The Vedic Reincarnation and Karma
Introduction: The concept of reincarnation, often referred to as rebirth (pūrva-bhava) in Sanskrit, is deeply rooted in the ancient Hindu text, the Vedas. According to the doctrine of karma, which holds that one's actions determine the future, the idea of reincarnation is a natural and necessary component of the religious and philosophic practices described in the Vedas and subsequent texts such as the Upanishads.
Reincarnation, or metempsychosis, is the idea that the soul or atman is reborn into a new body after death. This belief is pervasive in Hinduism and is believed to contribute to the fulfillment of one's karma. The atman is seen as an eternal, unchanging soul that migrates from one body to the next based on the actions and attitudes of the individual in the current life.
The earliest explicit description of reincarnation in the Vedic literature is found in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, which is a part of the Atharvaveda. This Upanishad was composed during the period of 7th to 6th Century BCE, marking one of the oldest known texts discussing these concepts.
Reincarnation in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad provides a succinct description of reincarnation and the intricate relationship between the individual soul, jiva, and the physical body.
"Just as a worm coming to the end of a blade of grass reaches out and takes hold of another and draws itself forward in the same manner an embodied jiva withdrawing from this physical body makes the transition to another body."
"Just as a goldsmith takes an old piece of jewellery and fashions it into a newer and better form so does the embodied jiva cast off this old body and makes for itself a newer and better form like that of the ancestors, angelic beings, gods like Prajapati or Brahma, or any other being."
These verses illustrate the belief that the soul is eternal and unchanging, and its ultimate form is determined by the actions and attitudes of the individual in the current life. The concept of rebirth and the process of the soul taking a new form based on accumulated karma is explicitly described in these verses.
The jiva is seen as different from the transient physical body, which is finally dropped off after its utilisation. The underlying idea is that the true self, the jiva, is qualitatively equal to the ultimate reality, Brahman, and is
Doctrines of Rebirth and Karma
Some scholars argue that the doctrines of rebirth and karma were first propagated by Buddha and adopted by the Hindu schools. They claim that these concepts are absent in the older Samhita section of the Rig Veda, which predates the Upanishads.
The general consensus among Indic scholars, however, is that the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad was composed about 7th–6th century BCE, at least 100-200 years before the time of the Buddha. This timeline suggests that the intelligentsia of the period were already discussing and formulating these concepts when the Buddha arrived on the scene.
Final Thoughts
The Vedic concepts of reincarnation and karma establish a holistic view of the human condition, where the actions of the present life influence the future. They emphasize the importance of ethical conduct and the pursuit of moral and spiritual growth. Understanding these ancient beliefs can provide valuable insights into the deep philosophical and religious traditions that have shaped Hinduism and continue to influence global cultural and religious discourse.