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Thread: Hindu view on death

  1. #1
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    Hindu view on death

    Namaste,

    I am asking this question not just for personal understanding, but also because for my A level RE coursework we have to look into one religion's view of death. The thing is, it isn't about the afterlife per se (there is a seperate topic on the afterlife - I may get around to that later !), but more about what death means in the religion, and about what funeral rites reveal about that religions understanding of death. It is really hard to find any good information about the Hindu concept of death (at least, as seperate from afterlife and reincarnation), so I thought it would be good to ask here.
    Here are some general questions/topic areas:

    What does death mean to the Hindu? ( Within the religion, how important is the concept of death, and what does death mean in the "grand scheme of things"?)

    What is death?

    How do Hindu's prepeare/"mark" the passing of another human? (funery rites and such)

    How do close relatives/friends/community of the religion react to death? (Is death positive/negative, are people hopeful, wary, scared, when thinking of death? What is the general "mood" surrounding death?)


    I realise that these a very general, loose questions, but I hope that when answering them you can give a real insight into how a Hindu really feels about death, as opposed to just the more objective understanding. Of course, if anyone has any insight on the subject whatsoever, please, by all means comment. Anything would be valuable.

    Wilfred.

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    namaste Wilfred.

    You might perhaps find some points in this post of mine on the subject useful:
    http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/sho...5&postcount=34
    रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
    ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥

    To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.

    --viShNu purANam

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    Quote Originally Posted by wcrow View Post

    What does death mean to the Hindu? ( Within the religion, how important is the concept of death, and what does death mean in the "grand scheme of things"?)

    What is death?

    How do Hindu's prepeare/"mark" the passing of another human? (funery rites and such)

    How do close relatives/friends/community of the religion react to death? (Is death positive/negative, are people hopeful, wary, scared, when thinking of death? What is the general "mood" surrounding death?)


    I realise that these a very general, loose questions, but I hope that when answering them you can give a real insight into how a Hindu really feels about death, as opposed to just the more objective understanding. Of course, if anyone has any insight on the subject whatsoever, please, by all means comment. Anything would be valuable.

    Wilfred.
    Vannakkam wcrow: This is a very interesting topic, and one that highlights the differences between our faith and that of the Abrahamics. In my limited view (observation of others, and personal thoughts) I have observed that the view of death for all is very personal as is grieving. I think my atheist brother and myself surprised everyone at my own father's funeral as we seemed far too happy for most of the others in attendance.

    So really, I can only answer for myself, having never really spoken to any of my Tamil friends in any length on the topic.

    1) For me death is just a transition, like changing a clothes, but the effulgent soul body is changing bodies. So in the grander scheme of things it is quite meaningless. Just another bump in the road.

    2) Death is a transition. Loss of physical mass, and continuation in the astral plane (2nd world). Not all that much to get excited about.

    3) Most Hindus cremate. The body is prepared with a nice dhoti, sacred marks are placed. I have attended a couple of Sri Lankan elaborate funerals now. There is even a second priesthood that specialises in funerals only. Everyone can sprinkle water and offer flowers to the departing soul on the corpse as part of it. These were quite elaborate. For me personally though, it would be cremation as soon a possible, no embalming whatsoever, and then a follow-up simple 'service' of remembrance. Psychologically, the main thing is to let the soul go mentally so there is clarity as I understand there can be some hesitation for the soul to move on and we have what are termed ghosts in the west.

    4) People react in varying ways. I've seen loud wailing, and tons of support etc., but a pretty decent recovery rate or 'moving on'. Personally, I've only had two strong reactions in my life, and that was with a 10 year old student in my class from a sudden asthma attack, and once when I was about 14 when a beloved uncle passed on from a harvesting machine accident. In general, the sudden ones seem emotionally tougher for everyone.

    In the west, it is very much a taboo subject for the most part, and there is the great denial of it, even by doctors who deal with it. I think this is because of the fear factor about hell or just the unknown. Science will extend the vegetative state forever some days. Quite sad. in my opinion. I find Hindus, and contemplative thinkers in general to be much more at ease, but once again, that's just my personal experience.

    On a personal note, it is highly recommended to have what's called a personal directive or a living will, which gives instructions on how you want to be treated when till alive. It is quite within Hindu doctrine to choose to fast to death when it is apparent you are terminally ill. there are many factors to consider regarding funeral arrangements etc.

