Funeral ceremonies

Life is started by some Samskaras (purification ceremony) in Hindu tradition. Starting as from procreation time till death time.Samskaras means religious purificatory ceremonies for sanctifying the body, the mind, the intellect of an individual. Basically at the performance of each samskaras a yajna is performed as the recitation of mantras from the Vedas are equally important. There are generally three steps to follow: pre-performance, actual performance, and post performance of a samskara. Bath and preparation are necessary for the first step, whereas in the second light, fire, prayer and offering are needed. The last step is marked by distribution of food to the guest and relatives and dakshina to the officiating priest.

Here I’ll be talking of funeral ceremony (Antyeshti) which is the greatest single important ritual of the Hindus to whom the value of the next world is higher than that of the present one. It marks an end to physical and existence without bringing his spiritual life too an end. There is a firm belief that there is life after death and it is an account of this that one prays for the departed soul.

It is the first time as grown up I’m experiencing a death in my family. So I don’t know about the do’s and the don’ts. So I asked questions as far as I’ve seen it’s wise to in the appropriate situation. I see all these as being superstitious rather than tradition as my mum says.

Before the funeral ceremony where the body will be buried some systems are observed.  In my case the death occurred two days before the body had to be buried. So waiting for the burial day we had to spend day and night lifelessly.

On the first day the person died near families have to help the members of the dead person to evacuate the house, cover all mirrors and prepare a death-bed for the corpse. Near the death-bed an earthen lamp was lit and some flowers were kept. As we are blood related even we were suppose to observe these superstitious rituals. Here is a list of the do’s and don’ts during death time

Don’ts	Reasons
Not consume milk	Milk is considered as auspicious. Before starting or going for something new, milk based food is given for example curd,  rice pudding
No non veg	Because veneration and prayer has to go be conducted
Should not switch on the stove
No sweeping of the house
No music, no television	Mourners should forget all pleasures

Do’s	Reasons
Wear simple cloth	mourning time

Cremation or burning of the dead body is recognized mode of the disposal of the corpse. It is motivated by a desire to avoid the corpse being devoured by worms and stinks. During the burial day the body had to be taken from the morgue, brought to his home where the purificatory ceremonies like cutting of the nails, shaving of the hair, the body is given a cold bath and wrapped in a new unstitched white sheet of cloth and placed on a mat. Some tulsi leaves are placed on the lips of the dead body.  Then reading of Ramayana or kathaUpanishad is a usual feature. Many superstitious persons believe that too many tears may prevent the onward march of the soul; this is why sacred books are read to comfort the relatives and make them forget their sorrow.

After recitation of prayers the dead body is carried on a bier where again the priest conduct some last prayer where all men and women joins in.  Before the departures some wood stick is touched by everyone, and then they proceed towards the cremation ground. There the corpse is laid on the pyre. A fire is lit by the elder son and has to go round the pyre along with four members of his family. After seven rounds he applies fire to the pyre with the recitation of Vedic verses. The mourners’ then return after the body has been completely burnt to ashes. After cremation water is offered to the dead. Usually women do not go in these processes. (These information need to be confirmed)

Meanwhile mean are at the cremation ground everyone console the females of the dead person. And others prepare for the yajna. Before the yajna the wife of the dead person has to be bathed and purify by widowed women where the former is deprived of this colorful dress, sindoor and mangalsutra. During this process no one was supposed to see except the widowed women. On the other hand all the relatives bath and purify themselves. They then sweep their home; change bed sheet etc, then joins in the prayer. Turning their face towards the south, they call the dead by name and offer a handful of water to him. They repeat in seven times.

Lastly (for the day) all relatives help to cook and offer some food to the dead person. Before consuming food the son and four more married person ( always five people) take a lighten wood, and the food and place it in the entrance. Here again no one except the 5 person should see the system. Then the family members should eat food first then others can eat. it is to be noted that before eating a morsel of each food should be removed.

There are prayers conducted 3 days, 10 days and 40 days after the body has been cremated. Long ago people used to have prayers everyday because at that time their home were made of straw and wood and would usually attract worms and mosquitoes. as a result those prayers were made to purify the home and help to comfort the family members. Now, everyone have concrete houses so less risk of worms and mosquitoes.