Seventh (7th) Astral Dimension / Plane - Is This What We Call '' Hell '' ?

Hi Makaveli,

Nice Article :)

The meaning for the Avichi in Sanskrit is without happiness. We in India(Hinduism) we believe in this(lowest level plane).
We call the dead soul in this plane as pishacha. Some interpretation for "pishacha" is Flesh eating Demons, but real meaning is the soul which don't know what to do after leaving physical body. Some will die through some accidents or murdered will live like this in the 7th plane as you said. It will not know that there is a higher plane of existence. It even tries to acquire some physical body which is not possible at all.

Some souls will directly enter into the white light soon after it leaves the physical body. But some will not know what it is and neglects the white light and stays back in the 7th plane itself. These souls stays back and starts craving for a physical body and physical pleasures.

In India we perform some rituals to guide that soul to pass through the white light to get ready for the next life :)

I have seen a movie with the similar concept "What Dreams May Come (1998)".

Really an interesting topic, will research more and I will post some more information again :)

BTW: I like you Signature ;)

Thanx Comrade, How did I know you'd be the first to comment  ???

However could you go in detail as wich you said that in India yall perform some rituals to guide that soul to pass through the white light to get ready for the next life?
Just curious about the progress etc.

And may I ask, do you live strictly by some rules of your religion? Like muslims live by the Qur'an. Or aren't you that religious?

Will checkout that movie stated above. ( If its worth it  ;D )
Anyways,

What happens when we die?

Based on my research, this is the way I see it: In general, and I emphasize the word "general," the majority of people sink into the slumber of so-called "death." After a period of restful, transformation slumber, the soul awakens on the (Astral) plane of disembodied souls. Here, their new life begins.

In some cases, there is a brief awakening shortly after departing the physical body and they may appear visibly to a friend or family member or loved one on the physical material plane (as a ghost?) But soon thereafter, the disembodied soul will become drowsy and sink into the preliminary slumber on the Astral "heavenly plane," which exist ABOVE the Astral (as I described on the previous page.)

Also do you believe in a previous life ? If so ; I often wonder why some souls are born into starving, disease-ridden families in third-world countries, while others are born to rich, affluent families. Could their incarnation have anything to do with their behavior in a previous life - punishment in the form of an earthly incarnation of physical suffering? :o

Hindu Death Rituals and Beliefs.

There is one thing that is certain in this lifetime: eventually we all must die. A belief in the cyclical reincarnation of the soul is one of the foundations of the Hindu religion. Death is viewed as a natural aspect of life, and there are numerous epic tales, sacred scriptures, and vedic guidance that describe the reason for death's existence, the rituals that should be performed surrounding it, and the many possible destinations of the soul after departure from its earthly existence. While the ultimate goal is to transcend the need to return to life on earth, all Hindus believe they will be reborn into a future that is based primarily on their past thoughts and actions.

The first mortal to meet his fate with Death was named Yama. This dubious honor makes him uniquely qualified to lead the way for others after death. The sacred scriptures of the Rig Veda, which call him King Yama, promise that all who have been good will receive "admission to Yama's paradise and the everlasting enjoyment of all the heavenly pleasures, include the restoration of a sick body, the maintaining of family relations and the highly desired apotheosis". Yama is aided by two killer guide dogs that are described as the "four-eyed keepers of the path, who watch over men." These "two dark messengers of Yama with flaring nostrils wander among men, thirsting for the breath of life". Yet, once they have secured their prey, they lead them back to their heavenly realm, where Yama directs them to their destiny.

Cremation is a ritual designed to do much more than dispose of the body; it is intended to release the soul from its earthly existence. "Hindus believe that cremation (compared to burial or outside disintegration) is most spiritually beneficial to the departed soul." This is based on the belief that the "astral body" will linger "as long as the physical body remains visible." If the body is not cremated, "the soul remains nearby for days or months".

The standard cremation ceremony begins with the ritual cleansing, dressing and adorning of the body. The body is then carried to the cremation ground as prayers are chanted to Yama, invoking his aid.

