Editing Svarga (section)

=== ''Vedas'' ===
In the hymns of the ''[[Atharvaveda]]'', Svarga is conceptualised as Pitrloka, the land where one hopes to meet one's departed ancestors. It is the abode that is rewarded for the one who performs sacrifices. The sacrifices that one performs are stated to journey directly to heaven, and are stored to await the sacrificer on his arrival. One hymn describes Svarga to be a realm that contains water-lilies and lotuses, lakes of butter with banks of honey, along with streams flowing with a number of foods such as wine, milk, curds, and water. Offering gifts to guests is also stated to be a path that secures heaven.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OUloBHBEyOcC&dq=svarga+heaven&pg=PA59 |title=The Atharva-Veda Described: With a Classified Selection of Hymns, Explanatory Notes and Review |date=1897 |publisher=Christian Literature Society for India |pages=59–60 |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Brahma Sutras|''Vedanta Shutra'']] explains the concept of [[Transmigration of a soul|transmigration]] from Svarga to Bhuloka. It indicates that a ''[[jiva]]'' (life force) that has performed sacrifices and [[Dāna|charitable acts]] ascends to Svarga, and when departing the abode and returning to earth, it descends as a raincloud, and is precipitated upon the earth as rain. When man consumes the food that is watered by the rain, it enters his semen, and during intercourse, enters a woman, to be reborn. It described "sampata" to be the term for the concept that allows one to ascend to heaven. It also states that the one who was of good conduct in Svarga attains the birth of a [[Brahmin]], [[Kshatriya]], or a [[Vaishya]], and that others are condemned to lesser births, such as other animals or outcastes.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P7ZDAAAAYAAJ&dq=svarga+upanishads&pg=PA563 |title=The Taittirīya-upanishad |date=1903 |publisher=Printed at the C. T. A. Printing Works |pages=561–563 |language=en}}</ref>

The ''[[Mundaka Upanishad]]'' affirms that the performance of Vedic rituals is necessary to attain Svarga.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Satchidanandendra |first1=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZMkbWhjE2M4C&dq=one+attains+svarga&pg=PA29 |title=The Method of the Vedanta: A Critical Account of the Advaita Tradition |last2=Saraswati |first2=Swami Satchidanandendra |date=1997 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-1358-8 |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref>