Six Degrees of the Soul

The 6 Levels of Spirits According to Hindu Scriptures

A siddha is a perfected human being, who has gone deep into meditation. Image (c) ExoticIndia.com

Subhamoy Das

Hinduism believes in reincarnation and the existence of the soul and spirits or
atman. Kena Upanishad says, "Atman exists," and according to it, there are 6 levels of
the soul or 6 types of spirits.
Now, what is a soul? "Soul is a wonderful being that even gods worship", says
the Upanishad. Verses 12 and 13 of Kena, while describing the state of self-realization
or moksha, says that those who are self-awakened attain spiritual oneness with the
cosmic soul and attain immortality.
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Meaning of the Phrase Atman-Brahman

The Upanishads proclaim that "Atman is Brahman." Atman refer to the individual soul
of all living things and that which is immortal unlike the body. Brahman is the supreme
soul or the cosmic soul, the life source of all that exists in the universe. So, the phrase
"Atman is Brahman" wonderfully implies that the individual soul you and me are
part of the cosmic soul. This is also the basis of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay entitled
Over-Soul (1841) and other similar Transcendental writings in Western Literature.

The 6 Levels of Spirits According to the Upanishads

The Kena Upanishad says, The spirit is one, yet spirit is not one. There are many
layers to it. The whole universe is permeated by spirit, by Brahman yet in different
degrees. And it goes on to describe the six stages of spirits: Guru, deva, yaksha,
gandharva, kinnara, pitr and then come human beings
1. Pitr: Pitr refers to any of the spirits of the dead ancestors
or of all the dead who have been cremated or buried in
accordance with the proper rites. These ancestors have got
one step more power than humans. Their spirits move
around freely in the universe and they have the capacity to
bless you. Therefore, you worship your ancestors. (See Pitr
Paksha)
1. Kinnaras: Spirits, one grade higher than the pitr, are called
kinnaras. These souls are behind big social work or
political set-ups. The kinnaras are entities belonging to our
planetary chain who partake partly of the nature and partly
of spirit. They have a definite place in the economy of the
planetary chain and perform their functions very much as

the human hierarchy does.

2. Ghandarvas: These spirits are behind every successful
artist. These spirits bring you great fame. Yet, along with joy
and happiness that you give to the population, it makes you
very miserable. Therefore, the ghandarva souls, through
the artists bring lots of happiness to others, but for the
individual, they bring misery.
3. Yakshas: A yaksha brings lots of wealth to you. Very
wealthy people are blessed by yakshas. These souls bring
in comfort, but they dont give joy or happiness from your
progeny. From the point of view of happiness from the
children, people blessed by yakshas are not happy. You are
not satisfied either by the behavior, or career of their
children. Therefore, you become miserable.
4. Devas: Your body is governed by thirty-three types of
devas. You know them as Gods and Goddesses. The entire
universe is under the control of devas. It is also the diverse
form of your spirit. Deva means the divine qualities that you
express through your character, e.g., benevolence,
brilliance, compassion, happiness, etc. Devas are present
in the consciousness and in every cell of your own body.
5. Siddhas: A siddha is a perfected human being who has
gone deep into meditation, according to theKena
Upanishad. They are also termed as Gurus or Sadgurus.
These come in a degree higher than the devas. The
Upanishadic adage Guru bina gati nahin, means, without
a Guru, there is no progress. Therefore, in rituals and pujas,
Gurus are first honored and then the 'devas' or Gods.