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Some Q&A about Death rites

1. Why are the final rites not performed by women/ladies? According to the Hindu Dharma, womenfolk are given the right to only serve their husbands to the best of their ability. The sins and good deeds done by

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parents are inherited by the sons. Thus, men have the right to perform the death rites. 2. Before cremation, why is a pot filled with water brought round the body three times? Why is it that before each round a hole is made into the pot and finally broken completely after the third round? After death, it is believed that our soul is sent to three places during its journey to eternity to face the consequences of sins committed during our lifetime. These three places are called Nagaram, Rouravam, and Maharouravam Water is not available at these three places, and hence a pot hill of water is brought round the body three times and then broken. Thereafter, it is believed

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that in whichever place the soul is, there will be sufficient supply of water. There are also other explanations for this ritual. 3. Why are thevarams and hymns sung besides the body following death? When the soul departs the body, its feelings do not depart immediately. Hence, the thevararns, the Vedas, and hymns that we sing can be heard by the soul. As a result, the sins committed by the deceased is reduced, and in his next lifetime, he can be reborn with high esteem.

4. Is it correct to cremate or bury a Hindu?

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According to Hinduism, only Sanyasis are buried. Their life is said to leave through a gap in the skull. But for others, it leaves through the eyes, nose, mouth, or ears. Another theory is that as our body contains heat when we are alive. Thus, when life leaves us, we should also be cremated. However in the case of a male child below eleven years old and a female who is 7 years and below, burial is practiced upon death. 5. Why is the ash mixed in the sea? All the holy rivers join the sea. By throwing the ash into the sea, it is mixed with all the holy rivers in the world. As such, the soul can also be reborn in any part of the world.

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6. After how many days can an individual visit the temple following a death at home? It the father or mother in the family departs, it is the normal practice for the eldest son not to leave thecountry's borders for a year. This code is also extended to visiting temples - i.e. the eldest son doesnot go to the Temple for a year. However in the developing world today, observing such a practice may not be completely feasible. As such, the individual can visit the temple after 16 days of mourning. 7. What is the significance of Cremation and Ceremony? The last rites, or ceremonies, performed for the dead are to help further the journey of the jiva or atma (soul) who has left the gross body. The jiva, or more

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appropriately called prana, the invisible factor, remains (now called Preta) near and around the body in this world (Bhuloka). The gross body is carried to the crematorium so that it is burnt and convened into basic constituents as early as possible. When the gross body (Sharira) is burnt, the prana is rapidly detached and the detachment is solemnized by the mantras or prayers at the cremation. After the mortal remains of the body are returned to nature, the preta stands by itself in its own domain called pretaloka. Further ceremonies or Shanti prayers are performed which help the jiva to travel from its domain to the domain of ancestors (Pitruloka). The preta is enrolled or joined (Sapindikarnam) along with pithrus. After some time the journey of the soul or atma continues to join the supreme Soul or paramatma.

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The Fate of an Individual Upon Death

What happens to a soul after the death of a mortal being on earth depends upon many factors, some of which are listed below: 1. His previous deeds

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If a person has committed many bad deeds in his life, he will go to the lower worlds and suffer from the consequences of his evil actions. On the contrary if he performed good deeds, he will go to the higher sun filled worlds and enjoy the life there. 2. His state of mind at the time of death, That is what thoughts and what desires were predominant in his consciousness at the time of his death, decides in which direction the jiva will travel and in what form it will appear again. For example if a person is thinking of his family and children at the time of his death, very likely he will go the world of ancestors and will be born again in that family. If a person is thinking of money matters at the time of his death, very likely he

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will travel to the world of Vishnu and will be born as a merchant or a trader in his next birth. If a person is thinking of evil and negative thoughts he will go to the lower worlds and suffer in the hands of evil. His suffering may either reform him or pushhim deeper into evil depending upon his previous samskaras (tendencies).If he is thinking of God at the time of his death, he will go to the highest world.

3. The time of his death The time and circumstances related to death are also important. For example it is believed that if a person dies on a battle field he will attain

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the heaven of the warriors. If some one dies on a festival day or an auspicious day, while performing some puja or bhajan in the house, he will go to heaven irrespective of his previous deeds. 4. The activities of his children That is whether they performed the funeral rites in the prescribed manner and satisfied the scriptural injunctions. There is a belief that if funeral rites are not performed according to thetradition, it will delay the journey of the souls to their respective worlds. 5. The grace of God

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God in the form of a personal deity may ofteninterfere with the fate of an individual and change the course of his or herafter life. We have instances where God rescued his devotees from the hands ofthe messengers of death and placed them in the highest heaven in recognition oftheir meritorious deeds.

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Om TryambakamYajaamahe

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SuganthimPushtivarthanam Urvaaru-kamivaBanthanaath MiritiyourmuksheeyaMaamruththath

Meaning :We worship the three eyed One (Lord Shiva) who is fragrant and who nourishes well all beings. May he liberate us from death for the sake of immortality even as the cucumber is severed from istbondage( to the creeper)

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