The Road to Yamlok and the Vaitarni River

Lord Vishnu explained that the road to Yamlok is very long. According to the Puran, the journey takes about a year, and sixteen cities lie along the way. That is why tradition offers a masik shraddha every month after a death and a yearly shraddha when the year is complete, so the soul keeps receiving food and water on its journey.

The Puran describes this road differently for each person, according to their deeds. One who gave water to the thirsty finds water on the way. One who gave an umbrella or shoes is protected from the sun and thorns. One who fed the hungry finds food. For one who lived only for themselves, the road becomes hard.

On this road there is a river called the Vaitarni. The Puran describes it as very wide and fearsome, very hard for a wrongdoer to cross. But the same river becomes calm and easy for a virtuous soul. The description reminds us that the same road becomes easy or hard because of our own deeds.

The Puran says that one who gave a cow in their lifetime, or in whose name the family gave a cow with faith, receives help in crossing the Vaitarni. Today many families keep this tradition by serving or giving to a cow shelter. The feeling is that kindness to living beings is the boat that carries us across.

No family should feel afraid hearing this. These descriptions are meant to teach that kindness, giving and truth are the companions on this journey. The love you received from your loved one, and the good they did for others, are the shade and water on their road.