On Hinduism

Lord Shiva is often called the “destroyer,” but this is a limited understanding. More accurately, Shiva is the transformer, guiding beings toward higher states of consciousness. This is why he is revered as the Lord of dance (Nataraja), yoga, enlightenment, and mysticism.

What Shiva dissolves is not creation itself, but the illusion of reality (maya)—the false mental frameworks that trap us in ignorance and suffering. This dissolution is not the same as destruction. Rather, Shiva absorbs illusion into the Absolute, making way for renewal and spiritual growth.

In another sense, Shiva presides over the cosmic cycle of life and death. Just as Brahma is associated with creation (birth) and Vishnu with preservation (sustenance), Shiva oversees the transition of the soul (ātman) from one form to another. He is not a destroyer in the ordinary sense, but the administrator of transformation and renewal.

Contributor: Dilip Amin

Location of this post (1l): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/is-lord-shiva-a-destroyer/

Moksha means liberation; it’s the concept of ultimate freedom from the cycle of life and death. 

Hindus believe that there is no death for the soul or atman. When the soul leaves this body it passes through a cycle of successive lives. Its next incarnation is always dependent on past deeds. Without ultimate liberation, we reincarnate again and again in the form of human or any other living being. This cycle of life and death can only be broken when a soul attains Moksha.

Moksha is one of the human pursuits and it can be achieved when a human being pursues self-realization. It is achieved by ending false ego and desires. Moksha is attained only when all good and bad karmas of many lifetimes are exhausted and God is fully realized.

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Other reading material: HAF: What is moksha?

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand Swami Nikhil Anand: What Is Liberation

Contributor: Geetha Ravula

Location of this post (13c): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-is-moksha/

Rest in Peace (RIP) is an Abrahamic concept, as per which the body waits or rests in a grave.  On Judgement Day, the body gets united with the soul and rises again. God will make judgement for who will go to heaven or eternal hell. 

Hindus believe in reincarnation of the departed soul to a new body and soul does not rest. Hindus have a concept that if the soul is trapped inside the earth, then it’s called as a Preta (a disturbed soul and in suffering). Suffering in Hell is better as it’s temporary, but not getting trapped here. Thus to tell RIP is a disrespect to the departed Hindu.

“Param Gati Mile” (may the soul attain moksha), “Om Sadagati” and “Om Shanti” are appropriate expressions when a Hindu passes away. 

Other reading material: Here is why saying ‘Rest in Peace’ is a disservice to the departed Hindu soul,

Relevant videos:

Contributor: Dilip Amin

Location of this post (14a): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/is-rip-an-appropriate-expression-for-a-departed-hindu/

Death is inevitable and deterministic (uncontrollable) according to the Hindu religion. 

Death does not imply the cessation of our existence, but it means a new beginning. Death is just a small milestone on the journey of infinite miles of eternal existence. Thus the phenomena of death is linked to the concept of rebirth.

Hinduism has a deep rooted belief in the theory of rebirth; the idea of rebirth is connected to the idea of the ‘Atman’ or the Soul, the individual’s non-material inner self that is eternal. The Atman cannot be experienced with the five sense organs but it does exist as a spiritual substance. When a human dies, the Atman from his body detaches itself from the literal body and moves out in search of another body and there occurs rebirth. 

How does the Atman decide what it wants to be reborn again as? This question takes us to one of the most basic philosophical theories of Hinduism; the concept of Karma. Karma is the accumulated past actions waiting to come to fruition. One’s rebirth depends on past actions (Karma), good deeds taking you towards better births and immoral deeds taking you towards birth in lower category creatures like animals. 

Thus Hinduism gives a highly positive interpretation to the concept of death and the journey beyond this life. We will always live in the form of an Atman and death is a milestone on the journey of the Atman.

In Bhagavad Gita, Supreme GOD Sree Krishna says to Arjun (Chapter 2, Sloka 22):

vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya

navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi

tathā śharīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇānya

nyāni sanyāti navāni dehī

As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one.

