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India is a country of traditions. Right from the birth of a newborn, following its marriage and till the death, the life of an individual crosses through various beliefs.
Funeral, which is the concluding chapter of one’s life, it also diversifies from culture to culture. Like in Hinduism the bodies are actually burned while in Muslim culture the dead are buried. The only common belief among all traditions is that cremation is important to carry the dead towards the next world. But the question is why, why are there so many different religious beliefs concerning cremation of the deceased? And why Hinduism believes only in burning the dead?
Well, this is what I am here for. Today I have brought to you the reason behind this tradition of burning the dead by Hindus. So c’mon, let’s explore why…
The process called Antim Sanskar.
Literally meaning ‘the last sacrifice’, Antim Sanskar has its own significance. Hindu text Baudhayana Pitrmedha-Sufras say, “It is well-known that through the samskaras after the birth one conquers this earth; through the samskara after the death the heaven.”
There is something related to Mahabharata.
According to Speaking Tree, once, Lord Yamraj asks “What is the greatest wonder?”
Yudhisthir replies, “Day after day countless people die. Yet the living wishes to live forever.”
For every Individual, death is the biggest enigma, but human refuse the accept the reality. It is believed that ‘somehow’ every individual keeps living, they enter some another world or rise in heaven or hell. In Hinduism, people believe in both death and reincarnation.
Keep reading to know what happens when a body is burned.
The soul is indestructible, it is just the body that dies.
It is believed that a soul never dies, it starts its new journey. It is the body that departs which symbolizes death. After the death, the soul reincarnates in other life forms, passing through the same process of birth and further growth.
Fire is Holy for Hindus.
Fire burns away everything. According to the sources, by burning the body, the physical presence of the soul wipes away from the earth and continues its journey.
