The Astral Rainbow

THE

ASTRAL RAINBOW

The Journey Continues….

By Ritesh Gupta

Copyright 2020 Ritesh Gupta

SMASHWORDS EDITION, LICENSE NOTES

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DEDICATION

To God, Guru and Parents

PREFACE

Finally, after five years, the sequel to the first book, ‘The Blazing Trident’ is ready. It has been a difficult journey as the subject itself, set in the subtle ‘other’ world, is a difficult one. The challenge was to present an accurate as well as an entertaining description of the world of subtle light and sound - a world which for a vast majority opens up only at the time of departure from the earthly plane. Still, with the help of the writings of my Guru, (Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda), Paramguru (Sri Sri Swami Sri Yukteswar Giriji), blessings of other YSS Gurus (Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasayaji, Sri Sri Mahavtar Babaji, Lord Jesus, Bhagavan Sri Krishna) and with the grace of God, this work has been accomplished. Thus in ‘The Astral Rainbow’ one will largely find a very accurate description of the Astral world.

This is a work of fiction so not everything is hundred percent accurate but it does gather a few drops from the chalice of truth. Those who would like to quaff the whole chalice are directed to the book, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS) study lessons and to other writings of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda. The YSS study lessons especially will prove to be immense help in the all-round growth of any individual; to quote Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandaji, the author of these lessons:

"These truths that you will be studying are not compiled from different books, but are the results of my direct experiences of Spirit during years of training with great masters…in these Lessons you are receiving the highest truths of India’s scriptures and the Bible, which have been hidden from the masses for centuries…by studying the Yogoda Satsanga Lessons, you are not taking an ordinary correspondence course - you are not connected merely with the printing machine of an organization out to make money. You are connected with a hierarchy of true masters of spiritual perception who are in communion with Jesus, Krishna and God."

Hopefully all readers will enjoy this read and if, in a small way, this book (and its’ first part) is able to awaken one’s interest in spiritual life, then the purpose of this writing would have been served.

Ritesh Gupta

New Delhi

October 2020

CREDITS

Sincere thanks to my family for their constant support and encouragement in the course of writing this book.

Special thanks to my dear nephew Siddhant (Sid) for his invaluable contribution in design of the book cover.

"The darkness of death

changes into the light of a beautiful astral universe.

Why pity the dead?

In new-learnt wisdom, they pity us."

(Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A New Beginning

Chapter 2: The Astral Rainbow

Chapter 3: Revealed! A World of Glorious Beauty

Chapter 4: Mysteries of the Astral World

Chapter 5: Vindhya

Chapter 6: Pain of a Business Mogul

Chapter 7: Fear of Death Overcome

Chapter 8: The Beads Lie Scattered

Chapter 9: "What Happened Out Here??@#*"

Chapter 10: Past Friends Meet Again

Chapter 11: Terror of Narakasura

Chapter 12: The Kingdom of Noahkali

Chapter 13: War Clouds

Chapter 14: The Great Battle

Chapter 15: Role of Evil in God’s Creation

Chapter 16: I Meet My Lost ‘Son’

Chapter 17: When One Spurns Goodness

Chapter 18: The Three-fold Creation of God

Chapter 19: A Goalpost for the Future

Chapter 20: The Final Frontier

Appendix: Glossary

CHAPTER I

A New Beginning

‘AUM’, ‘AUM’, ‘AUM’….

The resounding Cosmic Vibration and its’ deep intone is clearly audible as I make my way through the dark tunnel that connects the celestial to the physical. I travel at a lightning speed; there is no anxiety, no fear, but only an exhilarating thrill of being free. Soon, I emerge from the dark passageway into a region awashed in glorious light.

All around me is suffused this soothing effulgence which fills me with a deep sense of peace. In the distance is visible a magnificent, pearly-white archway. Nestled amongst giant, wooly clouds, the gate seems to beckon me towards itself. I take a step forward and find that I’m actually walking on air! An anxious moment, which soon passes as a gentle gust of wind propels me forward and I begin to float, feather-like, towards my immediate destination. On the way, I recall the final moments of my earthly life: a deep state of samadhi; discarding my gross, physical frame for a luminous, light-filled form; and finally, blazing through the dark passage and emerging in this region of glorious light. But, where am I now? Have I reached Heaven?

As I was mulling over my new state of existence that my destination arrives: the milky white archway, ornate with exquisite flowers and delicate lianas intertwined together; innumerable tiny bells, hanging from the gateway, chime melodiously in the gentle breeze. I pause at the entrance, trying to peer on the other side but nothing is visible. Just then a sweet, feminine voice rings out in the firmament:

"My child, do not hesitate. Step inside and explore your new home."

