The Hindu Perspective of Death - Assignment Example

Most Hindus live in India and have specific ideas about death. Hinduism believes that death is not absolute. They believe in the reincarnation of a person’s soul after they die. During a person’s life an individual’s positive or negative actions during his /her lifetime determines a soul’s destiny. This is known as Karma. “Every incident in his life, either good or bad, is the result of some previous action in a former life. (“Hindu Views of Life and Death”)These beliefs provide solace to devout Hindus, particularly in times of grief.

While many Hindus currently die in hospitals, traditionally they are brought home to die by their immediate family members. It is customary in the Hindu religion for immediate family to help their dying family member leave this world and prepare for the next. As the dying individual lies on the ground chanting holy words from Hindu scripture, family members are also chanting these words as they surround the dying individual until he/she finally passes away. This is believed to result in a holy death which facilitates the beginning of new lifeThis also is supposed to help family members cope with the impending death of their loved one.

The religious scriptures of the Hindu religion known as the Vedas dictate death rituals in Hinduism. However these rituals can vary according to sect, region, caste and family tradition. All family members participate in these rituals, including small children. Right after death female family members generally give the corpse a bath. Certain other rituals are also normally practiced after a loved one’s death: “A priest applies the local marks of the community, applies sacred ash and chants holy mantras.

Immediate family members put rice in the mouth, flowers on the body and coins in the hands.” (Marx, n.d., para.1). While a loved one’s death is very much a somber occasion Hindu priest’s place importance on the journey of the soul of the deceased. Therefore it is also seen as a celebration of life. According to the Hindu religious tradition most of the time the body is cremated. While certain sects of Hinduism allow for burials cremation is the most common practice of disposing of a corpse.

Hindus tend to have corpses cremated because they believe that “by burning the body, the soul does not feel the physical association with the body anymore which it could have had the body been buried.” (Gupta, n.d., para. 1) It is also believed to facilitate entry into the next life. Prior to the cremation no cooking is done until after it has been completed. Cremation needs to be done properly because if it is thought that if an individual is not cremated in a certain way the soul will not be properly transported to the next life.

Close family members light a lamp where the person died in order to guide the soul. Twelve hours after the body has been cremated family members return to the site of cremation to collect the remains (ashes and bones) of the body. In India the ashes are collected and scattered over land or in a river. The entire family then bathes and cleans the home of the deceased. (Gupta) After the cremation ceremony immediate family members bathes and cleans the home of the deceased. This begins the period of Ritual Impurity.

During this time the immediate family and other close relatives of the deceased undergo an extensive period of mourning where they do not visit each others’ homes and attend celebrations such as weddings or festivals as a show of respect for the deceased. Although in some instances family members and neighbors may bring food in an