Kayastha Sanskar - Cremation Sanskar

by Chitragupt Pariwar (Hum Kayasth) on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 3:26pm

Cremation Sanskar
In hindu religion death is not treated as the end of life rather it is treated as a moment when the ‘Atma’ or ‘soul’ after leaving the present body will starts its journey either for reincarnation in some new form or for ‘Moksa’ (final emancipation). This is the reason behind the sanskars after death.To give ‘Gati’ (motion) to the departed soul, ‘Gati-kriya’ ( process of puting in motion) or cremation is done.

Cremation are of two types:

When dead body is available.

When dead body is not available.

When dead body is available:

There is no need to choose a muhurta for cremation. Only when a body is to be cremated in nakshatra panchak (i.e. in 2nd half of Dhanishtha, Shatbhisha, Poorvabhadrapad, Uttarabhadrapad and Raviti ) proper punchaka shanti is to be done. One way of panchaka ‘Shanti’ is to donate ‘pancha-ratnas’ or (five precious gems) to a brahimna or to five symbolic cremations.

When dead body is not available:

This will happen in cases of unnatural death where dead body is either destroyed or is untraceable. In such cases cremation of ‘Puttala’ (effigies) made of ‘Kusha’ (a kind of grass) palasha and rich flour etc. is done. For ‘Puttala-daha’ or ‘cremation of efigie’ the following process of choseing muhurta should be adopted.

(a) When the information about death is received during ‘Sootaka’: ‘Sootaka’ (impurity) is said to last for ten to sixteen days after death depending on tradition of a particular place. If the information about death is received during this period ‘puttala-daha’ can be done at any time except in nakshatra panchaka.

(b) When the information about death is received after ‘Sootaka’ within one year : when information is received within one year the following considerations are necessary for choosing a proper muhurta for ‘puttaladaha’

(1) Nakshatra: Shravana, Hasta, Swati, Ashwini and Puhya are best.

Uttaraphalguni, Uttarashada, Uttarabhadrapad, Rohini, Anuradha,Poorvaphaguni,Punarvasu, Mrigshira, Chitra and Dhanistha are of medium category for ‘puttala-daha’.

(2) Days: Sunday, Monday, Thursday.

(3) To be avoided: Avoid Bhadra, avoid Janma and Pratyari Tara of the person doing cremation (i.e. 1st, 5th,10th, 14th, 19th and 23rd nakshatra from janma nakshatra) and also avoid Moon place in 4/8/12 positions from the natel moon sign of person doing cremation. Also avoid Friday, Tuesday, Saturday, 1/6/11/13/14 tithes; Tripushkara Yogas, ‘Adhika masa’, ‘Kshaya-masa, Parigha, Vyatipaat, Vaidhriti, Combustion of Jupiter and Venus and bright half (Shukla paksha).

All aggressive nakshatras (i.e. Poorvaphalguni,Poorvashada,Poorvabhadrapad,Bharani and Makha ),all ferocious nakshatras (Moola, Jyestha, Ardra and ashlesha) and Revati should also be avoided.

(c) When the information of death is received after one year : When information of the death is received after one year ‘puttala-daha’ should be performed in Uttarayana and all other variables mentioned in case (b) discussed avobe for chosing muhurta should be considered.