Every religion in the world has its rituals of putting those who have passed to rest. Christians and Muslims bury their loved ones, whereas Hindus are known for cremation. Cremation is a method of the final placement of a dead body by burning it. The ashes from this cremation are usually collected, saved, and then placed in urns. Many Hindus in India also believe that they must spread the ashes at a holy place. The river Ganges in India is a popular choice for many to release their loved ones’ ashes.
Cremation is an ancient tradition in Indian and Hindu culture. Thus, in the article below, we will explain more about Hindu crematoriums and cremations. All of which is a part of the Hindu culture.
What Is Cremation?
Cremation involves the process of burning a dead body on a funeral pyre. The Hindu tradition of a funeral pyre involves certain prayers and rituals they believe are necessary to recite to ensure that the deceased person’s soul is at rest.
What Is a Crematorium?
A crematorium is a venue for the cremation of the dead. Crematoriums are mostly present in Europe and America. Cremations in India are most often done on open-air cremation grounds. With the outbreak of COVID-19, deaths were abundant in India, among some other countries. Millions of people were cremated in open-air cremation ceremonies in the year 2021.
What are Hindu Cremations Like?
There are about 3.13 million deaths in India annually. However, the past two years have been particularly brutal due to the ongoing pandemic; COVID-19. Most people in the country are cremated, as Hindus make up 80% of the Indian population. Cremation is the main way that Hindus put their dead to rest. For the most part, Hindus still do cremations the same way they did in the past. The rituals and prayers are the same. The average cost of a funeral in India is between $12 and $71. The final rituals are called the antyesti.
Hindu crematoriums are mostly open-aired crematoriums. They involve a massive ground where there’s a lot of space. The dead body is placed amongst the firewood, and then the wood is lit on fire as the Hindu Pandit recites the invocations to lay the body and soul to rest. Cremations are extremely important to the Hindus as they believe it releases the person’s spirit from this particularly transitory body so it can settle in a new body later and be reborn. They believe that if the ritual is not done correctly, the spirit is likely to get stuck. On getting stuck, the body’s spirit won’t be able to reach that afterlife and will return to haunt the dreams of its living relatives.
Cremations are done as they involve fire. Fire is thought to be a pure element and is a strong force that can ward off any evil entities away from the body. The fire God Agni is prayed to so that they can consume this transitory body and make place for the soul in heaven until its recalled again. Cremations are very much still a display of sacrifice. The sacrifice is to a Hindu God, Pushan, so that they may guide the soul regarding its position in the afterlife.
Are Hindu Cremations for All Hindus?
Not all people of the Hindu faith are cremated. Cremation is the most prominent way for the Hindus to put their dead to rest. But there are times that people cannot be cremated due to extenuating circumstances.
Holy men, lepers, and people with smallpox are not cremated but rather are buried traditionally. They are buried in a vertical position and a natural element such as salt. Children under the age of two are not cremated as it is believed that they haven’t done anything to be purified. Some people can’t afford the money it takes to cremate, and they will generally tie a loadstone to the body and let it sink. Some people don’t believe in burial and will let a body sink into the river Ganges.
Many people who are relatives of victims who have died in a violent and/or traumatic way believe that regardless of the cremation, the spirits of their loved ones will not rest. Thus, they may decide not to perform a Hindu cremation on the body.
What is a Hindu Funeral?
The Hindu faith involves the idea of believing that the essence of God is in each human being. They also believe that the purpose of life is to become aware of the divine presence of God and do your best to emulate it. One of the cornerstones of the faith is the idea of reincarnation; therefore, much of the funeral process involves a gateway to this process. Hindu funerals are a way to help the soul pass the transition between life and the afterlife so they may return to the world again once they are reborn.
The Hindu Funeral is a way for the soul to return to the Self or God. Only when the soul reaches this place can it traverse back into the land of being. The funeral has a similar connotation as any other funeral. It’s a way to allow the soul to pass from one part of its existence to another.
What are Some Occurrences at the Hindu Funeral?
There are some common ceremonies and rituals that occur at a Hindu funeral. These are written below:
- People will gather at the dead person’s house to give their condolences to the family and air their grievances themselves. The body is then prepared for the cremation ceremony.
