Antyësti - the Funerary Rite
Anta literally means 'end', and eshti is 'wish, desire, seeking to go towards'. Antyeshti, or the funeral rites, is the last samskara performed for an individual. It probably originated from the need to dispose off the body in a befittingly humane manner. This practical requirement later developed into a religious belief. It is believed that one conquers the earth through the samskaras after birth and heaven through the samskaras after death. Because of the belief in the existence of a soul, death signifies the end only of one birth, and preparations must be made for a safe journey to the next world. Food and other articles believed to be necessary on this journey are also provided to the dead.
To this end, antyeshti serves to dispose of the body, equips the soul with what it needs for its journey to Yamaloka (see Moksha), and frees the soul's earthly survivors from the pollution caused by death. It is believed that until this ritual is performed, the soul is not sent on to the next world and remains on earth, where it flits about restlessly as a ghost (see Bhuta, Preta, Pishacha). The early pastoral nomads probably just left their dead behind where they fell and moved on. This evolved into burial by the Vedic period. By the end of the Vedic age, the concept of sacrifices was fully established . At this time, the funeral itself came to be regarded as a sacrifice. Cremation eclipsed burial, since the soul of the corpse was now regarded as a sacrificial offering to the gods which would be conveyed to them by their messenger Agni, the god of fire. Fire was also believed to cleanse the souls of the dead. Funeral rites differ marginally across the country, but most beliefs and practices are alike. A man's eldest son or any other male relative performs his rites. A woman's husband, eldest son or brother performs her ceremony. When a person's death seems inevitable, he is made to lie with his head towards the south, since this is the direction Yama is believed to come from. Vedic mantra or verses from the Ramayana or Bhagavad Gita are recited to him.
Burial or Cremation
Except in a rare situation, Hindus do not bury their dead. They cremate their
dead, The rare situation occurs in the case of a san yäsi who is buried
and his tomb is called Samãdhi, or a child younger than two years..
If a man died away from home, he was cremated again with proper rites at home,
using an effigy made of kusha grass. Today however, cremation is the general
rule, except for sanyasis, who are buried.
Before Death
When it is known for certain that a person is about to die, the Hindu custom
is to make a gift called godana. Literally, it means the gift of a cow, but
in actual practice whatever the relatives can afford and want to give, is
given in charity. The dying person’s mouth is opened and a leaf of Tulasi
and a few drops of water from the Gañgä River are dropped in the
mouth. This is considered the religious rite to start the person well on his
journey to heaven after death. In many communities the person is moved from
the bed
down to the floor when death is imminent.
Upon Death
Death of a dear one is the most difficult event to handle, and yet this situation
occurs with certainty in the life of all. The procedure that is recommended
below is for those for who keeping the cost of this samskara down is a big
consideration and for whom modern amenities are not available.
The
Traditional Procedure
1. The first thing to do is to decide the day and time of cremation and inform
all concerned. Generally families do not prefer keeping the dead body for long,
in their home, because (a) the dead body deteriorates very quickly and can be
a source of foul smell and disease, and (b) the grief of the relatives prolong.
It is recommended that unless the convenience of preserving the body, without
rapid deterioration is available, such as a Box full of ice, or a temporary
embalming process, the dead Body should not be retained for more than 24 hours.
2. The dead body is relieved of all jewelry made of gold and precious stones,
3. The clothes of the dead body are removed and a clean white sheet of cloth
approximately 8 feet long and 3 feet wide is used to cover the body while the
body is being dressed up with a new set of clothes. The clean white sheet of
cloth issued to cover the entire body including the face.
4. Two sturdy, seven to eight feet long bamboo poles and four bamboo poles approximately
3 feet long cleaved apart into eight pieces, are procured. Approximately 20
feet of rope is also procured. With the help of the bamboo poles and rope a
bamboo cot is created for the corpse. On that cot a laid piece of quilt to cover
the cot entirely.
