(Optional) All of these rules are options that can be used together or separately. Consider well their effects on your game, and discuss with your players whether to allow (or require) these rules.
I haven't read "Ecology of the Deva" so some of those rules might not fit with that article.
Automatic Reincarnation
When a deva dies, her spirit roams free for a period of at least a month and up to a year. After one month has passed, the deva can automatically reincarnate at a temple or holy site near the place where she died. She appears in a new adult body, with no equipment, and might have slightly different physical traits (see Reincarnation Random Traits, below). She forgets most of her previous life; the amount of memory she retains determines whether she is considered newborn or reborn.
Newborn: Most of the time, the deva's memory is so clouded that she loses all her XP, levels, feats, and class, and begins anew at level 1. Even her ability scores may change somewhat during the crucible of rebirth. (Select this option if your group is starting a new campaign at level 1, or if you want to convert the deva PC into an NPC).
Reborn: Sometimes, deva's memory of her past life is present, but hazy, like a fleeting dream. She doesn't know her own name, and while she recognizes close friends and allies (as well as dangerous enemies) she won't remember their names either. She remembers only vague generalities about what she was up to or about the state of the world (for example, "I was on a journey to destroy a powerful evil artifact" or "a fell necromancer was trying to take over the world").
The reborn deva retains her skills and abilities, although she might not realize what she is capable of. As such, the deva's class, level, XP, feats, and ability scores do not change. Because she is "out of practice", the deva takes a -3 penalty on all attack rolls and ability checks and skill checks, but gains a +3 bonus when using her memory of a thousand lifetimes racial power. For every two milestones she passes, the deva regains some of her past-life memories, and the penalty and bonus both decrease by 1. When the bonus and penalty reach 0, she has fully recovered her faculties and most of her memories, although specific memories from her previous life may still be spotty and incomplete. (Select this option if you are part of an ongoing campaign and want to reincarnate without being bumped back down to level 1.)
Reincarnation Random Traits
When a deva reincarnates, their physical traits may change slightly. Some think this reflects their personality changes; others believe the gods are better preparing them for the tasks they face in the immediate future; and some think it is purely random chance, just a roll of the dice.
To determine your reincarnated deva's physical traits, roll 1d4, 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12 and 1d20 and consult the tables below.
1d4: Gender
1: Male
2: Female
3-4: Same as previous incarnation
1d6: Height
1: Very Short
2: Short
3: Average
4: Tall
5: Very Tall
6: Same as previous incarnation
1d8: Frame
1: Bulky
2: Broad
3: Fit
4: Wirey
5: Thin
6: Muscular
7: Typical
8: Same as previous incarnation
1d10: Voice
1: Deep
2: High
3: Rough
4: Smooth
5: Musical
6: Monotone
7: Clipped
8: Nasal
9: Normal
10: Same as previous incarnation
1d12: Coloration
1: Roll again; base color and pattern color are reversed (e.g. black with white patterns becomes white with black patterns)
2: Black with gray patterns
3: Black with white patterns
4: Dark Blue with gray patterns
5: Dark Blue with white patterns
6: Indigo with gray patterns
7: Indigo with white patterns
8: Violet with gray patterns
9: Violet with white patterns
10: Pale blue with gray patterns
11: Pale blue with white patterns
12: Same as previous incarnation
1d20: Facial Features
1: Roll twice; get both features
2: Narrow Face
3: Round Face
4: High Cheeks
5: Round Cheeks
6: Square Jaw
7: Prominent Chin
8: High Forehead
9: Full Lips
10: Narrow Lips
11: Small Mouth
12: Big Nose
13: Long Nose
14: Pug Nose
15: Big Ears
16: Big Eyes
17: Narrow Eyes
18: Bulging Eyes
19: Deep-Set Eyes
20: Same as previous incarnation
New Deva Backgrounds
Saw the Light: Your last death was... different. You almost didn't come back afterwards. Were you on the verge of enlightenment? Were the gods trying to send you elsewhere? Or was your soul in peril from a deceptive force? Either way, the experience has made a strong impression on you, although you don't remember most of it.
Associated Skills: Arcana, Religion
Strange Reflection: You've come back to life in a very different body than your previous one -- a woman who becomes a man, or someone short and fat who becomes tall and skinny. Part of you feels a stranger to yourself, but another part feels that this is how you always should have been.
Associated Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy
Traumatic Death: Whether it was a blade in the back, a lightning bolt in the face, or a fall from a great height, your previous death was sudden and unpleasant. The memory of it haunts your dreams, leaving you wary and alert.
Associated Skills: Heal, Perception
Unfinished Work: You were on some sort of specific quest or mission of such great importance that even death will not deter you. While your soul wandered free, you gained a new perspective on the obstacles you face.
