Satellite link-up

Upward journey of a satellite safely tucked in remote chambers of a spacecraft is apparently no different from jiva/atma, soul, encased in three containers: sthul sharir, physical body; sukshm sharir, astral body; and causal body, kaaran sharir. Outer body covering gets automatically dismantled as the spacecraft enters a stipulated zone in space after its launch. Parallelly, when death lays its icy hands on a human, her soul discards the first container – the physical body.

As the spacecraft soars deeper into space, it keeps shedding its extra payload in coded stages as it becomes redundant. Our soul is also believed to be on its celestial journey in 2 remaining containers. The astral body is said to be a storehouse of all our karma accumulated on earth and accompanies our soul into Hiranyaloka, astral cosmos, comprising 19 subtle elements. This delicate astral body comprises three qualities: sattva, mind; rajas, intellect; tamas, ego. Those who perform good deeds are able to break free from their astral body.

After successfully fly-bys of many interplanetary bodies en route, the spacecraft’s satellite is placed in an orbit around an astronomical body as its final target. Similarly, meeting requisite heavenly laws frees a human soul from the 3 body containers, allowing the atma to blissfully merge eternally with Paramatma.