Ramanisblog

Tag: Death Rites

  • Hindu Death Ceremonies Day One Two Details Meaning

    Hindu Death Ceremonies Day One Two Details Meaning

    Death is just a hairbreadth away from Life.

    What does happen just before death, at the time of Death and after death?

    For the first two points and signs of Death, according to Hinduism, please read my articles Signs of Death,Hinduism.

    What does Hinduism say on Life just afer death?

    Soul has five layers.

    Annamaya Kosa, the subtle body made of the essence of Food,

    Pranamaya Kosa, of Life’s breath,

    Manomaya Kosa, made of mind’s impressions,

    Vignanamaya Kosa, the subtle reposited impressions of Knowledge and

    Gnanamaya Kosa, the level of wisdom, discerned knowledge.

    The last one Anandamaya Kosa is an immediate Attribute of BrahmanThe Reality.

    When all the other Kosas( sheaths) , except Gnanamaya Kosa are dissipitated, the Gnanamaya Kosa gets merged, in case of Realized Souls, with Brahman or the knowledge that it is different from Brahman disappears.

    The Death ceremonies conducted for the first twelve Days in Hinduism, more specifically in the case of Brahmins,relate to these aspects.

    Once the life leaves the body it becomes Sava,without Auspiciosness,Shiva.

    The human body has two aspects,Sthula,Gross and Sookshma,Subtle.

    The physical frame is the gross aspect of Atman.

    Sookshma Sareera,Subtle body is a conglomeration of  the essence(Rasa) of Food(Anna),Prana(life energy),Mind(Manas),Knowledge(Vigyana) and Consciousness(Ananda).

    All these subtle aspects draw their nourishment from the  Five Gross elements,Earth,Water,Fire,Air and Ether(Prithvi,Appu,Agni,Vayu and Akasha).

    Each of these subtle essences nourish the body and facilitates the enjoyment,both pleasant and unpleasant,depending on one’s actions,Karma,by the Unrealized.

    Once Life ebbs away,the physical frame called Sava is cremated and the subtle body is called Pretha.

    The functions of the Sava ceases but the subtle body,Pretha remains,though it remains invisible.

    On the day of death,after the ceremonies are conducted at home ,officially christening the body as Pretha,washing it,removing everything worn,adorning with Vibhuthi or appropriate castemark,declaring the son and if the deceased had no son,the one who shall conduct the Andhima Karma,Final Rites is designated as such, along with symbolic fire which was lit as soon as the person died,the body is moved to the Crematorium,with the Grandson/s showing the light with a torch.

    At the crematorium,the body,before consigning to flames,is addressed as Pretha by the son,thanking the person for bringing up the children,declaring that the son would perform all Karmas to enable the Sookshma sareea to join the ancestors.

    At the crematorium the body which has sprung from the five elements,Earth,Water,Fire,Air and Ether is retuned.

    The body is laid on the ground and rites are performed and mantras chanted returning the body to Earth.

    Water is filled ( half pot),son walks around the body in an anticlockwise direction three times,a hole is made in the pot at each perambulation(total three) and water is allowed to flow to the earth signifying the return to Water.

    Fire is lit from the brazier to the body returning it to Fire in the condition the body came into being,that is bereft of anything.

    Air,Vayu is worshipped along with Aakasa,Ether praying they take their composition in the body.

    Food, in the form of Rice is offered to the body by relatives as the last food offered to the body stating that further food will be for the subtle body.

    If the Thithi when cremating is different from the Thithi when death occurred,the ashes/bones are collected by the son wearing Kandankathri Vegetable,( which incidentally is an antibiotic to prevent infections from the bones that mat may be found in the ashes),on the day of death and is consigned to ocean.

    There is no Theetu for the first two nazhikai from the time of death(40 minutes)

    The Kartha must take bath after entering house,( he must enter the house  after washing his feet outside the the house,so must the others)

    He should change to fresh Dhoti,not new and take light refreshments,no meals.

    The light which was lit at the time of death near the body must be kept burning till 12th Day ceremony is complete.

    Food is not to be prepared at home and it can be received from relatives.

    Sandhyavandana is not to be performed for the first two days,the day of death and collection/immersion of ashes.

    It has to be performed from day three.

    If collection of Ashes is done on the same day of death,Sandhyavandana may be performed from the next day.

    No other Vaidika Karma must be performed till the 13th day function is over.

    The karmas to be performed from The Third day follows with meaning behind them

  • English Buried Bodies Indian Vedic Way Namasthe Posture

    There are tools to verify history.