It is the chief mourner, usually the eldest son, who takes the twigs of holy kusha grass, flaming, from the Doms eternal fire to the pyre upon which the dead has been laid. He circumambulates the pyre counterclockwise for everything is backward at the time of death. As he walks round the pyre, his sacred thread, which usually hangs from the left shoulder, has been reversed to hang from the right. He lights the pyre. The dead, now, is an offering to Agni, the fire. Here, as in the most ancient Vedic times, the fire conveys the offering to heaven.

After the corpse is almost completely burned, the chief mourner performs the rite called kap"lakriy", the 'rite of the skull,' cracking the skull with a long bamboo stick, thus releasing the soul from entrapment in the body. After the cremation, the ashes are thrown into a river, ideally the Ganges river, and the mourners walk away without looking back.

The death ritual does not end with the elimination of the body. There is still the safety of the soul to look after. To ensure the passage during its voyage to the Otherworld, an eleven-day ritual called shraddha is performed. It "consist(s) of daily offerings of rice balls, called pindas, which provide a symbolic, transitional body for the dead. During these days, the dead person makes the journey to the heavens, or the world of the ancestors, or the 'far shore.'" ,"On the twelfth day, the departed soul is said to reach its destination and be joined with its ancestors, a fact expressed symbolically by joining a small pinda to a much larger one" ,Without these rites, the soul may never find it way to Yama's realm. If this is not done, then the soul will be in 7th plane craving for life.

Those who have been "meritorious," but have not quite attained liberation through Self-knowledge, are sent to a heavenly realm to await their fate. "There the Gandharvas (demigods of fertility) sing to them and the bevies of celestial nymphs dance for them." Since there is no need for punishment, "they go forth immediately on very high divine carriages. And when they get down from those carriages, they are born in the families of kings and other noble people." There they "maintain and protect their good conduct" and live out their days before they are reborn enjoying "the very best of pleasures".

The fate for those who have participated in less honorable thoughts or actions is far less pleasant. The Arthasastra, a Hindu textbook from the second century BCE, offers a detailed description of some of the more frightening realms. Yet before reaching these dangerous destinations, one must first endure a miserable journey. "The hard-hearted men of Yama, terrifying, foul-smelling, with hammers and maces in their hands" come to get the deceased, who tremble and begin to scream. Filled with terror and pain, the soul leaves the body.

The evil man becomes born as an animal, among the worms, insects, moths, beasts of prey, mosquitoes, and so forth. There he is born in elephants, trees, and so forth, and in cows and horses, and in other wombs that are evil and painful. When he finally becomes a human, he is a despicable hunchback or dwarf, or he is born in the womb of a woman of some tribe of Untouchables. When there is none of his evil left, and he is filled with merit, then he starts climbing up to higher castes, Shudra, Vaishya, Kshatriya, and so forth, sometimes eventually reaching the stage of Brahmin or king of men. With so many unpleasant possibilities.

Those who lead a life of austerity, meditation and grace can look forward to the possibility of reaching Brahmaloka. This is the "highest among the heavenly planes" and the dwelling place of Brahma himself. "This is a place of intensely spiritual atmosphere, whose inhabitants live, free from disease, old age, and death, enjoying uninterrupted bliss in the companionship of the Deity." There is no need for them to return to earth because they have freed themselves "from all material desires." While they do experience a sense of individuality, they also experience a oneness with Brahma. This is the realm of immortality.

There is one other way to achieve liberation from samsara. This is to die within the city of Banaras, on the Ganges. "Death, which elsewhere is feared, here is welcomed as a long-expected guest." A city of many names, it was known in ancient time as Kashi, the city of light, and the Mahabharata refers to it as Varanasi. The funeral pyres, which are located on the river, burn nonstop. "Death, which elsewhere is polluting, is here holy and auspicious." People travel from around the country and the planet to spend their last days in Banaras because, "Death, the most natural, unavoidable, and certain of human realities, is here the sure gate to moksha(no reincarnation), the rarest, most precious, most difficult to achieve of spiritual goals".

For those who are unable to die in Banaras, cremation on the banks of the Ganges or the spreading of the ashes in her waters is the next best thing. Referred to as the "River of Heaven" or the "goddess and mother," she is considered to be sacred from her source in the Himalayas, all the way to the sea in the Bay of Bengal. Her power to destroy sins is so great that, people say, "even a droplet of Ganges water carried one's way by the breeze will erase the sins of many lifetimes in an instant".

