Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: DEATH [Re: sadhuvp] #13083 - 03/07/02 03:50 AM Edit Reply Quote

Dear Sadhuvp, That there are different opinions regarding the rituals can mean at least two things: maybe the Pandits are not aware anymore about the origins, only about the recent execution of the rituals. Or if they are, then the differences may point to different customs related to different subcultural areas. These differences were already part of the older periods in which there were also regional and subcultural differences. Which is only natural. My personal opinion in general is that every ritual especially the Samsk�ras are meant to guide people from a previous crucial stage into a next one with dignity and with some comfort. You can make the ritual as long or short, but the essence remains the same: to help the transition in a dignified comfortable way. In the case of the death ritual: it is meant to comfort not only the people who are left behind, but also the departed one. (The Bardo Thodol of Padmasambhava has illuminating desciptions about the departing one). Some of the information on this subjects are in the Grhya Sutras. I'll leave this subject to the ones who are more proficient with this. Edited by Ishwa on 03/07/02 00:55 AM (server time).