There are forty Samskaras to be performed by a Hindu.
Death is an important Samskara,
I will provide some guidelines with Links.
However, the suggestions of the Purohit is to be taken for consideration as some customs vary for each Caste and even in a Caste for a particular Family/Group.
General.
Those who become Untouchable during the period of Mourning-Theetu
The following link is very useful.
http://stotraratna.awardspace.com/sruthi/Samkshepa%20dharma%20sastram/vd4.pdf
Check list.
1.Inform Family priest, Sastrigal.
2.Keep the body lying head facing South.
3.Light an Oil lamp near the Head;apply Vibhuti(basmam, not as a paste)
3.Light some Agarbathis to ward off smell.
4.As one is not to cook at Home till the body is taken out,inform relatives for arrangement of food for the day.
5.Inform people who are to be informed.
6.At best the body can be kept for about 10 hours;under special circumstances, it may be kept for 24 hours in an air-conditioned casket.
7.Those who go to the burning ghat must go the next day for the collection of Ashes.
8.Ensure that a Doctor visits and give you a certificate.
9.In the case of Death in a hospital, make sure that the necessary formalities are complied with and a certificate is obtained.
10.Inform the Crematorium about the expected time of the arrival of the body after consulting the Sastrigal.
11.At the Crematorium show the certificate and get a receipt. Some times it will be issued the next day.
12.Get the Death registered .
Clarifications on some aspects.
1,One can perform the ceremonies for the first twelve days at specified places,
However it is correct to perform all the Rites at Home and it will bring prosperity.
2.The rites for the first ten days may be done from the seventh day , performing the cumulative rites for six days.
3.There is still a custom in the Hindu communities. especially among Brahmins for a Widow.
That of removing the Mangal Sutra or Thaali and breaking of Bangles in Public.
This does not have the sanction of the Sastras.
The wearing of Thaali is a later custom developed and it does not find a place in Vedic Marriage,
The removal of Mangal Sutra may be done some one who is widowed already(preferably elder to the one in question) quietly on the morning of the Eleventh Day,;have the bangles removed and have the Mangal Sutra removed and dropped in a vessel containing milk.
One can perform all functions in the Family including Marriage after the Thirteenth Day, Subasweekara,Gruha Yajnam, except in the case of Spouse. Wife and children.
The Gruha Yajna means you are permitted to do Yajna.
Subasweekaara means you invite Auspiciousness.
Suggestions, questions are welcome.
Additional Link.
http://indiansamourai.hautetfort.com/media/01/02/1850732936.pdf
Related Articles
- Divorce, Widow Remarriage Allowed By Vedic Hinduism (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
- http://ramanisblog.in/2012/07/19/forty-hindu-samskarasrites-namesdetails/
- Vedas Branches Text Translation (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
Namaste sir,
My grandfather (Mother’s father) passed away on 06.07.2025. Since my mother being the only daughter, the final rites were performed by my father. I have read few posts which says that son-in-law whose parents are alive shall not perform final rites for father- in-law. In my case, his mother alone is alive and also he has performed it. Our vathiyar also did not object to it. I would like to know if there would be any doshas ? Also for how many days we have theetu ?
No dosha
Sir, My Grand Father’s Brother who was staying in the US passed away. We have not really been in touch with their family all this while. And now we are asked to follow the Mourning rituals i.e. Theet and not making food with onion and garlic etc until Shubham. Also being asked to not follow any festivals etc. This appears to be quite illogical as when My father-in-law passed away we continued to follow all the Festivals etc. even though wife was in grief. I am married to a Non-Brahmin. Can you please advise if the mourning procedures have to still be followed as it doesn’t really make any sense? Of course, being a Patriarchical society all these are just enforced on us with being given a reason.
Theettu to be followed for both paternal and maternal side. No of days one follows them differ.https://ramanisblog-in.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/ramanisblog.in/2013/08/18/mourning-death-theetu-rituals-hinduism-details/amp/?amp_js_v=a6&_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#aoh=16345202633455&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Framanisblog.in%2F2013%2F08%2F18%2Fmourning-death-theetu-rituals-hinduism-details%2F
As to Logic ,there are things beyond logic. In fact logic can not prove itself. Leave that aside, Life itself is not logical.
You may read other related posts too.
Hi Sir, my father-I-law expired on 9th Aug 2019. How about celebrating Lakshmi pooja on 31st July of 2020. So far I haven’t celebrated any festivals. Every year I used to keep Lakshmi at home. So am little concerned whether I can do pooja this year or not. If we break that pooja cycle will there be any issues. Please advice. Thanks.
You can perform pooja
Thank you sir.