The Path of Darkness !

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The Pitriyana path or the path of darkness or the path of ancestors

leads to rebirth. Those who do sacrifices to gods and other

charitable works with expectation of fruits go to the Chandraloka

through this path and come back to this world when their fruits of

Karmas are exhausted.

 

There are smoke and dark-coloured objects throughout the course.

There is no illumination when one passes along this path. It is

reached by Avidya or ignorance. Hence it is called the path of

darkness or smoke. The dark path is to the Pitris or forefathers—

Pitriyana or the Karmins who do sacrifices or charitable acts with

expectation of fruits.

 

These two paths are not open to the whole world. The bright path is

open to the devotees and the dark path to the Karmins. Samsara is

eternal and so the paths also are eternal.

 

The Pranas of Jivanmuktas who have attained knowledge of the Self do

not depart. They are absorbed in Brahman. The Jivanmuktas who attain

Kaivalya-Moksha or immediate salvation have no place to go to or

return from. They become one with the All-pervading Brahman.

 

Knowing the nature of the two paths and the consequences they lead

to, the Yogi never loses his discrimination. The Yogi who knows that

the path of Devayana or the path of light leads to Moksha (Karma

Mukti) and the path of darkness to Samsara or the world of births

and deaths, is no longer deluded. Knowledge of these two paths

serves as a compass or beacon-light to guide the Yogi's steps at

every moment.

 

(swami Sivananda)