Funeral Rights of Hinduism.
This is a post about what to do before the passing away of a loved one happens according to the Hindu Funeral Rites.
A warning though, it is not a pleasant read. It is a post that deals in the finality of the Human Condition.
The purpose of this post is to help you, prepare your loved one for the great journey ahead.
Immediately Before Death
Once death is imminent, it is important and essential to understand the aspects of the final moments of death as described in the Hindu religious book “Garud Puran”
Dehotsarga signifies that the soul is departing from the body and going on a celestial journey (deha means body and utsarga means giving up).
At the moment of death, the pure soul with its coverings goes through a great change.
This change may be described as similar to matter changing from one state into another: for example, when liquid water changes to vapor or steam.
For this reason, the dying person is left peacefully lying-in bed without undue disturbances or handling. However, for the person’s comfort, if any movement is required and absolutely necessary, it should be done very gently.
The following instructions from Garud Puran regarding dying moments are followed by most Hindus.
What is done At Impending Death
According to Hindu Funeral Rites, when a person is dying, his or her family members and friends get together to provide moral support and to chant God’s name and/or sing bhajan.
If the dying person is able to speak towards the very end, he or she is encouraged to chant the name of God. If unable to chant it is considered that the dying person most likely hears the prayers to God chanted by the people at his or her bedside.
It is believed that this will draw the person towards God and give solace to both the dying individual and the family.
If the person is unconscious, then a senior family member or the eldest son chants God’s name: Ram, Ram, Ram or Aum, Aum, Aum into the right ear of the person.
The family may also put a few drops of holy water from the Ganges River or from any river at places of Hindu religious pilgrimage (tirth jal) together with Tulsi leaves in the mouth of the dying person in the following manner as this is considered holy and purifying.
The family members should select an area in the house where the dying will be placed. If it is possible, the dying person should be placed on the floor in the house.
Before placing the person on the floor, the area should be cleaned by sweeping or vacuuming.
This clean area is considered purified and made holy or sanctified by sprinkling holy water from the Ganges River or from other places of religious pilgrimage. Cow dung (gomay) is then applied to the floor.
Branches or leaves of the Tulsi plant are also scattered in this area.
Black sesame seeds (til) and whole barley grains (yava) are then sprinkled in the area.
Darbha grass is placed in an east-to-west direction with the tips of the grass pointing to the east.
In this purified area or space, which is now called Mandala, the dying person is placed on a white cloth with their head in a northerly direction and the feet facing south.
It is stated in Garud Puran that Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, and Agni (God of Fire) together with their escorts come to this purified area so the soul of person leaving the body gets solace.
The significance of these actions defined by the Hindu Funeral Rites are:
Tulsi branches and leaves are considered holy.
The Tulsi keeps the messengers of death (Yama Doot) away from taking the body so that the soul can be taken by God’s messengers.
Black sesame seed Black sesame seeds represent death whereas white sesame seeds represent the living.
Darbha or Dhruva grass is holy and pointing the grass from east to west keeps evil spirits away.
Nearing the end of his or her life, the dying person is best placed on the floor as it is believed by some that the floor represents mother earth from which the body was created and maintained. Other scriptures state that evil spirits may take the soul if the person is not placed on the ground.
Sometimes at home, or in a hospital or nursing home, a person must be kept in bed for various reasons and cannot be placed on the floor. In situations such as this, Tulsi leaves, sesame seeds, and barley grains are tied in a white cloth and placed under the pillow or the mattress of the dying to keep away the evil spirits.