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Why Hindu’s Burn the Dead Body ?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009


The last journey of a Hindu is known as the ‘Antyesti’ or Hindu Funeral rite, also known as ‘Antim Sansakar’. Antyeṣṭi rites are the final sacraments (saṃskāras) in a series that ideally begins at the moment of conception and is performed at each important stage of a man’s life. Upon death Hindu’s are not buried they are cremated as per the procedure detailed in scriptures.

The reason why Hindu’s cremate is based on the belief that Jiva’ or body is made up of five elements of nature, which needs to be returned to the source upon its death. Of them water, earth and fire belong to the body and come from this world, whereas the fifth element is the ether (fine matter) belongs to the domain of the subtle body and comes from the higher worlds. By cremating the body, the elements are rightfully returned to their respective spheres, while the subtle body along with the soul returns to the world beyond for the continuation of its afterlife. Hindus also belief that when the soul departs from the world there are some pollutants which remains in the body. Irrespective he is far or near all the family members are polluted by the very process of death and remain for sometime till the soul completes its journey to the other world and till the family members are purified through rituals.Hindu's also believe the house where the corpse is kept and others who visit the house also get polluted and they also needs to be purified with bath and Ganga Jal (water of river ganges).Members of the deceased do not celebrate functions ad festivals as mark of respect.

Cremation is however not the whole method of the disposal of the body,Childern below certain age are buried upon death. The body of the renouncer (sanyasi) is usually placed in the river, since its is customary for a sanyasi to undergo the symbolic act of cremation before taking up the life of renunciation. So a second cremation is not prescribed.

10 comments:

Juhi said...

Nice Post Meghana....

Sagar said...

what about the entire concept of each senses detaching from the soul every day?

forgot to mention it?

Unknown said...

frankly spaking, i think hiduism is totally based upon stories,unclear ideas and unjustified beliefs.

Unknown said...

frankly speaking, Hinduism is based only on stories, unclear ideas and unjustifiable beliefs.

Meghana said...

Hi Junaidemo189,

No Hinduism is not based on stories nor Hinduism is a religion its just a way of life.i would recommend u to read my post.below is the link

http://meghanaunleashed.blogspot.com/2009/08/some-interesting-facts-about-hinduism.html

Anonymous said...

more info for readers. Thehindu doctrines are Dharma, karma, yoga, rebirth and moksha. With a dharmic life hindu can resolve all karmas in one only life and attain moksha. Moksha is simply the atman merging Parmatma or Brahman or the god other faiths call. Such of those whose bodies and minds havent had led perfect dharmic life will have to take a rebirth. But only atman comes back (atma is NOT mind) The atman thus sheds body like an old cloth to take up a new body. Once all karmas are resolved thru a few births the atman will attain the greatest goal ie., moksha.
Body: Hunger, pain, cold, fever Mind: anger, depression, Joy, sorrow. Atman: none of the above.

Note: there is no permanent hell or heaven in our theology. Namaste .Surya, USA.

Gian said...

nowadays every one want reference from book. It seems me this is only your thought.

Gian said...

you done good job for hinduism but I am not fully satisfied if you have true reference from any book please tell, i think that it is your own ideal statement,

Gian said...

You are doing good job for Hinduism, but I am not fully satisfied with you, please give special reference form book.

Meghana said...

Hi Gian,

This is not my thought.Its based on research in Hinduism