- The cremation ceremony occurs within the first two days.
- Later, a shraddha ceremony is conducted to pay homage to the passing person andall the ancestors who have passed previously. The ceremony occurs ten days after the passing.
Hindu Rituals for Death
The body needs to be prepared for cremation. There are a variety of rituals that support the process of cremation. The rituals are followed to a tee so that the soul doesn’t wander around after they have put it to rest.
1. Washing
People or loved ones will bathe the body to purify it. The washing is far from ordinary and includes other ingredients such as milk, ghee, honey, and yogurt.
2. Essential Oils
The head of the deceased is anointed with special oils. They use turmeric for women and sandalwood for men.
3. Dressing
Traditional Indian and Hindu ceremonies involve dressing the dead on a plain, white sheet. More modern variations involve dressing the body up in more modern or favorite clothes.
4. Decoration
Loved ones will leave garlands of flowers around the dead body. Many people also leave little balls of rice called pinda so that the souls may find some peace. Basil leaves are also some of the holy plants you would witness on a dead body.
5. Lamp
Some traditions also follow the idea of placing a lit lamp near the head of the dead body.
6. Water
Water is also sprinkled on and around the body as a cleansing ritual.
Hindu Funeral Rites
After the body has been prepared for cremation, there are other funeral rites that most families will follow. We have listed some of these rites below.
1. Hindu Cremation
Cremation often occurs immediately after the Pandit conducts the cleansing rituals. Friends and family come to the house of the disease to offer their condolences and grievances. Unlike the Christian tradition, the Hindus don’t believe in embalming since the cremation occurs so soon after the death that embalming isn’t necessary. The cremation offers a deep reassurance to the family that their loved one’s soul is now at rest.
2. Bringing into the Crematorium
People will carry the dead body feet-first into the crematorium so that people can perform rituals. Mourners will recite prayers so that the deceased feels at peace and is not shaken by the constant movement.
3. Ceremony Conduction
The Pandit and loved ones will then conduct the cremation ceremony, which is also called the mukhagni. The ceremony is conducted to bring peace to the deceased.
4. Short Ceremony
Contrary to what Bollywood will have you believe, the mukhagni is a short ceremony. The prayers are voiced, and then the mourners can go back home. Family members can then hold a longer ceremony at home if they wish.
5. Scattering Ashes
Hindu rituals deem it almost essential that they need to scatter their ashes. The family can choose a body of water and scatter the deceased’s ashes here. Many people believe that they must scatter their ashes in the Ganges or any other river of importance. However, if you don’t live in India, any open body of water can do the trick just as easily.
6. Mourning
After the rituals are done, the mourning period for the family begins. It lasts for over ten days after the rituals have been done. During this period, the family couldn’t attend any sacred places like the temple. They are not deemed spiritually clean enough to do so.
What Happens After Hindu Cremation?
After the cremation fire is extinguished, the attention of the pundit will turn to the relatives of the deceased who have the impurities of the dead body, and there will be a ritual to rid of this. After the cremation, the eldest male will shave their head and then wear a robe to rid himself of any evil. He is also tasked with pouring milk over the pyre the day after the pyre is lit.
After the cremation, family members will wash in trenches north of the pyre and pass under a cow yoke. They will then offer a prayer to the sun and walk away with the youngest son leading the way. They will stop at the first stream on the way and bathe while screaming the deceased’s name. Later, they will place rice and peas on the ground so they can confuse any evil spirits. It’s also common practice to walk around telling pleasant experiences about the dead. On arriving home, they will touch many objects- stones, dung, grain, or see- to purify themselves before entering their home.
Final Thoughts
If you’re invited to a Hindu funeral or cremation, you must wear the right kind of clothes. Christians will often wear black to funerals. However, wearing black might be offensive. Instead, you can wear plain clothes that are modest and white when you show your respect. Many people are much more modern now, and you may be able only to wear your normal clothing. But it’s essential to remain as modest as you possibly can.
If you’re interested in Hindu cremations and crematoriums, then India is the place to visit. Hinduism originated in India, and many of the oldest crematoriums are still present here for you to visit.