5 things that happen to your soul when you die

Life after death, or the afterlife, has been a fascinating subject of study for researchers all across the world. While some religions believe in the afterlife, some do not and negate any theories that suggest otherwise. Regardless one thing is clear - when a person dies, it is only their physical form that comes to an end. However, what happens to the soul of a person? The soul is not a physical being, and is said to be neither created nor destroyed, but rather passes from one person to another. So, what really happens to the soul after you die? Here is what different religions of the world believe in...

In Hinduism and Buddhism, reincarnation, also known as samsara, is the belief that the soul (atman) is immortal, and repeatedly takes on physical bodies until it achieves liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It is said that your karma decides the fate of your next birth, and what you do in this lifetime will chart the path for future lives.

Many religions, including Islam and Christianity believe that there is a concept of heaven and hell. The premise is simple - if you have done good deeds in this life, you will be sent to heaven, where life is pleasant and happy, and you will be rewarded for your actions. On the other hand, if you have sinned a lot in this life, then you will be sent to hell, where you will be punished for your deeds.

In Hinduism, it is believed that after a person dies, his/her soul has to go through a period of purification and transition, before actually reaching its ultimate destination, which could span days, weeks, or even longer. In some Buddhist traditions, like the Tibetan and some Chinese and Japanese schools, there's a concept of a bardo, an intermediate state between death and rebirth, which can last up to 49 days.

In some traditions, it is said that the soul stays on Earth for a long time after death, as it has got attached to the body, and its loved ones. There might also be some unresolved issues of the soul that are preventing it from leaving the mortal world. Hence, it is said that to free the soul from these material trappings, it is important to have a proper cremation for the body, as per religious beliefs. Post a cremation, the soul has no way out, and it has to leave this mortal world for good.

Some spiritual traditions suggest that upon death, the soul returns to the source from which it came, becoming part of the universal consciousness. On the other hand, those who have had near death experiences often see themselves travelling to an unknown world after death, (some reported seeing a tunnel with light), suggesting that the journey of the soul is never ending, and will continue after death as well. However, most of these experiences are subjective, and open to interpretation.