    They are,

    Archeology,

    Astro dating,

    Contemporary writings both internal and external,

    Internal information of the relevant texts,

    Geology,

    Infra Red dating,

    Language and cultural similarities,

    Behavioral similarities and customs and

    Oral traditions.

    While the written records might be destroyed or doctored, as has been the case with India,the Oral traditions and customs are difficult to destroy or manipulate.

    I am relying on all these tools tovarrive at a conclusion and salute the Oral traditions and custom oriented life style of Indians.

    I have been able to identify linguistic and custom similarities ti trace the presence of Sanana Dharma throughout the world.

    The English buried Indian style
    Burial style India and Englang

    Customs and languages,though they may change, never lose their identity if one were to dig deep.

    The customs of Hindus are ,in some ways, unique and they transcend regions.

    Hindus have two ways of dead bodies.

    Burning and Burial.

    Bodies at Winchester cathedral ,UK.
    Buried bodies in Winchester Cathedral, England. Palms folded ,the the Hindu way.

    Set practices are followed in all the cases.

    The procedure for burning the dead body is more elaborate than burial and is more time consuming.

    Even in burying several different procedures are followed.

    In the case of children ,they are buried.

    In the case of elders,they are buried in a sitting posture.

    The Ascetics,Royalty, are buried with their palms folded in the form of greeting to wards the sky, keeping the palms folded over the chest.

    Brahmins and many communities resort to burning.

    In the case of a Sanyasi,the body is buried after breaking a Coconut on the head, while keeping the palms folded as in welcome or Thank you,Namste posture.

    Many of the Hindu customs were followed by other civilizations.

    However the custom of burying with palms folded was strictly followed by the English when the buried their Royalty and Nobles,thus reaffirming the presence and influence of Sanatana Dharma in England.

    The English buried their dead with their Palms folded in Vedic/Hindu tradition.

    ‘Statues or dead royalty and other elite in Westminster Abbey, London may be seen by the score with their palms joined in homage at death in the Vedic tradition.’

    Reference and citation.

    Catastrophic English: Christianity as a Vedic Cult

  • Inauspicious Death Days Tripada Dosha Parihara

    Hinduism states that there are days which are considered as inauspicious for Death.

    If one dies on these specified days, Parihara, Atonement is recommended.

    Pitru Dosha.jpg
    Pitru Dosha.

    Commonly held belief is that if the Pariharas are not done, more deaths would follow.

    I am not too sure about this.

    What I am certain is that these deaths bring in Pitru Dosha and Pariharas are necessary.

    The Days inauspicious for Death fall under three categories.

    Relating to the Nakshatras, Stars.

    Rohini, Dhanishta, Satabhisham, Purvabhadra, Revathi, Mrugasira, Punarvasu, Uttara, Chitra, Visakha, Uttarashada, and Magha.

    Thithis, Waxing and Waning of the Moon.

    Padyami, Vidiya, Shashti, Ashtami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdasi and Amavasya.

    Days.

    Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and  Saturday.

    Some Smritis offer the following Parihara.

    • If a death has only one dosha the family members should leave the house for 1 month
    • If a death has two doshas the family members should leave the house for 6 months.
    • If a death has all the three types of doshams the family members should leave the house for 1 year.

    As this is not practical now a days, there are other Pariharas as well.

    1. Pitru Tarpan Pooja (Shraddha Pooja) needs to be done at home with 5 dolls  made of Darbha (Kusha Grass) & White Cotton.

    Prana Prathistapana ritual (infuse life in the Dolls) ceremony of the 5 dolls needs to be performed.

    After Pooja, these 5 dolls should be buried in sand or mud near River or Sea shore.

    Or perform Rudrabhisheka at home & offer food to   ancestors.

    This pooja needs to be done without fail, otherwise dosha will not be removed.

    1. Nakshatra Shanti pooja & Navagraha Shanti Pooja need to be done for nullifying  the affect of Dosha.
    1. Perform Mahamrityunjaya Homa/Japa  at  home  after the above pooja’s are done.

    Or Visit Gokarna  or other Pitru Parihara Sthalas and offer Sraddha.

    Nine Temples foe Pitru Dosha Parihara

    References.

    http://www.oursubhakaryam.com/DEATH%20DOSHAM.htm

    http://someshsastroworld.blogspot.in/2013/01/nakshatra-dosha-due-to-inauspicious.html

  • Death Rites Hinduism Part 2 Day 2 To Thirteen

    Death rites as prescribed in Hinduism continues from Part I.

     

    Second Day.

     

    Second day is Sanchayana, the collection of Bones.

     

    Subhasweekaara.