Associated Skills: Endurance, Insight
I haven't read "Ecology of the Deva" so some of those rules might not fit with that article.
Automatic Reincarnation
When a deva dies, her spirit roams free for a period of at least a month and up to a year. After one month has passed, the deva can automatically reincarnate at a temple or holy site near the place where she died. She appears in a new adult body, with no equipment, and might have slightly different physical traits (see Reincarnation Random Traits, below). She forgets most of her previous life; the amount of memory she retains determines whether she is considered newborn or reborn.
Newborn: Most of the time, the deva's memory is so clouded that she loses all her XP, levels, feats, and class, and begins anew at level 1. Even her ability scores may change somewhat during the crucible of rebirth. (Select this option if your group is starting a new campaign at level 1, or if you want to convert the deva PC into an NPC).
Reborn: Sometimes, deva's memory of her past life is present, but hazy, like a fleeting dream. She doesn't know her own name, and while she recognizes close friends and allies (as well as dangerous enemies) she won't remember their names either. She remembers only vague generalities about what she was up to or about the state of the world (for example, "I was on a journey to destroy a powerful evil artifact" or "a fell necromancer was trying to take over the world").
The reborn deva retains her skills and abilities, although she might not realize what she is capable of. As such, the deva's class, level, XP, feats, and ability scores do not change. Because she is "out of practice", the deva takes a -3 penalty on all attack rolls and ability checks and skill checks, but gains a +3 bonus when using her memory of a thousand lifetimes racial power. For every two milestones she passes, the deva regains some of her past-life memories, and the penalty and bonus both decrease by 1. When the bonus and penalty reach 0, she has fully recovered her faculties and most of her memories, although specific memories from her previous life may still be spotty and incomplete. (Select this option if you are part of an ongoing campaign and want to reincarnate without being bumped back down to level 1.)
Reincarnation Random Traits
When a deva reincarnates, their physical traits may change slightly. Some think this reflects their personality changes; others believe the gods are better preparing them for the tasks they face in the immediate future; and some think it is purely random chance, just a roll of the dice.
To determine your reincarnated deva's physical traits, roll 1d4, 1d6, 1d8, 1d10, 1d12 and 1d20 and consult the tables below.
1d4: Gender
1: Male
2: Female
3-4: Same as previous incarnation
1d6: Height
1: Very Short
2: Short
3: Average
4: Tall
5: Very Tall
6: Same as previous incarnation
1d8: Frame
1: Bulky
2: Broad
3: Fit
4: Wirey
5: Thin
6: Muscular
7: Typical
8: Same as previous incarnation
1d10: Voice
1: Deep
2: High
3: Rough
4: Smooth
5: Musical
6: Monotone
7: Clipped
8: Nasal
9: Normal
10: Same as previous incarnation
1d12: Coloration
1: Roll again; base color and pattern color are reversed (e.g. black with white patterns becomes white with black patterns)
2: Black with gray patterns
3: Black with white patterns
4: Dark Blue with gray patterns
5: Dark Blue with white patterns
6: Indigo with gray patterns
7: Indigo with white patterns
8: Violet with gray patterns
9: Violet with white patterns
10: Pale blue with gray patterns
11: Pale blue with white patterns
12: Same as previous incarnation
1d20: Facial Features
1: Roll twice; get both features
2: Narrow Face
3: Round Face
4: High Cheeks
5: Round Cheeks
6: Square Jaw
7: Prominent Chin
8: High Forehead
9: Full Lips
10: Narrow Lips
11: Small Mouth
12: Big Nose
13: Long Nose
14: Pug Nose
15: Big Ears
16: Big Eyes
17: Narrow Eyes
18: Bulging Eyes
19: Deep-Set Eyes
20: Same as previous incarnation
New Deva Backgrounds
Saw the Light: Your last death was... different. You almost didn't come back afterwards. Were you on the verge of enlightenment? Were the gods trying to send you elsewhere? Or was your soul in peril from a deceptive force? Either way, the experience has made a strong impression on you, although you don't remember most of it.
Associated Skills: Arcana, Religion
Strange Reflection: You've come back to life in a very different body than your previous one -- a woman who becomes a man, or someone short and fat who becomes tall and skinny. Part of you feels a stranger to yourself, but another part feels that this is how you always should have been.
Associated Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy
Traumatic Death: Whether it was a blade in the back, a lightning bolt in the face, or a fall from a great height, your previous death was sudden and unpleasant. The memory of it haunts your dreams, leaving you wary and alert.
Associated Skills: Heal, Perception
Unfinished Work: You were on some sort of specific quest or mission of such great importance that even death will not deter you. While your soul wandered free, you gained a new perspective on the obstacles you face.
Associated Skills: Endurance, Insight
