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European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 11, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/aivp.113.14827.
Kumaar, S. S. (2023). Evidences Suggestive of Reincarnation based on Indian Beliefs. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol -
11(3). 226-232.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Evidences Suggestive of Reincarnation based on Indian Beliefs
Sidhharrth S. Kumaar
ABSTRACT
Ancient scriptures in Indian culture strongly support the concept of reincarnation.
Researchers have travelled from place to place to study cases and concluded that
over 92% of them were true. This article discusses the various pieces of evidence
that strongly suggest the existence of rebirth, describes the characteristics specific
to reincarnated individuals, and also methods adapted to prove the existence of
reincarnation. The article, however, does not claim that reincarnation exists, for it
is still debatable.
Keywords: Reincarnation, rebirth, evidence of reincarnation, personalities of
reincarnated people
INTRODUCTION
Since time immemorial, reincarnation has always been a mystery. Reincarnation refers to the
rebirth of an individual, in which their soul leaves the previous body after death and enters
another flesh. Along with the soul, it carries the mind, consciousness, memories and karma. This
event is also known as transmigration in common language, and metempsychosis in
professional terms.
The Bhagavad Gita, the holy book of Hindus, states that every being has a soul that goes through
the cycle of birth, death and rebirth until they reach the heavenly abode of God. The physical
form of the soul is based on the karmas or actions of the person in their previous birth.
Depending on the karmas of their past life, they may become humans, insects, animals or take
any other form of being.
Children below 5 years of age have claimed to have distinct memories of their past lives. They
have described their former birth life so accurately that their parents were compelled to visit
the described place, find the people they mentioned in their stories and confirm by themselves.
However, only some have been able to go to the depths of the matter and confirm the tales their
children narrated.
Furthermore, in over 93% of reincarnation cases, an association between birthmarks or birth
defects and wounds on the body from the previous birth has been found. Some people also
experience phobias related to their cause of death in the previous birth. It was thus concluded
that birthmarks, injury marks, congenital disabilities (such as heart ailments) and phobias
might relate to the cause of the individual's death in their previous life.
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Kumaar, S. S. (2023). Evidences Suggestive of Reincarnation based on Indian Beliefs. European Journal of Applied Sciences, Vol - 11(3). 226-232.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.113.14827.
THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND DEATH1,2
The life cycle of birth, death and rebirth is termed reincarnation or samsara. The holy book of
Bhagavad Gita, in its shlokas 8.17 to 8.19, describes this periodic emergence of life in depth. It
states that all beings have souls that derive from Brahma, Lord Vishnu or Shankar. Every soul
leaves the physical form once it perishes and then resides in the body of Lord Vishnu. They take
birth on earth when they are released from the physical body, and after death, they reside
within the supreme Brahma's body. Souls are everlasting and indestructible in contrast to the
physical bodies that they reside in. The cycle of birth and death continues until the soul reaches
the humble abode of God.
Moreover, all souls aim to be liberated forever from this cycle to obtain Moksha or salvation. A
soul keeps taking birth in different forms on the earth based on their past karmas and is set free
once he is detached from the clutches of maya or the material world.
It is also said that rebirth is inevitable, and so is death. Every being that is born has to die. To
liberate oneself from this cycle, turning to spiritual practices can help. The Bhagavad Gita is
thus major evidence that life after death exists. In conjunction with the teachings of the
Bhagavad Gita, various case studies of people who claim to have been reincarnated support its
prevalence.
Cases of Rebirth
In his research paper, KM Wehrstein3, states that people may have the choice of reincarnating
in a specific way or choosing the kind of life they wish to live. Along with their choice of life,
they carry forward their past karmas (deeds). Even though there is no large-scale statistical
analysis on the selection of new life, co-authors Ohkado Masayuki and doctor Ikegawa Akira4
surveyed several parents and children who experienced intermission; and they stated that 80%
of their subjects chose their parents.
One example is William George Jr.'s case5:
He was an Alaskan fisherman who told his son and his son's wife that he would return as their
son in his next life. He added that they could recognise him by the three large moles on his left
arm and his shoulder. In addition, he gave his son a gold watch and asked him to save it.
Unfortunately, some weeks later, he fell off his boat and died; his body was never recovered.
About nine months later, his son's wife gave birth to a boy who had three moles exactly like
William George Jr. His behaviour, with time, resembled that of his grandfather. Surprisingly, he
instantly recognised his grandfather's gold watch when his mother showed it to him6. This case
proves that people may choose to reincarnate. There are many cases wherein people have
chosen to reincarnate as family members or close ones.
Understanding The Characteristics of Reincarnated Individuals7,8
Many professors and scientists have taken up reincarnation as their primary field of study.
Among them, a renowned personality, Dr Satwant K Pasricha, a professor of Clinical Psychology
at NIMHANS, has studied over 500 cases of reincarnation, of which about 77% were authentic9.
In one of her articles, she states that in over 82% of her case studies, a relationship between
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injuries or marks on reincarnated people's bodies and the cause of their death in a previous life
was evident.
Some children are reborn with similar facial features, mannerisms or thought processes that
correspond to their previous lives. In addition, children with birth defects, birthmarks, or
significant moles have been attributed to incidences that may have occurred in their previous
lives.8 Children who spoke of their past were normally between 2 to 5 years of age and rarely
above 10 years of age. At times, their behaviour is deemed inappropriate for their present
circumstances but appropriate for the behaviour of the deceased person whose life they claim
to recall.
Ian Stevenson, a well-known Psychiatrist working at the University of Virginia School of
Medicine, USA, has conducted extensive research in the field of reincarnation. Dr Satwant and
Dr Stevenson have collaborated on several projects of reincarnation and have published several
papers in reputed journals. Their contribution to the field of rebirth is commendable and forms
the basis of today's research regarding reincarnation. Dr Stevenson has described some
characteristics of people who have reincarnated in his study published in 19868. His findings
are not only applicable to specific communities but to everyone who may have reincarnated or
claimed to have so.
He states that when a person reincarnates, they depict certain characteristics and personality
traits that differ from common individuals. These can be described in the form of physical
characteristics, recognition of places, people and objects, statements about matters relating to
the past life, emotions, and more.
Physical Characteristics10
Many individuals who reincarnate often have birthmarks, moles, birth defects and other
physical marks on their body that have been present since birth. These marks or defects are
often unexplained but have been known to be carried forward from previous births.
Some may have evident moles in a particular pattern, as described in the case above, or may
have prominent marks that correspond with the cause of death in their previous lives. In about
33% of recorded cases, birthmarks were of significance. Other forms of physical marks include
wounds, severed limbs, surgical scars, skin and hair colour, deformities, facial features that
resemble the deceased person, and more.
Statements Made by Children About Their Past Lives
Research suggests that children often make claims about their past lives spontaneously.
Sometimes, they reveal appalling yet apt details about incidents that may never have been
previously discussed with them. According to studies by Stevenson, about 73% of 80 detailed
cases could recall their names from previous lives, and 74% could remember the residence.
Children have also discussed or reclaimed their formerly owned belongings without having
seen them before in this life. Some statements included the nature of the incidence of their
death, be it violent or due to natural reasons. Children have also been able to name their
murderers from former lives and able to bring justice to themselves and those associated with