The eighth chapter of Chandogya Upanishad speaks of the human body as the city of God. The heart is like a tiny lotus bud, and inside this is the Supreme Brahman. He is the One to be meditated upon. He is described as Daharah Akasa in the Upanishad. In other words, the Supreme Brahman in the heart is compared to subtle ether.
The Daharakasa supports all entities in this world, since it is the Supreme One. Daharakasa is described as nirathisaya bhogya — unequalled bliss, elaborated M.K. Srinivasan in a discourse. If this Supreme One is in the heart of a person, in the form of subtle ether, then what happens to this ether when the body perishes? Does it age too, with the body?
The Daharakasa does not age; it does not perish when the human body dies. It is Sathya. It is free from hunger or thirst. Any city is dependent on its ruler. In the same way, all entities are dependent on Brahman. Daharakasa is different from elemental ether, for the latter is destroyed during pralaya (deluge). But the Daharakasa is imperishable.
When a person dies, if the jivatma has successfully followed one of the paths prescribed for liberation, it attains moksha. If the person has not striven towards moksha, then the jivatma goes to heaven or hell, depending on the person’s acts on this earth. While the jivatma is awaiting the next birth, the Daharakasa resides in the Paramatma. When the jivatma takes birth again, the Daharakasa resumes its presence in the heart of the person.
So, if a person meditates on the Daharakasa present in his heart, and the auspicious qualities of that Brahamn, then when the jivatma departs upon death, it will enjoy the glories of Brahman, and it will not have to face heaven or hell, or repeated births.
