Gods, World of the

The earliest reference to the transmigration of souls is found in both the
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (6.2) and
the Chandogya Upanishad (5.10). These
texts make a qualitative distinction
between two different paths. The path to
the world of the gods ultimately led to
the sun, and the person traveling it did
not return again, whereas the path to
the world of the fathers led to the
moon, and the person traveling it was
eventually reborn on earth. The leitmotiv of the Upanishads is the need for
individual spiritual realization, which is
the key to getting on the path to the
world of the gods. Those who gain this
realization attain the final and ultimate
end, whereas those who simply do good
deeds will return to earth, although their
good deeds will give them karmic benefits. See also karma.