Back to Source After Death – Eastern Teachings. The gross physical body comprises of the five elements or Mahabhutas earth, water, fire, air and space.
The Devas or gods are beings with a divine or luminous radiating body. Flame or Fire Tattva is predominant in these. In man, the earth element is dominant. In the case of aquatic creatures, the part of water predominates. As in the event of birds, the essence of the atmosphere prevails.
The hardness of the body is due to earth; the fluidity is due to the element of water; the heat that we feel in the body is a result of fire; movement and such other activities are due to air; distance is because of Akasa or ether. Jivatma or the individual soul differs from the five elements. It is a subtle and invisible force.
After death, these components dissolves and blends back with nature. They return to their respective source.
On death, the dead person undergoes a bath. Fresh clothes and death rituals are performed according to Hindu customs. The body is taken for cremation and offered to the element of fire, where it is converted to ashes. These ashes are then immersed in water. On dissolution, the soul leaves the body to go beyond.
We’ll discuss the transition of the soul in different other blogs. But for now, Indian and Eastern belief systems point to the fact that the body dissolves into 5 elements and goes back to nature and the soul continues its journey. Back to Source After Death – Eastern Teachings
