What Is Antyesti? Understanding the Last Rites in Hindu Funeral Wandsworth
Do you ever wonder what rituals are observed when a Hindu dies? The answer is found in a sacred ceremony called Antyesti. Antyesti is the last of the rites, also referred to as the "last rites." These rituals are performed to assist the soul's departure from this world into the next in peace. In places such as Wandsworth, where many Hindu families reside, these traditions are still adhered to with reverence and absolute devotion. The article explains what Antyesti means and what happens during a Hindu Funeral in Wandsworth. Meaning of Antyesti Antyesti literally means "last sacrifice" in Sanskrit and is the last ceremony in a Hindu's life. Hindus look at life as an itinerary of the soul, and death is just another turn on this itinerary. An Antyesti ceremony helps to release the soul from the bondage of the flesh into its next life and, possibly, attain moksha. The rites may vary based on the state of the family from which the deceased came, but the overrid...