The rituals of cremation

Those in attendance should place a piece of sandalwood, any other wood, incense sticks or camphor on the dead body. This is not mentioned in the Scriptures, but is a general custom.

1. The kartā should kindle the pyre with the Agnī (Fire) brought in the pot. Begin with head side of the dead body for a male or from the feet side for a female, and kindle the pyre from all the sides moving in an anti-clockwise direction. This can be done by first igniting a piece of dried coconut leaf on the fire that has been brought in the pot and using it to kindle the pyre.
2. Do not use objects such as tires to light a pyre. Make minimal use of kerosene or other inflammable substances, and that too, if it is absolutely necessary.
3. As far as possible, avoid the contact of smoke emanating from the pyre.
4. Once the skull of the dead body bursts, as judged by its sound, the kartā should stand towards the feet of the deceased facing the south direction while holding the earthen pot filled with water on the shoulder.

Someone should stand behind the kartā and make a hole in the pot just below its neck with a stone picked up from the crematorium itself. This stone is known as ‘ashma’. The kartā then circumambulates around the dead body once in an anti-clockwise direction, while the water keeps flowing around the pyre through the hole. On completion, a second hole is made in the pot below the first hole by the person using the same ashma.

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The kartā then completes the second circumambulation like the first one. Similarly, a third hole is made, which is followed by the third circumambulation. On completion of the third circumambulation, the kartā stands towards the head of the deceased with his back towards the pyre in case of a male and towards the legs of the deceased with his back towards the pyre in case of a female.

Thereafter, he throws the pot backwards so as to break it without looking back. In the present times, this act is performed immediately after kindling the pyre.

1. The kartā should safely bring home the ashma that was used for making the holes in the pot.

Agencies