Upadhi (उपाधिः)

Upadhi (Samskrit : उपाधिः) means attributes or adjuncts associated with the carnal body. The Puranic Encyclopedia gives a detailed account of Upadhis according to Chandogya and Svetasvara Upanishads, Bhagavadgita and Bhagavatam. By Upadhis are meant the following four things.

1. Mind and senses
2. The Five Pranas namely Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, Samana
3. The Sukshmasarira (subtle body) is the invisible body not associated with the gross elements.
4. 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 with less importance to the performance of religious rites traverse through the path of Devayana to attain the Parabrahma. They do not come back to earth and have no rebirth.

Papopasana : The Jivatma of one who does not follow the shastras and their injunctions does not attain Chandraloka. They are born as pests and insects attaining a place called Tritiya. There is no evidence in the Puranas of their attaining moksha.

Moksha is the liberation of Jivatma (soul) from the Upadhis.