The Hindu Faith, Mourning, Burial at Sea and Cremation

1. As Death Approaches
   Traditionally, a Hindu dies at home. Nowadays the dying are increasingly kept in hospitals, even when recovery is clearly not possible. Knowing the merits of dying at home among loved ones, Hindus bring the ill home. When death is imminent, kindred are notified. The person is placed in his room or in the entryway of the house, with the head facing east. A lamp is lit near his head and he is urged to concentrate on his mantra. Kindred keep vigil until the great departure, singing hymns, praying and reading scripture. If he cannot come home, this happens at the hospital, regardless of institutional objections.

2. The Moment of Death
   If the dying person is unconscious at departure, a family member chants the mantra softly in the right ear. If none is known, "Aum Namo Narayana" or "Aum Nama Sivaya" is intoned. (This is also done for sudden-death victims, such as on a battlefield or in a car accident.) Holy ash or sandal paste is applied to the forehead, Vedic verses are chanted, and a few drops of milk, Ganga or other holy water are trickled into the mouth. After death, the body is laid in the home's entryway, with the head facing south, on a cot or the ground--reflecting a return to the lap of Mother Earth. The lamp is kept lit near the head and incense burned. A cloth is tied under the chin and over the top of the head. The thumbs are tied together, as are the big toes. In a hospital, the family has the death certificate signed immediately and transports the body home. Religious pictures are turned to the wall, and in some traditions mirrors are covered. Relatives are beckoned to bid farewell and sing sacred songs at the side of the body.

3. The Homa Fire Ritual
   If available, a special funeral priest is called. In a shelter built by the family, a fire ritual (homa) is performed to bless nine brass kumbhas (water pots) and one clay pot. Lacking the shelter, an appropriate fire is made in the home. The "chief mourner" leads the rites. He is the eldest son in the case of the father's death and the youngest son in the case of the mother's. In some traditions, the eldest son serves for both, or the wife, son-in-law or nearest male relative.

4. Preparing the Body
   The chief mourner now performs arati, passing an oil lamp over the remains, then offering flowers. The male (or female, depending on the gender of the deceased) relatives carry the body to the back porch, remove the clothes and drape it with a white cloth. (If there is no porch, the body can be sponge bathed and prepared where it is.) Each applies sesame oil to the head, and the body is bathed with water from the nine kumbhas, dressed, placed in a coffin (or on a palanquin) and carried to the homa shelter. The young children, holding small lighted sticks, encircle the body, singing hymns. The women then walk around the body and offer puffed rice into the mouth to nourish the deceased for the journey ahead. A widow will place her tali (wedding pendant) around her husband's neck, signifying her enduring tie to him. The coffin is then closed. If unable to bring the body home, the family arranges to clean and dress it at the mortuary rather than leave these duties to strangers. The ritual homa fire can be made at home or kindled at the crematorium.

5. Cremation
   Only men go to the cremation site, led by the chief mourner. Two pots are carried: the clay kumbha and another containing burning embers from the homa. The body is carried three times counterclockwise around the pyre, then placed upon it. All circumambulating, and some arati, in the rites is counterclockwise. If a coffin is used, the cover is now removed. The men offer puffed rice as the women did earlier, cover the body with wood and offer incense and ghee. With the clay pot on his left shoulder, the chief mourner circles the pyre while holding a fire brand behind his back. At each turn around the pyre, a relative knocks a hole in the pot with a knife, letting water out, signifying life's leaving its vessel. At the end of three turns, the chief mourner drops the pot. Then, without turning to face the body, he lights the pyre and leaves the cremation grounds. The others follow. At a gas-fueled crematorium, sacred wood and ghee are placed inside the coffin with the body. Where permitted, the body is carried around the chamber, and a small fire is lit in the coffin before it is consigned to the flames. The cremation switch then is engaged by the chief mourner.