    I'd like to hear more opinions on this.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    Thank you both Eastern Mind and Saidevo for your thoughts and comments. They have been most helpful. It is very interesting to note the differences in attitude towards death in the west and east.

    On a personal note, it is highly recommended to have what's called a personal directive or a living will, which gives instructions on how you want to be treated when till alive. It is quite within Hindu doctrine to choose to fast to death when it is apparent you are terminally ill. there are many factors to consider regarding funeral arrangements etc.
    With regards to a "living will", would there be problems organising a hindu funeral for a white hindu convert? I don't know to what extent the funeral is arranged by the family, but it is something to consider.

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    Quote Originally Posted by wcrow View Post
    Thank you both Eastern Mind and Saidevo for your thoughts and comments. They have been most helpful. It is very interesting to note the differences in attitude towards death in the west and east.

    With regards to a "living will", would there be problems organising a hindu funeral for a white hindu convert? I don't know to what extent the funeral is arranged by the family, but it is something to consider.
    Vannakkam wcrow: That sort of depends on what you consider a Hindu funeral. Cremation is the main thing. If you give directions to your will trustee, and contact a pundit or priest beforehand, it should be no problem. In my city, a North Indian priest saw the need many years back, and attends to perform the last rites, I believe from the Rg Veda. Traditionally, the eldest son flips the switch (lights the pyre) in the crematorium. I've seen it done for white Hindu converts, yes. After that part its sort of up to you. In my own case, there are instructions for a Tamil family friend to be asked to sing thevarams for the occasion at the memorial service. A lot depends on sect, Guru's instructions, etc., etc. My Guru instructed quick cremation unless there needs to be an autopsy for legal reasons, and absolutely no embalming. But it's your soul's body temporarily, so you should decide.

    Some places like Britain are trying to get cremation grounds, and there is debate and varying laws in the west regarding the spreading of ashes.

    Aum Namasivaya

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    Interesting topic.

    1. What is death ?

    By Hindu dharma - life in a body is there when there is a mind in the body. This mind reflects the consciousness into the body and lightens up each of the senses and action organs, which goes down to the cells.

    The body by itself is inert. We can feel this at various levels - sleep, unconscious and death.

    At death the mind goes out of the body. The feeling is like a long sleep or long unconscious state - to the next body.

    By hindu dharma, the mind hops from one body to another body.

    2. What does death mean to hindu ?

    This knowledge of rebirth is embedded in the pschye of the Indians and they know at the deep of their mind that this body is temporary and the soul (mind in the all pervading ocean of conciousness) will be moving to another body as per the karma.

    3. How does hindus react to deat ?

    Even with the knowledge as above - the deeper knowledge and the assimilation of the same is very difficult in this material world. The intercations between human beings are not at spiritual levels but at the body levels. So all are identified by their bodies. The attachements and the emotions are all connected with the bodies.

    So though the death is clebrated on the way to the cremations by the followers (varies from region to region) the close friends and relatives are saddened by the vaccum in their life.

    However the recovery is fast and the devotion to god (through temples and every day puja) helps it.

    4. The rituals also varies a bit from region to region but more or less it is same.

    I am not so conversant with it.

    Hope it helps

    Love best wishes

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    hari o
    ~~~~~~

    namasté

    Life (praṇa) is the expansion (kham) of happiness (kam).
    That which is unbounded (bhūmā) is what happiness is ( sukham).
    No happiness is felt when there is 'little' ( constraint, limits, smallness or nal, to bind or confine).

    This is the wisdom of the chāndogya upaniṣad.

    So , were is this connection to death ( mṛtyu )? This death is a new beginning to expand (kham); to realize one's full nature of Being. We are given another chance... some see this as a penalty, others His grace ( anugraha).

    praṇām
    यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
    yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
    because you are identical with śiva

    _

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    Re: Hindu view on death

    Namaste,

    Sorry, I completely forgot about this thread! My apologies for not getting back sooner.

    EM: Thanks for the details. Although what happens to my body after death is not something I want to think about too soon, it is very useful to know how Hindus approach this phase in life.

    Kallol: Thanks for answering my questions. It is interesting to know the view on consciousness that you have detailed. You cannot know what death is until you know what life is! So thank you for that.

    Yajvan: I completly agree about seeing rebirth as a positive rather than a punishment - very wise words indeed. What could be more merciful than giving us another chance?

    Wilfred.
    Last edited by wcrow; 31 October 2010 at 10:46 AM. Reason: spelling

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