RE: Digest Number 415 - Mortal remains burnt & buried

[Guest guest]

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