So I do and as I emerge on the other side, the scene that greets me is truly a heavenly one - an unimaginably beautiful region bathed in a mesmeric orange light; a gentle, fragrant breeze is blowing all around; the sky is not the familiar blue of the earth but is instead a rainbow coloured firmament: an ethereal orange in one part, a brilliant yellow in another; an azure blue in one portion and a shimmering red in still another. But only the colours are familiar, their myriad shades are unlike any that I had seen on earth!

The astral sun, shining brilliantly in the sky, is beautiful beyond description with its’ lovely golden hue and a rotund shape – almost the face of an infant! The rays are soft and comforting; neither warm nor burning as on earth. The amazing part is that while on earth, one cannot look directly at the midday sun but here, even though the astral sun is shining gloriously in the sky, I feel no discomfort as I stare at it and soak in the celestial rays that energize every pore of my astral form.

Far off, the distinct roar of a mighty ocean is clearly audible. I make my way towards the upsurge, floating in the air and within no time I am at the shore of that great deep. Once again, a panorama unseen on earth greets me: an opalescent green ocean heaving gently with waves of countless colours - a fluffy white in one instant, a frothing yellow the next, a vibrant magenta and soon a shimmering orange – one by one the waves change their colours as they rise from that infinite deep, sink in its’ bosom and then rise once again.

Wonderstruck, I keep staring at this unique vista for a long time….

The sand-filled shores are particularly inviting. I amble along and feel the silky smooth texture of the sand - softer even than the laxest cotton on earth!

No sea-shells or pebbles dot the surface. There is, as far as the eye can see, only this vast expanse of shimmering, silvery white sand which is cool and invigorating to walk upon, even with the sun shining brightly overhead.

Truly, my new home is more enigmatic than the last one!

I keep walking along the shore, mile after mile, without any trace of fatigue or thirst or hunger and it is then that I sight these enormous, glittering walls in the distance. Coming nearer, I find that the walls are actually the ramparts of a giant castle. It is difficult to tell that which of the two – the walls or the castle – are higher as they both seem to outdo each other in trying to touch the sky. So monstrous in size they both are!

The ramparts are actually made of gold – glistening, burnished yellow gold. At least I thought it was so until I poked my finger into one of the walls and the yellow ‘thing’ went right inside – till where I press into it. Then, as soon as I take away my finger, the wall becomes solid once again!

I search and search for an entrance but find none. It was then that I heard a voice within me say: walk through them. I did and voila…I find myself on the other side!

The view on this side of the ramparts is truly a breathtaking one. I find myself dwarfed by the monstrous castle, made of diamonds, pearls, rubies and other such endless varieties of precious stones that the tongue cannot describe and the mind can hardly conceive of! Possessing a fiery form, like that of Agni or Surya, the magnificent palace shines in great splendour; by its’ sheer brilliance, it pales even the luminous sun shining overhead. But whose residence is it?

With diffident steps I approach that gigantic mansion. The pathway is lined by tall and shaded trees. Of thick, green foliage and a delightful cool shade, they are all very charming to behold. Surprisingly, I do not see any dead leaves, not even one, scattered on the ground. The trees themselves, of a variety unseen on earth, appear to be perennially in blossom – so fresh and green do they appear.

Many tanks of water surround the villa. I cannot resist the urge to dip my hand in the refreshingly clear waters and enjoy the tinge of coolness that runs through my being. Swans, of a pristine white hue and Brahminy ducks strut about in the waters and vie for space with the countless lotuses growing therein. Pink, green, white, red, golden, mixed – I find it difficult to keep a count of the endless variety of colours and shades that the lotuses are blooming in. Several grow even outside the waters! I am tempted to pluck one and as I do so, it immediately transforms itself into a beautiful white bird which says to me in a sweet voice: "Devi, please step inside the castle."

Dumbfounded, I keep staring at the ‘talking’ bird as it flies away gracefully….

I make my way towards the entrance and it is then that I notice that the great bastion is being guarded from all the sides by huge-bodied beings. Endued with enormous strength and sporting red coppery eyes with ears bent like the twang of a bow, they are well-armed and fierce looking.

Who are these terrible-looking creatures? They are such a misfit in this otherwise heavenly region! And whose palace are they guarding anyway? My mind occupied with these thoughts, I approach the doorway tentatively, unsure of the reception that I would receive but surprisingly, I am not stopped by any of those sentinels. As I stand facing the entrance, I can hear the gentle hum of the Cosmic Vibration emanating from within the palace. In reverence I too fold my hands and chant: Aum, Aum, Aum….

A few