     

    The bones are sprinkled with milk and the bones are picked up by hands wrapping them with Kandankathri herb,Solanum xanthocarpum.

     

    This prevents any wound that may arise accidentally while picking up the bones, as this herb has anti biotic properties.

     

    No shaving is to be done for the Kartha.

     

    Other Sraddhams as mentioned are to be continued as mentioned in the earlier article.

     

    Day 3 to 10.

    The Sraddhams mentioned are to be performed as mentioned earlier.

     

    Day Ten, Dasasthu.

     

    On this day the Gnayatis, from the paternal side,who have not performed the Tharpana fromDay one are to perform 75 Tilodhaka and 75 Vasodhaka Thaarpana.

     

    The Pinda Sarira of the departed is complete.

     

    As the body is restored  hunger and thirst increases manifold.

     

    So large quantities of food is offered by way of Prabhutabali.

     

    Please read my post on this.

     

    The stones in the  two Kundas, used for Tharpana, are disposed off.

     

    On returning Home, the Kartha has to take a shave and bathe.

     

    Shanti Homa and Ananda Homa are performed.

     

    Day Eleven.

     

    Punyahavachanam is performed for the Kartha to purify.

     

    Then Nava Sraddham and Vrushothsagam is performed.

     

    Vrushothsarga is performed with a Bull and Gosuktha is recited and the Bull is left to graze.

     

    The Bull represents Dharma and this kriya helps the departed obtain better worlds.

     

    The Ekothishta Sraddham is performed.

     

    Sixteen such Sraddhams are to be performed in a Year.

     

    The first one is called the Adya Masikam.

     

    Then follows Pinda Pradhanam, followed by bath and Punyahavachana.

     

    Balance 15 Sraddhas are to be performed as detailed below.

     

    Una Masika an any three days from the 27 Day.

     

    Traipakshtham on any five-day period day from the 40th Day.

     

    Unashanmasikam on 10 day period from the 170th day.

     

    Unabhdikamon any 15 day period from the 340th day.

     

    Eleven Anumasikam on the Thithi of death every month for Eleven months.

     

    These are very important and are not to be missed.

     

    Twelfth Day, Sapindikarana.

     

    On the eleventh and Twelfth-day the Preta eats the food offered heartily.

     

    On the eleventh and twelfth day all the Pitrus are present.

     

    Vasu,Father; Rudram, Grand father nd great grand father,Adhitya.(Paternal)

     

    The earliest Pitru leaves the Pitru Loka and leaves for the Swarga and the presently decesed joins the Pitrus as the Vasu.

     

    That is the reason why the Argya (Ekothishta)of the presently deceased and the Agya of the Parvana Sradddha of the forefather’s are mixed.

     

    The pinda of the presently decesed is divided into three parts and mixed with the three pindas of the forefathers.

     

    This is Sapindikaramam.

     

    The three Pindas thus obtained represent the latest Vasu, Rudra and Adhitya.

     

    Danams.

     

    The Yamadhtas drag the body on the thirteenth day .

     

    Tha Size of the Jiva is that of a Thumb.

     

    It is dragged to Samyamini, the city of Yama, Lord of Death.

     

    The distance is 86,00 Yojanas, a Yojana is about 13 Kilometers.

     

    Those who were virtuous cross this easily.

     

    Others suffer.

     

    Traveling is done continuously throughout day and night.

     

    Averagedistance traveled is 270 Yojanas a day.

     

    There are sixteen cities to be crossed along besides rivers , including Vaidharani.

     

    Post follows on Dhanas and descriptions of the cities.

     

    Sodakumbham is performed after Sapindikaranam.

     

    Sastras decalre that this has to be performed every day in the first year.

     

    If it is not possible, it has to be performed at least every month.

     

    Apart from Water , tender Coconut Water is also given on this day.

     

     

    Day Thirteen. Gruha Yagya, Subha Sweekaara.

     

    On this day Auspiciousness is invited by performing Punyahavachana,Udagasanthi and Navagraha Homa  are performed.

     

    After the function is over the kartha is to visit a temple with family members.

     

    The Gruha Yagya is to be performed after the conclusion of the First Abhdika as well.

     

    More On Sraddhas refer to my other posts on Sraddha, Sraddha Samayal.

     

    http://ramanisblog.in/2014/10/13/death-rites-explanation-part-1-hinduism/

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Death Rites Explanation Part 1 Hinduism

    Hinduism postulates that there are five sheaths for a Human Being.

