Shraadh – Understanding Its Deeper Significance

What Will You Take Forward With You When You Leave This Life?

Have you ever stopped to think about where the souls of your loved ones are today? As we observe Shradh, a time to remember those who have passed on, it’s also an opportunity for deep reflection. What do these souls take with them on their next journey? And more importantly, when it’s your time, what will you carry forward into your next life?

During Shradh, we don’t just honor those who have left us. We also need to think about the Sanskars (our habits and impressions) that we are creating every day. Every action, thought, and emotion we experience gets stored in our soul, and these are what follow us into our future lives. Let’s take some time to reflect on how the choices we make today shape our future.

The Soul’s Journey: What Really Comes With Us?

We often assume that when we leave this world, we leave everything behind. But is this really true? While our material possessions, relationships, and even our physical body stay behind, something deeper travels with us – Our Sanskars and Karmas, which shape the destiny of our next life.

Have you ever noticed how two children born at the same time, to the same parents, can have completely different personalities? One may be calm and patient, while the other could be quick-tempered. This difference is due to the Sanskars each soul carries from previous lives. These impressions influence who we are and what we will become.

So, what kind of child would you want to be in your next life? Would you be peaceful and happy or filled with jealousy and anger? Take a moment to think about the Sanskars you are creating today, as these will shape the person you become in the future.

Preparing for the Future: Cleaning the Soul

We spend most of our lives preparing for the future, focusing on material things like money and property. But how often do we think about preparing our soul for the future? What truly matters is what we carry forward after this life.

Shradh is a reminder that just as we remember others, we too will leave this world one day. Are you ready to move forward with a clean and light soul? Or are you holding on to anger, resentment, or attachments that will weigh you down in the next life?

Imagine you only had four hours left in this body. What would you do in those final hours? Would you still hold onto past grudges, or would you choose to let them go? Shradh, Navratri, and Diwali all share the message of cleaning the mind and soul. Only when we release our attachments can we invite peace and divinity into our lives.

Letting Go: Freeing Yourself from Attachments

When someone passes away, we often ask, “What did they take with them?” In those moments, we feel detached. But true detachment is not just a passing emotion—it’s a way of living. It means staying light and free from emotional entanglements.

The reality is, most of us hold onto so many things: grudges, past hurts, and even small disagreements. There’s a story about a woman who couldn’t leave her body because she was attached to a deep craving for Gol Gappe (pani-puri). This shows how powerful our attachments can be, even the smallest ones.

To truly be free, we need to let go of these attachments while we are still alive. When the soul is ready to leave the body, it should be light, free from unresolved issues and emotions. Our final moments should be filled with peace, not burdened by unfinished business.

Preparing the Soul for Navratri

As Navratri approaches, we have a beautiful opportunity to reflect on our Sanskars and clean them. These remaining days are the perfect time to free ourselves from past hurts and conflicts. If there’s anyone you haven’t forgiven or any emotional wounds that haven’t healed, now is the time to release them.

Remember, holding onto negativity only harms us. It creates a heavy burden that we carry into our next life. But letting go is simple. It only takes a single thought: “I choose to release this. It’s over.” By doing this, we lighten our soul and prepare ourselves for the journey ahead.

Through daily practices of forgiveness and gratitude, by remembering the divine, we can ensure our soul is always light, peaceful, and ready to leave this body when the time comes.

Tips :

• Reflect on Your Current Sanskars: What habits or behaviors are you building today that you’d want to carry into your next life?
• Let Go of Resentments: Holding onto grudges harms only you. Release them to free your soul.
• Daily Reflection: Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the kind of soul you want to be, both now and in the future.
• Practice Forgiveness and Gratitude: These are key to maintaining a peaceful and light soul.
• Prepare for Navratri: Focus on purity, love, and peace to cleanse your mind and soul.