Similarities of Christian and Vaishnava eschatologies  (Vishnudutas-Yamadutas)

Excerpt from: “St. Theodora’s Journey Through the Aerial Toll-Houses”: http://orthodoxinfo.com/death/theodora.aspx

The Separation of Soul and Body

Theodora describes the moment of death as excruciating, comparing it to the agony of being burned alive [4]. Evil spirits, appearing as menacing creatures, surround the dying person, attempting to instill fear and claim the soul [4]. Theodora notes that the pain of separation is intense for both sinners and the righteous, although she cannot speak to the experience of the righteous [4].

The Role of Angels and Demons

Upon death, two angels arrive to receive the soul [5]. These angels act as guides and advocates for the soul during its journey through the customs houses [5]. They present the good deeds performed during life as a counterbalance to any accusations leveled by the demons [5-7]. Conversely, demons, who have recorded the person’s sins throughout their life, confront the soul at each customs house [8]. They present evidence of wrongdoing and attempt to seize the soul and drag it into Hades [6, 7, 9].

The Customs Houses

Each customs house focuses on a particular sin [1, 2]. If the soul is guilty of the sin being judged, it is detained and sent to Hades to await the Final Judgment and potential condemnation to Hell [2]. Theodora’s experience details her passage through several customs houses, including slander [6], arrogance [10], envy [10], lying [7], anger and rage [7], pride [11], blasphemy [11], idle chatter and foolishness [12], usury and deceit [12], laziness and sleep [13], greed [13], drunkenness [14], resentment [8], magic and divination [15], gluttony [16], idolatry [16], homosexuality [17], vanity [18], adultery [19], murder [19], theft [9], fornication [9], and mercilessness [20].

Theodora’s experience highlights that even seemingly insignificant transgressions from one’s youth are subject to scrutiny [12]. However, confession and sincere repentance during life, along with the performance of good deeds, can mitigate the consequences of sin and facilitate passage through the customs houses [5, 15].

The Gate of Heaven

After navigating the customs houses, the soul approaches the gate of heaven, described as a radiant and awe-inspiring sight [20]. A gatekeeper welcomes those who have successfully passed through the trials, ushering them into a realm of radiant beings, unspeakable joy, and the presence of God [21].

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