A water pot and lamp are placed where the body was located. After the cremation, everyone returns home, bathes, wash their clothes and cleans the home. Rituals After Death and Mourning Period – The death of a Hindu person is a lengthy and complicated journey. It is a belief that when flowers are deliver at home or brought to the funeral is a distraction and could cause harm to the soul of the deceased. Everything leading up to the cremation is considered the last chance for the family to assist with the soul’s transition to the next life. Wear white as white is traditional mourning colour. The family will then either release the ashes into flowing water or take it back to India to be released in Ganges. Everyone chant mantras to cleanse the body and indicate to the soul that it can proceed to the spiritual world. The fire is then taken to the crematorium and put on top of the coffin as it is pushed into the chamber. Using clarified butter, the eldest son kindles a fire in a terracotta pot at home. We don’t have open fires in Australia but we use the consecrated fire as we do back in India. Terracotta pot to kindle a fire for cremation (Source: Neera Sahni) Ashes are gathered on 4 day and then released into flowing water of Ganges. Then the karta will set the pyre on fire and those gathered stay until the body is entirely burned. The karta (generally the oldest son) circle the body three times, walking counter-clockwise so that the body stays on his left, and sprinkling holy water on the pyre. The family builds a pyre and places the body on the pyre. Hindu cremations take place in crematorium or on the Ganges River in Haridvar and Banaras. In today’s society both men and women attend the cremation. It is customary that only men attend the cremation (in some cultures). Traditionally, all Hindus-except babies, children, and saints-are cremated. The casket is carried on a stretcher and walked to the cremation site. At the end of the wake, the casket is removed feet-first and brought to the place of cremation. At the end of the wake, before the body is removed for cremation, many Hindus place “pinda” (rice balls) near the casket. During the wake, family and friends gather around the casket and recite mantras. A garland of flowers placed around the neck, and holy basil placed in the casket. “Vibuti” (ash) or “chandanam” (sandalwood) applied to the forehead of a man, and turmeric applied to the forehead of a woman (in South India). The body is displayed in a simple casket. Hindus generally hold a brief wake before cremation. Viewing or Visitation Before a Hindu Funeral If this is not possible before death, then the following actions take place immediately after the death. A small amount of water from the Ganges River placed in the dying person’s mouth. When death seems imminent, the body, if possible will be transferred to a grass mat on the floor. Everyone present chant mantras or play a recording of mantras being chanted. When a Hindu is approaching death, a priest is contacted and the priest and the family gather to be with the dying person. By contrast, 54 percent of women who were under 45 when widowed had remarried. Īccording to a 1985 survey by the Bureau of Census, about 9.5 percent of women who were 45 or over when they were widowed had remarried. When the British assumed judicial responsibility in India, The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act, 1856 (Act XV, 1856), enacted on 26 July 1856. Second marriage, after the death of first husband was forbidden to Hindu Law. Sati with Lord Hastings shown as accepting bribes to allow its Colltiunation The Bengal Sati Regulation which banned the Sati practice in all jurisdictions of British India was passed by the Governor-General Lord William Bentinck on the 4 December, 1829. He was motivated by the experience of seeing his own sister-in-law being forced to commit sati. In 1812, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, founder of Brahmo Samaj, began to champion the cause of banning sati practice. Sati Pratha is the immolation of a Hindu widow on the funeral pyre of her deceased husband. Once moksha (liberation) is attained, the soul will be absorbed into Brahman, the divine force and ultimate reality.īefore we talk about the funeral traditions, cremation ceremonies, rituals & significance and how these rituals have helped the family members to cope with loss, it is important to know about when husband dies first in Hindu culture. The ultimate goal for many Hindus is to become free from desire, thereby escaping rebirth and attaining moksha, the transcendent state of salvation. Hindus believe that life and death are part of the concept of rebirth. Cremation of the body has to occur within six hours of the person’s death in the simplest ceremonial way. It is an ancient and widespread practice. Cremation is the disposal of a corpse by fire. In Hindu religion, fire is considered a sacred gateway to the spiritual world.
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