Hindu Death Rituals

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The Bhagvad Gita says: Death is certain for one who has been born, and rebirth is inevitable for one who has died. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable. The Hindu religion teaches that death is a natural part of a continuous cycle of rebirth.The death rituals serve a two- fold purpose: to prepare the soul for its onward journey and assist the soul of the deceased to transition to the next stage peacefully and to assist the mourners in grieving the loss and letting go of the hold on the deceased soul. It is the responsibility of the loved ones to help the deceased soul move onward to its eternal home. The rituals and prayers seek to instill an energy of silence, stillness and peacefulness to soothe the loved ones in grief, so they can help in that journey. In these unprecedented challenging times, this should be used as a general guide of suggestions and options which may help. This is provided in light of common hindu rituals in India and with guidance from masters and gurus. It is a general statement on what may be done to help grieve in this difficult time. If possible: • Take a framed photograph of the deceased: the death rituals of bathing the body and dressing it/anointing it with a tikka may be done to the photograph. If possible, dress with a garland or place flowers on or around it. • Please light a tealight or candle and keep a vessel with water nearby. Keep the water for at least 24-48 hours, and keep the candle lit as long as you are safely able to as well. If you have incense or similar, that should also be lit. • Chant or stream the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra 108 times. • If you have the Bhagvad Gita, read chapter 2 • Put a fistful of food outside for the birds. • Feed the needy (yourself or make a donation if possible) • If/when you are able to, either prior to, or at the first death anniversary, hold prayers for the deceased *. *Traditionally mourning tends to take place for 13 days. On the thirteenth day rice balls and milk are offered to the dead person to show the gratitude of the family for the life of that person. After this, the mourners can continue with their normal lives and activities. Every year after the death “Shraddha” takes place. Prayers are offered to all the departed souls and ancestors of the family. .

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Funeral Rites Across Different Cultures
section nine critical incident FUNERAL RITES ACROSS DIFFERENT CULTURES Responses to death and the rituals and beliefs surrounding it tend to vary widely across the world. In all societies, however, the issue of death brings into focus certain fundamental cultural values. The various rituals and ceremonies that are performed are primarily concerned with the explanation, validation and integration of a peoples’ view of the world. In this section, the significance of various symbolic forms of behaviour and practices associated with death are examined before going on to describe the richness and variety of funeral rituals performed according to the tenets of some of the major religions of the world. THE SYMBOLS OF DEATH Social scientists have noted that of all the rites of passage, death is most strongly associated with symbols that express the core life values sacred to a society. Some of the uniformities underlying funeral practices and the symbolic representations of death and mourning in different cultures are examined below: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COLOUR When viewed from a cross-cultural perspective, colour has been used almost universally to symbolise both the grief and trauma related to death as well as the notion of ‘eternal life’ and ‘vitality’. Black, with its traditional association with gloom and darkness, has been the customary colour of mourning for men and women in Britain since the fourteenth century. However, it is important to note that though there is widespread use of black to represent death, it is not the universal colour of mourning; neither has it always provided the funeral hue even in Western societies.
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