     

    They are ,

     

    Annamaya Kosa,made of the essence of Food,

    Death Rituals Hinduism

     

    Pranamaya Kosa, of Breath,

     

    Manomaya Kosa, of Thoughts,

     

    Vignanamaya Kosa , of Knowledge and

     

    Anandamaya Kosa, of Bliss.

     

    Each of these are nurtured by their respective attributes/source of their Being and together they constitute the Living Human being.

     

    When one dies what is visible to us the lifeless body, which had been nurtured by Food at the Annamaya Kosa Level,by the essence of Food.

     

    After one’s death, it lingers till the twelfth day around the place of Death.

     

    Till the twelfth day Tharpana,called Kuzhi Tharpan,called so because it is performed n a small pit made preferably at the house where the death took place.

     

    Ceremonies for death are conducted till the 12 Day, the thirteenth being Purification,not only for the satisfaction of the Annamaya Kosa, but for the other Kosas,,Prana, Vignana,Manas and Ananda, the last one reminding the Eternal Nature of the Self.

     

    Mantras recited during these twelve days ensure this.

     

    After these ceremonies the Subtle body, Sukshama, enters the Pithru loka, sans the Physical body.

     

    The remnants of the actions performed remain with the Subtle body even after it takes rebirth.

     

    Significance of the Thirteen Day Rituals.

     

    Day One.

     

    The dying man suffers as Death knocks.

     

    One is expected to avoid mundane thoughts and remember God’s name.

     

    So as Death nears, those near are expected to recite Vishnu Sahsranama , Bhagavad Gita near the person’s head.

     

    The son, keeping his parent’s head on his left lap ,recites the Karna Mantra, in the Left ear.

     

    Or the Panchakshara, Om Nama Sivaya

     

    Karna Mantra.

     

    Sarva Dharman Parithyajyasya Klanir Bhavathi Bharata,

     

    Ahamthva Sarva Paapepyo Mokshayisyaami Ma sucha. Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18.

     

    Ganga water is given .

     

    The dying is made to lie down head facing South.

     

    The body without Life is called Sava while the state of Jiva(Soul) is Preta.

     

    The Yamadutas, the servants of the Lord of Death, Yama drags the life out.

     

    As soon as the life is out, a small oil lamp lit with Gingelly oil is left near the body’s head.

     

    The body is to be laid on the Dharpa grass.

     

    The body is bathed, daughters, perform this and draped with a new Cloth after removing everything else from the body.

     

    The body is garlanded and Rice is dropped in the mouth by the relatives.

     

    The ceremonies are performed as dictated int the relevant Veda Sutra of the deceased.

     

    The son takes bath and performs the Homa and takes the body with Fire in a pot   to the cremation Ground.

     

    The son is expected to shave, in some custom hair of the head is also removed.

     

    At the cremation ground, the son performs Nagna Prachchadana Sraddham,after removing the clothes from the body.

     

    The dead feel ashamed and hence free offering of clothes for the next ten days are advised.

     

    It also feels thirsty and hungry.

     

    Food is also offered as Dhana during these ten days.

     

    Now after the Homa is over, establishing Kunda, on  the river bank another at  Home is done where Tharpana is done daily.

     

    Two Tharpanas, one Tilotaka, water with Til and another Vasodhaka, water wrung from Cloth is to be performed daily for the Two kundas daily till the tenth day.

     

    Tilodaka is offered thrice on day one and it increases one every day and on the tenth day it is twelve.

     

    This is to quench the thirst of the departed.

     

    To satiate hunger Pinda ,rice balls are offered.

     

    The dead assumes the Vayavya Sarira.

     

    It is formless.

     

    The offering of Pinda helps in forming the solid body.

     

    First day offering helps in the formation of the head, second the formation of the neck and shoulders,the third the Heart, the fourth the Back, the fifth the navel, sixth the waist, seventh generative organs, the eighth the Thighs and the ninth day the Legs.

     

    The tendency to offer the Tharpana on the tenth day ,instead of every day is proscribed as it makes the dead thirsty, hungry, and prevents the formation of sarira, body.

     

    Ekottavruddhi sradhham is to be performed daily till the tenth day.

     

    Cooked rice with vegetables are to be offered to three people on the first day , to be increased by one every day till the tenth day,corresponding to the Tila Sraddha and on the twelfth day 12 are to be fed or are to be gifted the materials.

     

    Nava sraddham is performed on day one, three, five, seven , nine  and eleven by  offering rice.

     

    Related articles

    http://ramanisblog.in/2013/08/18/mourning-death-theetu-rituals-hinduism-details/

     

    http://ramanisblog.in/2014/10/14/death-rites-hinduism-part-2-day-2-to-thirteen/