Upadhi (उपाधिः)
Upadhi (Samskrit : उपाधिः) means attributes or adjuncts associated with the carnal body. By Upadhis are meant the following four things.
- Mind and senses
- The Five Pranas namely Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, Samana
- The Sukshmasarira (subtle body) is the invisible body not associated with the gross elements.
- Karma (action)
Life is sustained by the life breath called Udana that guides the soul out of the body. Sukshmasarira gives heat to the body while there is life and that is the reason why when the soul leaves the body with the upadhis the mortal body becomes cold.
Mrityu or Death of the mortal body is when the Jivatma (soul) of an individual leaves the gross body with all its above 4 upadhis. All these four things follow the soul even after the death of the body. After leaving the body with the upadhis, the soul becomes active again and its ascent to higher realms depends on the Karma or actions while present in the body (during life). The spiritual actions of the individual are classified
Aparabrahmopasana : He who has done all his deeds according to scriptural injunctions is said to be one who has done upasana of aparabrahma. When such an individual dies his soul with all the upadhis attains Chandraloka and by the path of Pitruyana.
Aparavidyopasana : Some who meditate on Brahman,
Papopasana
Moksha is the liberation of Jivatma (soul) from the Upadhis.