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RE: Digest Number 415 - Mortal remains burnt & buried

From the Bhakti List Archives

Parthasarathy.Sudarsan • September 7, 2001 


Dear Bhagavathaas,
                  AdiyEn am referring to the few postings on why we burn the dead, and why Yati's/children are buried.

			AdiyEn used to ask such questions(which elders typically yell inauspicious) and vaguely recollect some answers.

Mortal remains are to be consigned to flames as per the Shruthi PramAnas as Bhagavad Preethyartham and Atma Shanthi.   Similarly the PramAnas dictate Sanyaasis and children be buried as well, with proper KramAs to be followed.

Probably it is because both their births/demises are pure Bhagavad Sankalpam and nothing to do with Anaathi karma which is faced by those in the ocean of Samsaara.

As for Yatis, they are considered "Mukta Jeevas"(or born out of Bhagavad Sankalpam to liberate the masses from sorrow) and being SanyAsi's they do not have any mortal relationship to their children anymore, for them to perform any Karma associated with their mortal remains and their body is a property to all the Sishya KOti.   Also there is no difference between the sanctity of a living Acharya and his mortal remains as both are considered powerful in liberating the ailing masses.  This is witnessed in our SampradAyam, by Swamy Alavandaar's folded fingers unfolding at the instance of Bhagavad RAmanuja aligning to the Ajnyaa of his Acharya's Acharya.  So the body is typically embalmed and sanctified in a Brindaavanam for Sishyas to see the Karunya Roopam of the Acharya and recollect the Divya Sri Vaishnava Swaroopam of the Acharya, and follow his teachings.   Also AdiyEn think as per the pramAnas in certain conditions even Yatis/children are also burnt.

Maybe well versed Vaidhikas can clarify more on these topics for broader understanding(even though AdiyEn would like to focus more on living, and how to live).

AdiyEn Sri RAmanuja DAsan,

Sudarsana Dasosmi


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