Hindu funeral - A Highly Ritualized Affair
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions, with roots that extend back to 3000 BC. It has no single founder and no single scripture; instead, it is based on a collection of sacred texts called Agamas, which are similar to religious scriptures in other faiths. Hinduism believes in reincarnation and karma—the idea that good deeds will lead you toward enlightenment while bad deeds will cause suffering. Hindu funeral is a highly ritualized affair that involves the cremation of the deceased person. The Hindu funeral pyre is known as an “Agni”. This means fire and it symbolizes purification and rebirth. In Hinduism, the body is seen as a vessel for the soul or Atman, which is immortal and eternal. It is believed that cremation helps in freeing the soul from its earthly bonds so that it can move on to another life or reincarnation. Cremation is also considered a way to preserve the body for eternity, since it cannot decay or decompose after being reduced to ash. Cremated remains...