The dead body is then laid on top of the cot. The white sheet is used to cover
the body. With the help of the rope the dead body is securely fastened to the
cot. If finances permit, garlands of flowers are procured and fastened on top
of the white sheet.
5. Arrangement is made to buy the wood, camphor pieces, clarified butter, and
oil to prepare for the funeral pyre and for its ignition. The family priest
is asked to be present at the cremation site. At the appointed day and hour,
the dead body is ready to leave the house and go to the cremation grounds. The
community collects at the home to help the family take the corpse on its journey
to the cremation grounds. Generally, there are more than a dozen people available
in groups of four, to put the four extremities of bamboo poles on their shoulders
and carry the dead body all the way on their shoulders. The dozen or more persons
who are willing, take turns part of the way to accomplish the entire distance.
Generally, the chief mourner leads the procession followed by the bier and the
rest of the people follow the bier. In ancient times both men and women formed
part of the procession, but for hundreds of years past, women have not gone
to the cremation grounds. All of this is changing and it is up to the family
to decide whether the women will accompany the dead body or not.
6. In many communities the people forming the procession loudly chant a mantra
all the way to the cremation grounds.
This is done for two reasons; (a) to remind that good deeds are important in
this ephemeral life; and (b) to warn the traffic of the funeral procession so
that the road is cleared for it to pass. In northern India the mantra generally
used is “Ram naam satya hai”, “satya bolo mukti hal”.
It literally means God’s name is the truth. Speak only truth if you want
liberation.”
7. At the cremation grounds the funeral pyre is created. Usually there is some
one in the procession who knows how to stack the wood and create a platform
for the dead body. Once the platform is ready the dead body is transferred on
it and more wood is piled all around the body. When the pyre is ready, clarified
butter or oil is poured on all sides and camphor pieces are also put on the
wood.
8. It is the duty of the son, father, or husband, to ignite the fire. If these
relatives are not available then a brother or a nephew or any other closest
relative would start the fire. As the fire begins to develop the priest chants
mantras from Veda appropriate to the occasion...
9. It takes a very long time, perhaps 24 hours, for the body to get burned completely.
Usually all the relatives and friends go home after 30 minutes or an hour and
only the closest relatives remain on the cremation grounds to see that most
of the body is burnt.
10. Third day the chief mourner comes to collect the ashes in an urn. These
ashes are either spread over the farm owned by the deceased, if this person
was a farmer, or lowered in the middle of a river, or kept for some time and
then buried.
FOOD: Food is not cooked at home between death and cremation, that can be brought from outside. However, that depends upon individuals situation. After cremation all the faily members should take bath.
SUTAK NIVRITTI: Condolence should
be observed for nine nights, hence tenth day is Sutak Nirvitti day. On that
day Dashaham,Shanti Homam, Ananda Homam,is considered.
Modern
Procedure (Outside India)
There are funeral homes set up for the purpose of taking care of the dead body.
The funeral home is contacted upon death and their people come and pick up the
dead body. They clean and dress up the body and embalm it so that it can last
a few days. They put the body in a casket for viewing. In consultation with
the funeral directors a date and time is announced for the mourners to come
and convey their condolences to the bereaved relatives. The casket is placed
in a big room where the face of the dead person is visible for people to have
the last glimpse. People arrive at the appointed hour, There is a quiet collection
of people each of whom comes to the family and personally expresses his sorrow
at the news. Many times the family arranges a short meeting in which the dead
person is eulogized by the relatives and friends of the deceased. Those who
are more organized in the conduct of the ceremony publish an invitation to attend
the funeral ceremony. This invitation may consist of the short biographical
sketch of the deceased, eulogies, and the time-table of the rite.
After the brief meeting the corpse is taken to the crematorium in a special
vehicle and other vehicles follow this vehicle. The crematorium may be endowed
with an electrical furnace which may have the capability of burning the body
completely within an hour. Just as the furnace is ignited, mantras are chanted
by the priest. The friends and relatives leave after the furnace is ignited.
The family members stay to collect the ashes and bonechips to be immersed in
the holy river Gañgã.
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