Beautifully adorned ISKCON deities with ornate decorations inside a temple.

Wait—gods can die?

In Indian religions, deities are a form of existence within Saṃsāra. Guardian deities live blissfully in heaven, but perish when their merit runs out.

When Gods Can Die: Deities and Rebirth

Traditional Ganesha statue with backlit smoke in a spiritual setting, Nanded, India.

How to become a deva

Live ethically and gain merit, and a human may be reborn as a deva. In Buddhism, devas enjoy heavenly pleasures, then die and are reborn like all beings.

When Gods Can Die: Deities and Rebirth

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