6. Return Home; Ritual Impurity
   Returning home, all bathe and share in cleaning the house. A lamp and water pot are set where the body lay in state. The water is changed daily, and pictures remain turned to the wall. The shrine room is closed, with white cloth draping all icons. During these days of ritual impurity, family and close relatives do not visit others' homes, though neighbors and relatives bring daily meals to relieve the burdens during mourning. Neither do they attend festivals and temples, visit swamis, nor take part in marriage arrangements. Some observe this period up to one year. For the death of friends, teachers or students, observances are optional. While mourning is never suppressed or denied, scriptures admonish against excessive lamentation and encourage joyous release. The departed soul is acutely conscious of emotional forces directed at him. Prolonged grieving can hold him in earthly consciousness, inhibiting full transition to the heaven worlds. In Hindu Bali, it is shameful to cry for the dead.

7. Bone-Gathering Ceremony
   About 12 hours after cremation, family men return to collect the remains. Water is sprinkled on the ash; the remains are collected on a large tray. At crematoriums the family can arrange to personally gather the remains: ashes and small pieces of white bone called "flowers." In crematoriums these are ground to dust, and arrangements must be made to preserve them. Ashes are carried or sent to India for deposition in the Ganges or placed them in an auspicious river or the ocean, along with garlands and flowers.

8. First Memorial
   On the 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day, relatives gather for a meal of the deceased's favorite foods. A portion is offered before his photo and later ceremonially left at an abandoned place, along with some lit camphor. Customs for this period are varied. Some offer pinda (rice balls) daily for nine days. Others combine all these offerings with the following sapindikarana rituals for a few days or one day of ceremonies.

9. 31st-Day Memorial
   On the 31st day, a memorial service is held. In some traditions it is a repetition of the funeral rites. At home, all thoroughly clean the house. A priest purifies the home, and performs the sapindikarana, making one large pinda (representing the deceased) and three small, representing the father, grandfather and greatgrandfather. The large ball is cut in three pieces and joined with the small pindas to ritually unite the soul with the ancestors in the next world. The pindas are fed to the crows, to a cow or thrown in a river for the fish. Some perform this rite on the 11th day after cremation. Others perform it twice: on the 31st day or (11th, 15th, etc.) and after one year. Once the first sapindikarana is completed, the ritual impurity ends. Monthly repetition is also common for one year.

10. One-Year Memorial
    At the yearly anniversary of the death (according to the moon calendar), a priest conducts the shraddha rites in the home, offering pinda to the ancestors. This ceremony is done yearly as long as the sons of the deceased are alive (or for a specified period). It is now common in India to observe shraddha for ancestors just prior to the yearly Navaratri festival. This time is also appropriate for cases where the day of death is unknown.

Hindu funeral rites can be simple or exceedingly complex. These ten steps, devotedly completed according to the customs, means, and ability of the family, will properly conclude one earthly sojourn of any Hindu soul.

Religions such as Hinduism offer our own immortal souls satisfying answers to questions of life and death. Their ancient mythic texts provide real reasons for our existence here on earth. They also demonstrate that death is something that can be prepared for instead of being feared. In addition, they offer the possibility of something to look forward to, so we need not dread our last days on this planet. A true hindu shall love death as he loves this life.

Source: http://mailerindia.com/hindu/veda/index.php?death

And one more thing, Hinduism is a unique faith! The most obvious misconception about Hinduism is that we tend to see it as just a religion. To be precise, Hinduism is a way of life , a dharma(The principle of cosmic order). Dharma does not mean religion. It is the law that governs all action. Thus, contrary to popular perception, Hinduism is not just a religion in the tradition sense of the term. Out of this misinterpretation, has come most of the misconceptions about Hinduism.

I didn't know much about these, I learned many thing from this article :)
Its because of you, I researched it :)
Thank you Makaveli, Hope this answers your question :)

Interesting to read praveen!
They giving alot more attention to death as they do over here in the western countries..

My view on religion is different then yours I guess, but I respect your opinion so I hope you can respect my opinion and belief,
You see I used to call myself a Christian because I was brainwashed from 0 to 12 years of age in a Catholic school. I always found the teachings odd and contradictory.

