraṃ bhūtvā megho bhavati megho bhūtvā pravarṣati ta iha vrīhiyavā oṣadhivanaspatayastilamāṣā iti jāyante'to vai khalu durniṣprapataraṃ yo yo hyannamatti yo retaḥ siñcati tadbhūya eva bhavati ॥ 6 ॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.6)</blockquote>

* They dwell there (in the realm of Moon) till their karma is exhausted and these souls come back to पृथ्वीलोकः || Prthvi loka using the same path that they had used to go up, through the Akasha, Vayu, Smoke, Cloud and Rain.

* They dwell there (in the realm of Moon) till their karma is exhausted and these atmans come back to पृथ्वीलोकः || Prthvi loka using the same path that they had used to go up, through the Akasha, Vayu, Smoke, Cloud and Rain.

* Determined by one’s कर्म || karma, the soul is reborn embodied through  औषधाः || medicinal herbs / varieties of roots, वृक्षः || vrksha (tree) form, अन्नम् || anna (rice, barley, wheat, sesame) which when consumed by man forms the पुरुषबीजः || Purusha beeja (Semen) and then through स्त्रीगर्भः || Stree garbha (Womb of a woman) takes rebirth on the earth.

* Determined by one’s कर्म || karma, they are reborn embodied through  औषधाः || medicinal herbs / varieties of roots, वृक्षः || vrksha (tree) form, अन्नम् || anna (rice, barley, wheat, sesame) which when consumed by man forms the पुरुषबीजः || Purusha beeja (Semen) and then through स्त्रीगर्भः || Stree garbha (Womb of a woman) takes rebirth on the earth.

  <blockquote>तद्य इह रमणीयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते रमणीयां योनिमापद्येरन्ब्राह्मणयोनिं वा क्षत्रिययोनिं वा वैश्ययोनिं वाथ य इह कपूयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते कपूयां योनिमापद्येरन् श्वयोनिं वा सूकरयोनिं वा चण्डालयोनिं वा ॥७॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote><blockquote>tadya iha ramaṇīyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte ramaṇīyāṃ yonimāpadyeranbrāhmaṇayoniṃ vā kṣatriyayoniṃ vā vaiśyayoniṃ vātha ya iha kapūyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte kapūyāṃ yonimāpadyeran śvayoniṃ vā sūkarayoniṃ vā caṇḍālayoniṃ vā ॥7॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote>Meaning : By the power of धर्मः || dharma, कर्म || karma (दैवम् || daiva) and good conduct, through these grains, souls accept the wombs according to a definite principle and may be born either as a ब्राह्मणः || brahmana, क्षत्रियः || kshatriya or वैश्यः || vaishya. Such pious people are called as रमणीयचरणाः || ramaniya charana.  

  <blockquote>तद्य इह रमणीयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते रमणीयां योनिमापद्येरन्ब्राह्मणयोनिं वा क्षत्रिययोनिं वा वैश्ययोनिं वाथ य इह कपूयचरणा अभ्याशो ह यत्ते कपूयां योनिमापद्येरन् श्वयोनिं वा सूकरयोनिं वा चण्डालयोनिं वा ॥७॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote><blockquote>tadya iha ramaṇīyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte ramaṇīyāṃ yonimāpadyeranbrāhmaṇayoniṃ vā kṣatriyayoniṃ vā vaiśyayoniṃ vātha ya iha kapūyacaraṇā abhyāśo ha yatte kapūyāṃ yonimāpadyeran śvayoniṃ vā sūkarayoniṃ vā caṇḍālayoniṃ vā ॥7॥ (Chan. Upan. 5.10.7)</blockquote>Meaning : By the power of धर्मः || dharma, कर्म || karma (दैवम् || daiva) and good conduct, through these grains, souls accept the wombs according to a definite principle and may be born either as a ब्राह्मणः || brahmana, क्षत्रियः || kshatriya or वैश्यः || vaishya. Such pious people are called as रमणीयचरणाः || ramaniya charana.  

