Existence of Jiva-s
Question
There are now over 6 billion souls inhabiting this planet which is more than any time in history. Did they always exist? Are they all sparks of the creator? Were they previously in Animal form? if it was a fall from grace, does the density of ignorance correspond to the level of physical form? Thank you
Answer
| न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः ||
| अजो नित्यः शाश्वतो अयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ||
The soul was never born and nor shall it ever die.
Nor having been shall it ever cease to be.
Unborn, eternal, ancient and indestructible,
The soul does not die when the body ceases to be.
This is the nature of the soul as described in the Bhagavad-Gita. It has always existed and will always continue to exist. Depending on the level of ignorance surrounding it, it takes various forms manifest through different physical bodies like that of an insect, animal, human etc.
It is beyond doubt that all these billions of Jiva-s have always existed in some form or the other. They are no different from the Lord himself in the sense of their true identity.
As per the scriptures, the soul has been in its state of ignorance eternally. However, it is moving towards shedding these layers towards enlightenment. This is called evolution. Every creature, be it animal or man is gradually evolving. When this degree of evolution reaches its zenith and meets perfection, the Atman (soul) shines in its true state of splendor called Kaivalya (self-realization). It is then fully enlightened and no longer requires the physical or astral bodies, as a result of which it merges into its true state of union with the creator. Then the 'Leela' (divine play) of the creator as regards that soul completes as regards these lower planes.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)