In MY opinion (Most) Religion exist to:

a) Make money
b) Gain power over others
c) Guide people who can't think for themselves
d) Attempt to understand life / universe / existence.
e) Make people feel better.

The only good religion does is teach people morality and values... historical people, events, writings, rituals, etc. are absolute junk and only serve to be interpreted for the self interest of those with power, or those who seek power.. ( Just a opinion, don't get me wrong )

Even though I don't like organized religion for myself, I think in the right mindset and style it can be a very productive and healthy way to live for some as long as no one is harmed,

BTW I must say that Hinduism is the only religion where I could relate to, Just because it has no founder, no central authority, and no fixed creed.. ( Correct me when wrong )
Sorry for the late reply, but All the best  ;)

I know what you mean Makaveli, I use to be religious, well pretty much I was a Buddhist at first, and loved it, then apparently I was possessed by demons and had to have an exorcism, which I was then apparently turned into a christian, I missed being a Buddhist pretty much everyday I was a christian, I was only a christian for a few years, and one day I decided not to be labeled as anything, pretty much because I dont want a label, ever since I had found this group form the other side, found through my faith in them and experience, they have taken me to a nice peaceful area in both belief and experience, to be honest I could not be more happy and at peace, lol now I am just trying to find that way to get to them properly, and astral projection seems to be one of the big answers.
And also about the lowest plane in the astral world, I may have fallen to there once, it was actually before my first experience in September 2011, but I prefer to call my first experience the one in September because I would not like to think of my first experience as one that was not very nice, and it was not nice at all, I remember a part where I was falling into a pit of fire after being on the edge of a cliff, it definetly was not a dream as far as I can remember, but those days are over thank goodness, I hope so anyways, every experience I have had in astral projection so far has either been good or failure. 

Hi Makaveli :)

Even my belief is similar to yours, I don't believe these religion which are right now. Coz, as of my knowledge, they just do what you have said.
But the religions were not like that in the ancient time. Religions were there to help people. But now it has changed to make money and gain powers. We can't blame the religions, coz as you said It always teaches only Good. But some people started using those to make money as some wrong mystics do ;)

And I must say this, Hinduism was a way of life in Ancient times, It wasn't a religion before, but the worst part is even that has turned into a religion now. You can see that its the way of life by reading the " Hindu Death Rituals and Beliefs". The rituals are there to guide the astral body to enter into the higher planes and not to the 7th plane.

I wish I would have born on the ancient times, coz I don't like this present world. All going wrong, nothing good :(

Thanks for you reply friend. I'm really happy that I have found some good people here in my forum :)
People think only about good things to help each others :)

Gladd I didn't offend anyone..

I would like to add one more thing ;
Religion prevents people from finding the answers within themselves... people who dedicate themselves to religion have found an "easy answer" to life and question no further... that is a blind way to go through life, in my opinion. I personally choose to follow my own path. I am not saying that I can't draw for religions for knowledge I am simply saying that I am not following them.  @ Praveen, Sad to hear that even the hinduism turned out that way.. It sucks when people lie to you, or manipulate you, especially when they do it while claiming to speak for ''God'' ..

Sebastian thanks for your reply, I can feel your point of view..
Did you really had a exorcism? I've seen a documentary about priests performing exorcisms ( Its called The Devil Inside ) Quite interesting & scary at the same time..
Would you like to share some things about your experience on that ?

All the best,
Mr Makaveli

It is hard to explain what was inside me, I had great amounts of physical pain whenever I had my possessed moments, I had vibrations, but painful burning vibrations, and wherever they would take me from there was not to any nice places, and the exorcism was definetly painful, people around me were in tears just watching it, this was back in 2008, it seems that now I cannot get affected by these things, I do wonder if I do properly make it to the astral plane if I could ever get an answer of what was inside me, I am not sure if I would ask it though, and I also remember speaking others languages while I was possessed, not sure if it was Latin but you never know, and my voice tone changed, if you have seen the film the exorcist my voice was just like the possessed girls voice, I saw horrible demonic faces float around the room, and a few if not quite many other people had that same voice tone I had when they were possessed, they were strange days I must admit, although my days are allot stranger now, but thank goodness whatever surrounds or happens to me now does not hurt me or I have protection from it.