How Is Our Soul Different from Siva?- Nature of Souls

[Guest guest]

constituents: they are the five "Thanmaaththirai" (Subtle elements), namely

sound touch, sight, taste and smell and three "anthakkarana" (inner

instruement), namely, "manam" (mind), "buddhi" (intelligence), and "ahankaaram"

(ego). The subtle bodies are different for different souls. They are

instrumental for the souls to undergo experiences. They enable the souls to

leave their (gross) bodies at death and take new (gross) bodies. 28. How do

souls suffer by undergoing births and deaths? By taking births and dying as

befitting their good actions and bad actions in the four classes of births in

the seven categories of beings and in the 8,400,000 species the souls suffer.

New Roman" color="#800000">29. What are the four classes of births? They are

birth from eggs, birth from perspiration, germination from roots, etc., and

birth from womb. 30. What are the seven categories of beings? They are Devas,

human beings, animals, birds, creepers other than vegetation, fishes and others

that live in water, and trees and plants. The first six out of these seven

categories are beings that can move. The last category of trees and plants are

stationary beings. 31. What are born out of wombs? Devas, human beings and

four-legged animals. 32. What are born out of eggs? Birds, creepers other

than vegetation, and fishes and other beings which live in water. 33. What are

born out of perspiration? Some creepers like worms, maggots and some birds,

winged insects like locusts. 34. What are born out of seeds, roots, branches

and creeping

plants? Trees and plants. 35. What are the 8,400,000 species? 1. Devas

.......

1,100,000 species 2. Human

beings .......

900,000 species 3. Four-legged animals

....... 1,000,000 species 4.

Birds

........ 1,000,000 species 5. Creepers other than vegetation

....... 1,500,000 species 6. Fishes, and other beings that

live in

water ....... 1,000,000 species 7. Trees and plants

....... 1,900,000 species

Total ........

8,400,000 species 36. What is the place where souls can perform karma (actions)

and reap the effects of their actions? The place where the two types of

action (good and bad) can be performed and the two types of effects can be

experienced is the earth. The places where the effects of

the good deeds can be experienced are heaven and the higher worlds. The places

where the effects of the evil deeds can be experienced are the 2,800,000,000

hells. 37. What will the souls which have taken birth on earth do immediately

after leaving their gross bodies? The souls which had done good deeds will,

immediately after leaving their gross bodies, proceed with their subtle bodies

taking on the bodies as Devas and reach heaven and enjoy the effects of their

good deeds. The souls which had committed evil deeds will, immediately after

they leave their gross bodies, proceed with their subtle bodies taking on

bodies capable of suffering in hell and reach hell and experience the

sufferings which are the result of their evil deeds. Besides these, some

souls, immediately after leaving their gross bodies, enter places of

reproduction on earth and take new material bodies. 38. What will the souls

which have enjoyed pleasures in heaven do afterwards? Because they have

balances of the effects which they had not yet experienced of their actions

they will take birth as human beings on earth. 39. What will the souls which

have experienced suffering in hell do afterwards? Because they have

balances of the effects which they have not yet experienced of their actions

they will return to earth and they will take birth first as

trees and plants, thereafter as fishes and other beings that live in water,

thereafter as creepers other than vegetation, thereafter as birds, thereafter

as animals and then when the effect of their previous good deeds matures they

will be born as human beings. 40. Which is the precious category of birth out

of the seven categories? Birth as a human being is the most precious

category because such a birth is the means for understanding and worship of

Shivaperuman who is the Lord of the souls and thereby attaining "moksha".

(moksha = union of a soul with God). 41. When will the souls which have taken

birth as human

beings attain that moksha? They, step by step, according to their fitness,

will in each birth rise in the outer religions like Buddhism and perform the

meritorious deeds as laid down in the Scriptures of their religions.

Thereafter they will reach the Vedic path and perform the meritorious actions

as laid down in theVedas. Thereafter because of the increase of merit thereby

they will reach the Saiva religion. To those souls who after reaching the

Saiva religion perform, according to the rules and with true devotion, service

to and worship at temples, rituals, and meditation, as ordained in the Saiva

Agamas Shivaperuman abiding in a guru who could impart divine wisdom (jnana)

will come and bestow divine wisdom and thereby bestow moksha.

Roman">42. Who will give results to persons who act according to outer

religions? Shivaperuman Himself abiding through His Sakthi in the Godhead

intended and worshipped by the followers of the outer religion will consider

their worship and give them benefits due to them. (Outer religions = religions

which do not accept the authority of the Vedas). 43. What is "sariyai"?

It is worship of Shiva through service to Saiva temples and to Siva's

devotees. 44. What is "kiriyai"? It is worship of Shiva mentally and

externally. 45. What is "yoga"? It is controlling the mind from thinking

of worldly matters but to meditate on Siva, and thereafter losing consciousness

of the meditator himself and meditation and being aware of Siva only who is the

subject matter of the meditation. 46. What is

"jnana"? It is to study the spiritual books which teach the properties of

God, souls and the bonds (paasam), reflect over them, understand them and

become fixed in the mind in ascetic worship of God.. 47. What are the benefits

to be derived from sariyai, kiriyai, yoga? The benefits from "sariyai" is

"Sivasaalokiyam", i.e., entering the special heaven of Siva called "Sivaloham".

The benefit from "kiriyai" is "Sivasaameeppiyam", i.e., attaining proximity to

Siva in "Sivaloham". The benefit from yoga is "Sivasaaroopam", i.e., acquiring

the very form of Shiva. These three are inferior states of "moksha"

(liberation). The benefit from jnana is supreme liberation called

"Sivasaayujya", i.e., become united with Shiva. Thiruchchittampalam.

for more details visit www.geocities.com/shivaperuman

http://www.geocities.com/arumuganavalar/saivasiddhantacatechism.html

Jiyo cricket on India cricket

Messenger Mobile Stay in touch with your buddies all the time.

Jiyo cricket on India cricket

Messenger Mobile Stay in touch with your buddies all the time.