Why do Hindus believe in cremation instead of burial?

Question

The other two major religions, Christianity and Islam both practice burial after death. What factors influence the Hindus to practice cremation instead?

Answer 1

Earlier answerers have given a sociological explanation for the cremation ritual, but I'll try to provide a purely theological explanation.

In Hinduism, every jiva is made of five Mahabhootas, namely, Dhara (Earth), Nabh(Ether), Vayu(Air), Varuna(Water), Agni(Fire). After death, the body is supposed to disintegrate back into these many Mahabhoota.

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Hindus believe that souls after living in the body for so long time, get attached to the body and if left to rot on its own or buried, will linger in the vicinity. So, burning the body makes the soul depart to its rightful place sooner than burial.

Hence, sadhus (enlightened persons) and children are not cremated, rather buried because the soul of a sadhu is already enlightened and the souls of children are not bound to the body too long to get attached to the body.

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Also, Agni has a special status among the Pancha Mahabhootas (Five Elements) in being the purest of pure. All the remaining Mahabhootas become impure after they are used for cleaning. For instance, Water after being used to clean filth, itself becomes impure and cannot be used; Air after being inhaled becomes CO₂ and cannot support life. Similar things hold for Earth and Ether.

Fire is the only exception. Fire, even after being used to burn and purify, remains pure and potent. Thus the concept of Agni Pareeksha, Agni Saakshi, etc.

And for this reason, Fire is used to liberate the body back to its origins in the Pancha Mahabhootas.

Also, see Hindu Funeral Rites.

Answer 2

Adding to @A runnigMind's answer:

Cremation of the body reminds that the body is not important but the Atman is. Body perishes but Atman exists eternally. This is in contrast with say Christianity where people would go to kingdom of heaven in their material bodies and hence do burial to 'put the bodies to rest' till judgement day. In Hinduism it's the atman which can attain Moksha and not the body. Body represents ego/ahankar and burning it is like letting go. This is the philosophical basis of Cremation which many sects adhere to.

Coincidentally or deliberately, cremation saves space on land. I've heard of cities running out of space to build cemeteries in the west. Ancient Hindus might or might not have had this insight.

Answer 3

The theological reason for the question is given by Vineeth Menon, and as mentioned here mainly pointing on the sociological and scientific reasons which were known to our ancestors before ages.

Hinduism(Sanathana Dharma) is mainly a culture than a religion which is followed in India. The culture of one region is based on that region's weather conditions and nature. Cremation of bodies is a real example of this fact. Soil in India is wet type(compared gulf countries and European countries) and have more water in it. If dead bodies are buried under soil, the bio degradation take place and body fluids come out. Since the soil is wet enough, it is very much sure that those fluids will mix up with the water in soil and hence the drinking sources like wells and rivers will get polluted. This will lead to diseases.

Also cremation helps in not wasting the land. After cremating the bodies, there is practice in which some grains(nava danyas,i.e 9 grain seeds) are put in the place of cremation(It is still followed in Southern part of India, not sure about other parts). This practice is a straightforward way in pointing out the importance of agriculture in Hinduism(or in Indian culture). This is practiced to make sure that the agricultural land is not wasted. The same land is again used for agricultural purposes. So in this culture there are no cemeteries, the same land again used for the farming.

All these are written in the Smrithies(example for Smriti is Manusmrithi and I don't know in which specific smrithi this practice is mentioned.), which contains the code of conducts to be followed by people following a culture. Each Smrithi is followed in a region for a particular period according to it's nature and weather conditions.. Smrithies are allowed to edit as needed(according to change in weather , living style, etc.) So that means the rituals and habits could be changed according to Hindu culture.

Also it will be helpful to refer about 16 samskaras to be followed in one person's life. From wikipedia: The samskāra (sanskaar) are a series of sacraments, sacrifices and rituals that serve as rites of passage and mark the various stages of the human life and to signify entry to a particular Ashrama (i.e. stage of life). The answer of the question is related to the 16^th one, Antyeshti. see the link.

So according to Hindu culture, particular region or country can adopt their way of burying according to the nature and weather conditions. This is making a good sense. In Middle East countries/gulf most of the parts are deserts. Hence the religion originated from there, i.e. Islam follows this method of burying which is suitable for their nature. Similar conditions would have affected the practice of burying among Christians. So in conclusion burning of body may not be necessary in other countries based on weather conditions. But as India have it's sets of weather features, our ancestor's made a set of rules which suits for the country. They were also successful in implementing their ideas by forming particular customs which hides scientific facts behind them (As mentioned above, Antyeshti among Shodasa Sansakara is one of them). The burning of dead bodies is one of the best example for this.

Answer 4

In addition to Vineet Menon's comments, that Agni (Fire) is the purest element of the 5 elements (Mahabhutas) that is accessible to man - (The other begin Ether (Nabha or Akasha) is intangible and is capable of sustenance and not incineration or destruction.), there is also another reason to it, in that, cremation is the best possible way to symbolically signify the transformation of the Gross (or Sthula Sharira attached to the Annamaya Kosha) to the Subtle (or Sukshma Sharira attached to the Pranamaya Kosha). This is also the reason camphor is lit for mangala aarathi in temples, where the camphor signifies the sthoola and the sublimation (disappearance) of the camphor when lit by fire (which is the 'Chit' or consciousness) signifies the sookshma.

