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chattyTopic: As I think
I can die in peace, says Hindu, after judges back fight for open-air pyre
Personally I am delighted to learn that UK has a loving and accommodative law with a provision for Hindus to grieve in their own way.
As a Hindu priest, I attended many funerals but unfortunately I always left the crematoriums with a feeling that the whole process is too sanitized. The mere 30 minutes that a Hindu family gets to grieve is not really enough. Also the funeral is not particularly following the instructions of Hindu scriptures.
For the followers of Hinduism death is a very important final step of soul's rights of passage called Samskaras. For Hindus the soul makes a wonderful journey from womb to the tomb. The soul gets embodied during the first right of passage called Garbhadana (conception) and the soul gets out of embodiment during the last and very important right of passage called "Antyesti" (funeral).
Hindu scriptures are very instructional in how this final rites have to be performed. These are called as "Apara Karmas" in Sanskrit. For Hindus funeral is not merely burning the body! It is a very important ritual.
It is a wide-spread misunderstanding that Hindus just burn the bodies of their departed. Traditional Hindus do not see it that way! They see the funeral as a place where they can finally meet and greet and offer their respects to one of the very important Gods called "Kravyadha" also known as "Dakshinagni". (Rigveda 10:18:12) As per Hindu scriptures this God acts like a courier between the earth and heavens. When you want to post an article to someone, you make sure that there are correct stamps, and the address is properly written! Same way the funeral for Hindus is giving a proper send-off by invoking the right God.
During the funeral the Body is accompanied by the relatives (women and children below 18 years are not allowed or discouraged from attending).
The Hindu scripture says it is two of those male elderly relatives get the good fortune of being with the body till it becomes ash. During that time, as per scripture, they get rarely a once in life time opportunity to pray to the God Kravyadha who is responsible for taking the souls to Heaven.
In west the funeral tradition (eg. placing the body in coffin) is geared towards preparing the body towards the day of resurrection. Where as Hindus and other dharmic faiths (eg. Buddhists) prepare the dead body for reincarnation. So for Hindus it is a faith based process.
Bhagawad Gita, which is a core faith book for Hindus clearly states about reincarnation:
vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grhnati naro'parani
tatha sarirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi
Chapter 2, verse 22
Translation:
As a person gives up old and worn out garments and accepts new apparel, similarly the embodied soul giving up old and worn out bodies verily accepts new bodies.
So within the above context of "Preparing the soul for reincarnation by offering the departed into the hands of a proper God" is very important for Hindus. Not performing such rites are tantamount to sending a package to wrong address. It is advised in Hindu traditions, especially in a scripture called Garuda Purana which deals exclusively on the subject of Death, that the Hindu souls --- that did not receive proper Hindu funeral --- will wander in nether worlds for a long time. So I have often noticed that relatives of the departed, who have knowledge of the scripures, go through this huge amount of guilt! So I very much understand what Mr. Ghai (who won the case) must be feeling like...
So for Hindus the funeral is a very serious matter. Therefore Hindus want to make sure the soul is offered in to the loving hands of God Kravyadha who makes it swift and allows the soul to travel peacefully towards reincarnation. Unfortunately, so far it is understood that within UK law, there is no provision for such process to take place for Hindus. But I am glad now we know that there is such a provision and that there a loving allowance with in UK law for the Hindu relatives can grieve properly.
Those who would like to read more of this case can click the following link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7021722.ece
It is unfortunate that some of the Hindus -- who did not study Hinduism in depth, can not appreciate the scriptural instruction that the soul is given in to the hands of God Kravyadha --- think that it is mere burning of the dead body. I agree when you do not look at the Hindu funeral from the Hindu reincarnation point of view, when you can't see the funeral from a Hindu perspective, it appears as horrendous. But it is all crystal clear for those who properly studied Hinduism and recognize the presence of a God at the funeral place. Instead of keeping the Human death away from consciousness, by pushing the red-button and closing the curtains at the crematorium, Hindu followers are encouraged to assimilate the fact what happens to their body after death. Hindu funeral also has deep philosophical significance.
I must admit that I do not see the judgement as a clearance to have open funeral pyres wherever one wanted!!! I see it rather a loving allowance where Hindus are allowed with in law to grive their way.
One has to follow the Law of the land and must adhere to the regulations about health and safety. It is only when permission is given by the regulatory bodies that a hindu cremation can take place.
Over all I am delighted to see the clarity in Law. I am interviewed by BBC stations on this issue. Please see given below the links to my comments.
1) BBC Radio Solent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006bkxx/Tim_Daykin_14_02_2010/
For my comments please listen from 01:05
2) BBC Radio Leeds: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006bm2m/Richard_Staples_14_02_2010/
listen from 01:20:00
3) BBC Radio Cornwall:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006blp4/BBC_Cornwalls_Faith_Programme_14_02_2010/
Listen from 33:00:00
4) BBC Hereford & Worcester
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006bkdn/Andrew_Easton_Sunday_Breakfast_14_02_2010/
Listen from 01:45:00
5) BBC Lancashire
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006bl80/Joe_Wilson_14_02_2010/
Listen from: 2:15:50
5) BBC Coventry and Warwickshire
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006bks5/Stuart_Linnell_14_02_2010/
Listen from 0:48:30
6) BBC WM WestMidlands
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p006bl23/Andrew_Peach_14_02_2010/
Please listen from: 1:49:10