Other reading material:

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand What happens when we die?, What is Reincarnation?, 

Contributor: Mona Raval

Location of this post (14b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/what-happens-when-we-die/

Hindus believe that the Atman (soul) is immortal passing through the process wherein the Atman reincarnates into different physical bodies through cycles of birth and death. Guided by the Laws of Karma, the Atman continues on its path of spiritual evolution. The ultimate aim of Hindus is for the Atman to attain freedom from this continuous cycle of birth and rebirth and discover its divine origin.

Imagine a single tennis game where the person who has the serve, also has been given an ability to serve an Ace 100% of the time.  What are the rules for success where the coin toss can determine game outcomes? Would you believe there is any merit in learning to play the game well? What if you just play one game, a single event? Would you think the game is fair? 

If you answer is NO, then you have just made an argument in favor of reincarnation. You just have to conclude that for the world to be non-random, there have to be multiple games played, and the success in one game improves the beginning odds in the next game.

If you disagree, then you have just concluded that all life is random, and there is very little advantage in learning to live better. 

Despite the dogma against it in the western world, there are still scientific studies done on remembering past lives. The Medical School at University of Virginia maintains a site and has written several scientific papers journaling reported pre-birth experiences that are very analogous to the detailed descriptions in the Hindu Tradition. Just read with an open mind.

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Other reading material: HAF: Do Hindus believe in reincarnation? Division of Perceptual Studies | University of Virginia School 

Back When I Was Older : Invisibilia , Reincarnation: WHO is it that Travels? Atma? Jiva? Subtle body?

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhilanand What is Reincarnation?, What happens when we die?, Can I be born as a plant or animal? Swami Tadatmananda on reincarnation: Reincarnation: WHO is it that Travels? Atma? Jiva? Subtle body?

Contribution: Gaurav Rastogi

Location of this post (15b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/do-hindus-believe-in-reincarnation/

Hindus consider all living beings to have an Atman (soul). The atman reincarnates, and subsequent births are determined by past karma. Karma rooted in higher consciousness leads to births in species of higher consciousness (humans). Karma of lower consciousness birth the atman in species of lower consciousness. Yes, you can be an ant in the next life.

There is a story of Jada Bharatan from Sriman Bhagavatam. Bharat was a king who performed many pious rituals for the betterment of his people and kingdom. In old age, wanting to retire, he chose a lonely place around a pond. There he stayed several years, doing penance for his Moksha. He found a fawn that had been attacked by a tiger and hurt badly. He rescued it and started caring for it. He grew an attachment for it, looking for its welfare. At the time of his death, he was very worried for this fawn. Therefore he was born as a fawn in his left life.

Inference : This is the concept of “Antima Smriti” – what you think of at the time of death is what you are born as in the next life. In this story, it is clear that human beings, even the most pious, can be born in a lower life form.

Other reading material: 

Relevant videos:

Contributor: Team

Location of this page (15d): hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/can-i-be-an-ant-in-the-next-life/

According to Hindu scriptures, there is no death for the Atman (soul is a wrong term). The human Atman (jīvātma) is considered to be of the same essence as the Divine Supreme Atman (paramātma), also termed as Consciousness. Hence the Atman, in the Hindu context, is eternal, imperishable, changeless, and that which illumines everything. 

The Atman can be thought of as a source of light. While the furniture in a room might keep changing, the reason one can see and experience these items is due to the presence of the light. Similarly, we are able to perceive, feel and think in the world because of our soul.

Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 20:

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ

ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre

The Atman is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it ever cease to be. It is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. The Atman is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.

Thus, Hindu theologians conclude that the Atman does not die. When a person passes on, their body decays, mind stops thinking, but the Atman, however, continues to exist. It leaves the body and moves onto a different realm of experience, based on what that particular Atman needs for evolution. This is valid for all living beings, and not just humans. It is due to this belief system that Hindus propound the theory of karma and reincarnation. The Atman evolves by taking on different births, until it reaches spiritual maturity and finally merges with the Divine Consciousness. This, liberation (moksha), is the goal of life on earth.

Other reading material: Reincarnation: WHO is it that Travels? Atma? Jiva? Subtle body?

Relevant videos: Swami Nikhil Anand Hinduism Q & A: What happens when we die?, Hinduism Q & A: Can the soul die?, Hinduism Q & A: What is Reincarnation?, 

Contributor: Lakshmi Subramanian

Location of this post (16b): https://www.hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/can-the-soul-die/