And as rightly put by Vineet, realized souls and children devoid of ego (ahankara) are buried and not cremated.

By the way, the Holy Bible does say "From Ashes to Ashes and Dust to Dust". - Food for thought!

Answer 5

I agree with the current answers, I just wanna add little more information.

they cremate out of common sense.

• If we bury that place has to be dedicated to single person
• Such place cannot be used by others at least for few decades
• How many such places are needed? world will have more cemeteries
• After decades if the cemetery is unknowingly sold people would fall for superstitious beliefs of ghosts.

Answer 6

why-do-hindus-believe-in-cremation-instead-of-burial ?

One of the reasons and explanations why Hindus believe cremation of the dead is also given in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad - Adhyaya 5 - Brahmana 12 - " Tapo Brahmanam".

It's said in the Upanishad that cremating a deceased by others is equal to excellent austerity or "Tapa" performed by the dead person.

It said that when people keep the dead in cremation fire, it's similar to Agni- Pravesha (entering into the fire) and is like performing excellent austerity by him. And the person who knows that wins the highest world.

एतद् वै परमम् तपस् यम् प्रेतम् अरण्यम् हरन्ति परम हैव लोकं जयति य एवं वेदैतद्वै परमं तपो यं प्रेतमरण्य हरन्ति यस् एवम् वेद एतद् वै परमम् तपस् यम् |प्रेतम् अरण्यम् हरन्ति परम हैव लोकं जयति परमम् ह एव लोकम् जयति य एवं वेदैतद्वै परमं तपो यं प्रेतमग्नावभ्यादधति यस् एवम् वेद एतद् वै परमम् तपस् यम् प्रेतम् अग्नौ अभ्यादधति परम हैव लोकं जयति || BU 5.11.1||

This is indeed excellent austerity that man after death is placed in fire. He knows as above wins an excellent world.

explanation of Shankara's commentary - The concept of cremation is a belief that as Agni makes all things pure by burning the impurities in substances, similarly Agni burns all the evil of a dead person when placed on fire i.e. when he is cremated.

And this removal of the evil of the dead by Agni is similar to performing excellent Tapas by the dead. And that helps him in achieving supreme world if he knows about this. And this is one of the reasons why Hindus perform cremation of the dead.

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And here are the screenshots of Gita Press Hindi translation and explanation.

Answer 7

Cremation became a practice because of the diseases the scavengers bring as there population increase in the burial areas pollution of water was another issue as well remembering the body leads to more trauma. The best option was cremating the body with rituals that will extinguish doubts and let people live happily. Beliefs are the recommended strong habits if someone doubts it he has to live a lifetime again searching for answers such as taking bath is a ritual performed by many but any explanation of the same practice can be to ward off skin diseases. Practice it understand it enquire about it but do believe the sages who wandered the earth for a purpose named unity and divinity.

Answer 8

Vineet Menon's answer is perfect in itself, adding to it-

They are eight elemental gods (called "Aṣṭa-vasu", 'Eight Vasus') representing aspects of nature (The Five Elements - Pancha Bhoothas: earth,fire,ether,air,water) and also representing cosmic natural phenomenon (The Sun, The Moon and The Stars).

"Lord Sri Krishna tells Arjuna in Srimad Bhagwad Gita:

rudrāṇāṁ śhaṅkaraśh chāsmi vitteśho yakṣha-rakṣhasām vasūnāṁ pāvakaśh chāsmi meruḥ śhikhariṇām aham

BG 10.23: Amongst the Rudras know me to be Shankar; amongst the demons I am Kuber. I am Agni amongst the Vasus and Meru amongst the mountains."

So, for a Hindu submitting dead to fire 🔥 is more preferrable as it represents none other than his own Lord Krishna.

My personal opinion: Throughout life there is discrimination- rich: poor, first bencher:last bencher, scholar: illiterate, master: servant, doctor: patient, guru:shishya, leader:follower, writer:reader, parent:child, Mr: Ms, plant: animal, living:non-living.

But all above participants of discriminations after death, when cremated turn to ashes without second thought, which creates a complete feeling of death.

This could have been with burial as well.

But as humans, people continue discriminations even after death, without realizing that after death all discriminations halts. So, the ritual of cremation breaks this false ego to ashes. Cremation or fire is same for all, it turns the dead to ashes whosoever he might have been as a living being.

While in case of burial, discrimination might remain continued. A king might construct a big tomb for himself, feeling people to remember his body even though death while poor people can't afford such spaces, constructions. So, even after death space remain occupied which could have been freed for the environment. We see numerous king's tombs, huge one's guarded safely while no such rich tombs for the king's brave soldiers who selflessly fought for the kingdom. So, huge unnecessary discriminations.

The rich end up in luxurious tombs ; the middle-class get marble headstones ; while the rest have to settle for granite, or even sandstone.

But cremation speaks --> end means end, there's nothing left after death, soul left this temporary body forever, donate organs if you can and burn out the remains, nothing material left to hold on anymore, not even an inch of land-- after body burns off, remaining bones to be flown in running river water (Asti sanchay). To pray for the peace of the soul: feed birds, fishes, cows, crows, dogs as good deeds.

Thus, the sacrifice is for submitting the mass to 🔥 energy(matter to voidspace) without any discriminations.