Hindu Funerals

Hindu Funerals

Most Hindus are cremated as it is believed that this will help their soul to escape quickly from the body.

The exact details of the funeral ceremonies (antyeshti samskara), which form the last of the samskaras, vary according to tradition and place.

Funerals are usually conducted by a priest and by the eldest son of the person who has died.

Various rituals may take place around the dead body:

A lamp is placed by the head of the body.
Prayers and hymns are sung.
Pindas (rice balls) are placed in the coffin.
Water is sprinkled on the body.
A mala (necklace of wooden beads) may be put around the dead person's neck as may garlands of flowers.
How the cremation takes place depends on where this happens:

In the United Kingdom the coffin will be closed and taken to a crematorium.
In India people hope to have their funeral at the burning ghats on the shores of the sacred river Ganges. Here the body is placed on a large pile of wood, the eldest son says the appropriate Vedic prayers and lights the fire. Incense and ghee are poured into the flames.
Prayers are said for the dead person:

O Supreme light, lead us from untruth to truth, from darkness to light and from death to immortality.

Afterwards the ashes of the dead person are sprinkled on water. Many people take the ashes to India to put on the waters of the Ganges, others may take them to the sea near to where they live.

After the funeral the widow or widower will wear white as a sign of mourning.

The close family may mourn for twelve days. On the thirteenth day the samskara ends with Kriya. During this ceremony, 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.

Every year after the death Shraddha takes place. At this ceremony food such as pindas is offered to the poor and needy in memory of departed ancestors.