The Preta State and How Families Help

Garud asked: Lord, why does a soul remain in the preta yoni? The Lord said: Garud, when someone's last rites cannot be done, or death comes very suddenly, or the soul's mind is deeply stuck in worldly things, it cannot move on and stays for a while in an in-between state.

The Puran tells a story. King Babhruvahan once went into the forest to hunt. There he met a sorrowful preta. It told him that in life it had been a merchant and had done good deeds too, but it had no one of its own to perform its last rites. So it could not move on.

The king's heart filled with compassion. On his return, he had pind daan and the aurdhvadaihik rites properly performed for the preta. According to the Puran, it was freed from the preta state and went to a higher world. The story shows that rites done even for a stranger can bring release.

Traditionally, for the peace of such a soul, a family performs shraddha, reads the Garud Puran or Shrimad Bhagavat, offers pind daan at Gaya, chants Lord Vishnu's name and gives in charity. Some families, on a priest's advice, also perform special rites such as Narayan Bali. The root of all of them is love, prayer and refuge in God.

If your loved one passed suddenly, do not live in fear or worry. The Puran's message is one of hope: God's name and a family's faith can loosen every bond. Pray for your loved one with a calm heart, and trust that your love reaches them.