Another Explanation
This is in fact a subtle sheath of the Absolute Cosmic Water element around the Earth region. This sheath itself is the river Vaitarna. After death, the subtle bodies (souls) take a dip in the Vaitarna and enter the Nether region. The remaining excretory gases and sub-vital energies related to the physical body accompanying the subtle body are discharged into the Vaitarna.
Thus the Vaitarna helps strip the subtle body (astral body) of the last vestiges of the gross body so as to make it subtle enough to make it possible for it to enter the Region of the Dead.
It can also be taken to mean that if one lives a sinful material life on earth, then one is subjected to the constant cycles of rebirth after death. Therefore when a man dies, the soul has to cross a river filled with blood, bones and tissues( symbolic of a mother's womb)in order to be born again. But if the man lived the righteous path then he does not have to cross the river meaning he can escape the cycle of rebirth, escaping also the pain and suffering.
Read more about this topic: Vaitarna River
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