Souls undergo many processes to refine and mollify themselves to merge with the Brahman. Such seasoning and mollification happens with the intent to merge with the Brahman ultimately. Again such a process depends upon the quality of the soul, which in turn depends upon its experience. The origin and the ultimate destination of the soul is the Brahman. Brahman, the Creator is capable of absorbing any number of souls without undergoing any modifications, the unequalled nature of the Brahman. But merger is possible only when the soul is able to realize the Brahman. This realization happens during several births. The gross body and mind alone is not a life. Life is the manifestation of the Brahman in the form of a soul. If a bulb can be called a gross body, the soul is the electricity. Without electricity the bulb cannot burn and without the bulb, the electricity is of no use. Some scriptures differentiate between soul and jiva. According to them, soul is unconditioned and jiva is conditioned. The soul enters different bodies during its different incarnations. During its sojourn in a body, soul causes attachment, desire, hatred, enmity becomes susceptible to all sorts dyads. Ignorance is the main cause for dyads and The Vedas, The Bible, The Koran etc endeavor to root out this ignorance.

Birth of a living being is determined by karmic account of the soul. The soul cannot decide the form it wishes to take. The form is decided by the Law of Karma which is also known as the Law of the Lord. In Creation, everything unfolds according to the Law of Karma. This is the reason for calling the Brahman as a witness, who does not partake in any actions of the living beings. Actions are the result of karmic account. Soul, after undergoing experience in the heaven or hell (please refer to part 4 of this series) transmigrates to the earth. Markendaya Purana (MP) (14) “Human impregnation is a seed sown immediately after its discharge from Naraka (hell) or Svarga (heaven). Dominated thereby the two seeds attain firmness”. The embryo thus formed distinctly remembers its past lives. “The merit amassed in seven lives is dissipated …” (MP.14). Ancient scriptures are of the opinion that at the time of copulation, a soul enters a spermatozoon that is passed on to a woman. Woman receives this spermatozoon and nourishes it by her blood. There could be many spermatozoa, but a soul enters only one among them thereby causing the formation of an embryo. Linga Purana says (87.49) “the fetus becomes a bubble” which refers to the growth of embryo. The usage of the word ‘bubble’ is not without reasoning. When a spermatozoon is placed near the womb, it is drawn by air into the womb. Formation of an embryo is not possible without a spermatozoon and an egg (which is also known as blood). In other words, formation of an embryo is not possible without air element, which is the cause for pulling the spermatozoon towards the egg in the womb. This air is known as prana. Prana is the first to enter the embryo and the last to leave the body at the time of death. Hence prana is also known as vital force or life force. Without this prana life is just not possible. Garuda purana says ‘in the union of a man and a woman with all the reminders of his karmas, he is born. The fetus is a mere bubble at first then blood is formed.’ The bubble is always caused by air, so is the case here as well. Now five sheaths are formed around this bubble and shape and form are sculptured during the ten lunar month period, the gestation period of the embryo. Now the embryo has soul in it with its entire karmic bundle. This bundle is unfolded immediately after the child inhales the external air. The first cry of the baby is the exact time of birth and the baby cries immediately after inhaling its first breath. The soul has got into another body as per Law of karmas to undergo pleasure and pain. The freewill of the body in conjunction with embedded karmas decides the destiny of the new born.

(to be continued)