Garuda Purana gives a detailed description of what happens to the soul after death. According to this scripture, it takes a whole year for the soul to travel to Yamaloka. After death, the soul stays with its family for 13 days. Let us know what the soul experiences and why Yama's messengers do not immediately take the soul to Yamaloka for thirteen days after death.

Story of Garuda Purana

Garuda Purana states that when a person dies, Yama's messengers take the soul to Yamaloka, where the account of his good and bad deeds is kept. After this, within twenty-four hours, the soul is brought back by Yama's messengers and left with his family.

From then on, the soul roams around its relatives, calling out to them, but no one can hear its voice. This feeling greatly disturbs the soul, and it begins to scream even louder, but still, no one hears its voice. If the body has not yet been cremated, the soul can try to re-enter the body, but it is unable to do so because it is bound by the bonds of Yama's messengers.

What does the soul think?

According to Garuda Purana, when a soul sees its loved ones crying and lamenting, it becomes sad. Unable to console them, the soul also starts crying but is unable to change anything. The soul then starts reflecting on the deeds done in its lifetime and starts repenting. Garuda Purana further mentions that the soul does not have the strength to start its journey to Yamaloka after being turned back by Yama's messengers.

Importance of Pind Daan

According to the Garuda Purana, the Pind Daan offered for ten days after death leads to the formation of various organs of the dead soul. On the eleventh and twelfth day, further Pind Daan helps to form the skin and flesh of the soul's subtle body. Finally, on the thirteenth day, the final Tarpana allows the soul to gather the strength needed to travel to Yamaloka. The food offered through Pind Daan serves as nourishment for the soul, allowing it to leave the mortal realm and begin its path to the world of the dead. Thus, after death, the soul stays with its family for thirteen days, until the necessary rituals are completed. It is believed that the entire journey to Yamaloka takes a full year. During this time, the food offered as Pind Daan nourishes the soul. This is why the thirteenth day (the thirteenth-day ritual) is such an important part of Hindu death rituals, ensuring that the soul can complete its journey to the afterlife.

pc: news24online