== कौषीतकिब्राह्मणोपनिषत् ॥ Kaushitaki Upanishad ==

== कौषीतकिब्राह्मणोपनिषत् ॥ Kaushitaki Upanishad ==

Kaushitaki Upanishad associated with the Rig Veda also describes the transit of soul in Devayana marga and the description of the Brahmaloka.<blockquote>स एतं देवयानं पन्थानमासाद्याग्निलोकमागच्छति स वायुलोकं स वरुणलोकं स आदित्यलोकं स इन्द्रलोकं स प्रजापतिलोकं स ब्रह्मलोकं तस्य ह वा एतस्य ब्रह्मलोकस्यारोहृदो मुहूर्तॊऽन्वेष्टिहा विरजा नदील्यो वृक्षः सालज्यं संस्थानमपराजितमायतनमिन्द्रप्रजापती द्वारगोपौ । विभुप्रमितं विचक्षणाऽसन्ध्यमितौजाः प्रयङ्कः प्रिया च मानसी प्रतिरूपा च चाक्षुषी पुष्पाण्यादायावयतौ वै च जगान्यम्बाश्चाम्बावयवीश्चाप्सरसः । अम्बया नद्यस्तमित्थंविदा गच्छति तं ब्रह्मा हाभिधावत मम यशसा विरजां वा अयं जरयिष्यतीति ॥ ३ ॥ (Kaus. Upan. 1.3)<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Kausihitaki Brahmana-Upanishad]</ref></blockquote>Summary: Having entered upon this Path of the gods, he comes to the अग्निलोकम्, the world of Fire, वायुलोकम् the world of Air, (then) वरुणलोकं the world of Varuna, (then) आदित्यलोकं the world of Aditya, (then) इन्द्रलोकं the world of Indra; (then) प्रजापतिलोकं  the world of Prajapati, (then)ब्रह्मलोकं  the world of Brahma. This world of Brahma has a lake of Ara, the moments of Yeshtihas, the river Vijara, the three Ilya, the city Salajja, the abode Aparajita, the door-keepers Indra and Prajapati, the hall Vibhu, the throne Vichakshana, the couch Amitaujas, the beloved Manasi and her counterpart Chaksusi, who taking flowers verily weave the worlds, the mothers, the nurses, the nymphs and the rivers. To it comes he who knows this. To him Brahma (says), �Run ye. With my glory verily he has reached the river Viraja, the ageless. He verily will not grow old.<ref>Warrier, Krishna A. G. ''[http://www.vedarahasya.net/kaushita.htm Kaushitaki Brahmana-Upanishad]'' Chennai:The Theosophical Publishing House</ref><ref>Kaushitaki Upanishad : http://cincinnatitemple.com/downloads/KaushitakiUpanishad.pdf</ref>

Kaushitaki Upanishad associated with the Rig Veda also describes the transit of atma in Devayana marga and the description of the Brahmaloka.<blockquote>स एतं देवयानं पन्थानमासाद्याग्निलोकमागच्छति स वायुलोकं स वरुणलोकं स आदित्यलोकं स इन्द्रलोकं स प्रजापतिलोकं स ब्रह्मलोकं तस्य ह वा एतस्य ब्रह्मलोकस्यारोहृदो मुहूर्तॊऽन्वेष्टिहा विरजा नदील्यो वृक्षः सालज्यं संस्थानमपराजितमायतनमिन्द्रप्रजापती द्वारगोपौ । विभुप्रमितं विचक्षणाऽसन्ध्यमितौजाः प्रयङ्कः प्रिया च मानसी प्रतिरूपा च चाक्षुषी पुष्पाण्यादायावयतौ वै च जगान्यम्बाश्चाम्बावयवीश्चाप्सरसः । अम्बया नद्यस्तमित्थंविदा गच्छति तं ब्रह्मा हाभिधावत मम यशसा विरजां वा अयं जरयिष्यतीति ॥ ३ ॥ (Kaus. Upan. 1.3)<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D Kausihitaki Brahmana-Upanishad]</ref></blockquote>Summary: Having entered upon this Path of the gods, he comes to the अग्निलोकम्, the world of Fire, वायुलोकम् the world of Air, (then) वरुणलोकं the world of Varuna, (then) आदित्यलोकं the world of Aditya, (then) इन्द्रलोकं the world of Indra; (then) प्रजापतिलोकं  the world of Prajapati, (then) ब्रह्मलोकं  the world of Brahma. This world of Brahma has a lake of Ara, the moments of Yeshtihas, the river Vijara, the three Ilya, the city Salajja, the abode Aparajita, the door-keepers Indra and Prajapati, the hall Vibhu, the throne Vichakshana, the couch Amitaujas, the beloved Manasi and her counterpart Chaksusi, who taking flowers verily weave the worlds, the mothers, the nurses, the nymphs and the rivers. To it comes he who knows this. To him Brahma (says), Run ye. With my glory verily he has reached the river Viraja, the ageless. He verily will not grow old.<ref>Warrier, Krishna A. G. ''[http://www.vedarahasya.net/kaushita.htm Kaushitaki Brahmana-Upanishad]'' Chennai:The Theosophical Publishing House</ref><ref>Kaushitaki Upanishad : http://cincinnatitemple.com/downloads/KaushitakiUpanishad.pdf</ref>

== ज्ञानमार्गः कर्ममार्गः च ॥ Jnana Marga and Karma Marga ==

== ज्ञानमार्गः कर्ममार्गः च ॥ Jnana Marga and Karma Marga ==