The answer NO

Are you superstitious?

What happens after the death of a person,

Bhagvad geeta, chapter 8, verse 16 –

आब्रह्मभुवनाल्लोकाः पुनरावर्तिनोऽर्जुन |
मामुपेत्य तु कौन्तेय पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते ||

Meaning- इस जगत् में सर्वोच्च लोक से लेकर निम्नतम सारे लोक दुखों के घर हैं, जहाँ जन्म तथा मरण का चक्कर लगा रहता है | किन्तु हे कुन्तीपुत्र! जो मेरे धाम को प्राप्त कर लेता है, वह फिर कभी जन्म नहीं लेता.

Purpose of Reincarnation:

According to Sanatan, the purpose of reincarnation is to provide opportunities for the atman to learn, grow, and evolve spiritually. Each life offers valuable lessons and challenges that help the soul progress toward self-realization and attaining Moksha. Samsara (संसार) is the process of passing one body to another throughout all species of life. Consciousness pervades all living beings, but it is only in human form that its active utilization is possible. Samsara, in essence, represents a transitory existence marked by impermanence, change, and the repetitive process of reincarnation or rebirth. It encompasses the complete sequence of earthly lives experienced by the atman. It is well-known that the atman is entrapped within the continuous “cycle” of life and death. Infinitely, the atman transcends from one embodiment to another, embodying the fundamental concept of saṃsara or reincarnation. According to Hinduism and Sanatan, the belief in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is known as reincarnation. Upon the death of the physical body, the individual’s soul, known as the atman, is believed to detach from the body and enter a new one.


The specific body the atman enters is believed to depend on various factors, including:

State of mind at the time of death: It is believed that the state of mind at the moment of death can influence the future birth. For example, a person who dies with a peaceful and virtuous state of mind may be reborn into a more favorable situation, while someone who dies with a disturbed or negative state of mind may experience a less desirable rebirth.

Unfulfilled desires :

Hinduism teaches that unfulfilled desires can carry over from one life to another. If a person has strong attachments or unfulfilled desires, it may impact their next birth. The nature of these desires can influence the circumstances and experiences in the subsequent life.

Karmic record :

Karma, the law of cause and effect, plays a crucial role in determining one’s future birth. The actions, intentions, and deeds performed in previous lives contribute to an individual’s karmic record. Positive actions and intentions lead to positive karma, while negative actions and intentions result in negative karma. The accumulated karma influences the circumstances and conditions of the next incarnation.

As per Shrimad Bhagavatam 7.2.41 :

“With time, every being receives a material body as per his corresponding actions.” There may be a question regarding whether the aatma immediately takes on a new body after death.
If a person dies an unnatural death, such as suicide or an accident, or has unfulfilled desires, it is believed that their atman may experience a different state or dimension known as loka, before reincarnation. The term “Pret Aatma” is often used to refer to the soul in such a state. It is believed that until the unfulfilled desires are resolved or the necessary conditions are met, the atman may not proceed to its next birth.

According to Shree Garud Puran 2.22.8

“One who dies by hanging, also through poison and weapon, one who commits suicide and also dies by cholera, etc. becomes a pret (ghost).” On the other hand, if a person dies a natural death with no unfulfilled desires, and if that individual does not attain moksha (liberation) for some reason (will explain when I will write on moksha), it is generally believed that their atman will go through the cycle of reincarnation. The reincarnation will be based on the karma of the person. Depending on the karma, an atman can take any of the following six forms of life-

◆ Aquatics:

This category includes beings that reside in water, such as fish, aquatic mammals, and other marine creatures.

◆ Reptiles and Insects:

This category comprises reptiles, insects, and other small crawling creatures.

◆ Human:

Human life is considered the most privileged and valuable form of life in Hinduism. It is believed to provide the greatest potential for spiritual growth and realization.


Bhagavad Gita chapter 2, verse 27-

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च |
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||

जिसने जन्म लिया है उसकी मृत्यु निश्चित है और मृत्यु के पश्चात् पुनर्जन्म भी निश्चित है | अतः अपने अपरिहार्य कर्तव्यपालन में तुम्हें शोक नहीं करना चाहिए


Samsara is a painful recurring cycle of-

Birth—> death’

disease—>old age—>

death—>Re-birth.

In Sanatan, the concept of heaven and hell is not seen as permanent destinations but rather as temporary realms of existence. The ultimate goal in Sanatan is to attain moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death.  Unlike Hinduism and Sanatan, religions like Islam and Christianity do not emphasize the belief in reincarnation. They generally teach that individuals have only one life on Earth, and after death, the soul is believed to go to either heaven or hell based on their actions and beliefs during their earthly life. Heaven is seen as a place of eternal bliss and closeness to God, while hell is viewed as a realm of eternal punishment.