Hindu Death Rituals and Beliefs.
A week after death, the skin has blistered and the slightest touch could cause it to fall off. A month after death, the hair, nails and teeth will fall out. The hair and nails, by the way, while long rumored to keep growing after death, don't have any magical growth properties. They merely look bigger as the skin dries out. Ratchet is a slang term that can mean 'exciting' or 'excellent,' often used as a term of empowerment among women. Some may also use ratchet for when they are feeling 'bad' in some way. The term has been previously used, however, as an insult characterizing a woman as being 'overdramatic' or 'promiscuous.'
BoJack Horseman and The Good Place both use their final season to make sense of death, and there's a LOT there.The Take's Video: 'Princess Carolyn, Working W.
There is one thing that is certain in this lifetime:eventually we all must die. A belief in the cyclicalreincarnation of the soul is one of the foundations of the Hindureligion. Death is viewed as a natural aspect of life, and thereare numerous epic tales, sacred scriptures, and vedic guidancethat describe the reason for death's existence, the ritualsthat should be performed surrounding it, and the many possibledestinations of the soul after departure from its earthlyexistence. While the ultimate goal is to transcend the need toreturn to life on earth, all Hindus believe they will be reborninto a future that is based primarily on their past thoughts andactions.
The first mortal to meet his fate with Death was named Yama.This dubious honor makes him uniquely qualified to lead the wayfor others after death. The sacred scriptures of the Rig Veda,which call him King Yama, promise that all who have been goodwill receive 'admission to Yama's paradise and theeverlasting enjoyment of all the heavenly pleasures, include therestoration of a sick body, the maintaining of family relationsand the highly desired apotheosis'. Yama is aided by twokiller guide dogs that are described as the 'four-eyedkeepers of the path, who watch over men.' These 'twodark messengers of Yama with flaring nostrils wander among men,thirsting for the breath of life'. Yet, once they havesecured their prey, they lead them back to their heavenly realm,where Yama directs them to their destiny.
Cremation is a ritual designed to do much more than dispose ofthe body; it is intended to release the soul from its earthlyexistence. 'Hindus believe that cremation (compared toburial or outside disintegration) is most spiritually beneficialto the departed soul.' This is based on the belief that the'astral body' will linger 'as long as the physicalbody remains visible.' If the body is not cremated,'the soul remains nearby for days or months'The onlybodies that are not generally burned are unnamed babies and thelowliest of castes, who are returned to the earth.
The standard cremation ceremony begins with the ritualcleansing, dressing and adorning of the body. The body is thencarried to the cremation ground as prayers are chanted to Yama,invoking his aid.
It is the chief mourner, usually the eldest son, who takes thetwigs of holy kusha grass, flaming, from the Doms' (theuntouchable caste who tend funeral pyres) eternal fire to thepyre upon which the dead has been laid. He circumambulates thepyre counterclockwise– for everything is backward at thetime of death. As he walks round the pyre, his sacred thread,which usually hangs from the left shoulder, has been reversed tohang from the right. He lights the pyre. The dead, now, is anoffering to Agni, the fire. Here, as in the most ancient Vedictimes, the fire conveys the offering to heaven.
After the corpse is almost completely burned, the chiefmourner performs the rite called kapälakriyä, the'rite of the skull,' cracking the skull with a longbamboo stick, thus releasing the soul from entrapment in thebody. After the cremation, the ashes are thrown into a river,ideally the Ganges river, and the mourners walk away withoutlooking back.
The death ritual does not end with the elimination of thebody. There is still the safety of the soul to look after. Toensure the passage during its voyage to the Otherworld, aneleven-day ritual called shraddha is performed. It'consist(s) of daily offerings of rice balls, called pindas,which provide a symbolic, transitional body for the dead. Duringthese days, the dead person makes the journey to the heavens, orthe world of the ancestors, or the 'far shore.' 'On the twelfth day, the departed soul is said to reach itsdestination and be joined with its ancestors, a fact expressedsymbolically by joining a small pinda to a much larger one' Without these rites, the soul may never find it way toYama's realm.
Those who have been 'meritorious,' but have notquite attained liberation through Self-knowledge, are sent to aheavenly realm to await their fate. 'There the Gandharvas(demigods of fertility) sing to them and the bevies of celestialnymphs dance for them.' Since there is no need forpunishment, 'they go forth immediately on very high divinecarriages. And when they get down from those carriages, they areborn in the families of kings and other noble people.' Therethey 'maintain and protect their good conduct' and liveout their days before they are reborn enjoying 'the verybest of pleasures'.
The fate for those who have participated in less honorablethoughts or actions is far less pleasant. The Arthasastra, aHindu textbook from the second century BCE, offers a detaileddescription of some of the more frightening realms. Yet beforereaching these dangerous destinations, one must first endure amiserable journey. 'The hard-hearted men of Yama,terrifying, foul-smelling, with hammers and maces in theirhands' come to get the deceased, who tremble and begin toscream. Filled with terror and pain, the soul leaves the body.'Preceded by his vital wind, he takes on another body of thesame form, a body born of his own karma in order for him to betortured.'
The evil man becomes born as an animal, among the worms,insects, moths, beasts of prey, mosquitoes, and so forth. Therehe is born in elephants, trees, and so forth, and in cows andhorses, and in other wombs that are evil and painful. When hefinally becomes a human, he is a despicable hunchback or dwarf,or he is born in the womb of a woman of some tribe ofUntouchables. When there is none of his evil left, and he isfilled with merit, then he starts climbing up to higher castes,Shudra, Vaishya, Kshatriya, and so forth, sometimes eventuallyreaching the stage of Brahmin or king of men. With so manyunpleasant possibilities, it is easy to understand whyreincarnation is not the only goal of every Hindu.
Those who lead a life of austerity, meditation and grace canlook forward to the possibility of reaching Brahmaloka. This isthe 'highest among the heavenly planes' and thedwelling place of Brahma himself. 'This is a place ofintensely spiritual atmosphere, whose inhabitants live, free fromdisease, old age, and death, enjoying uninterrupted bliss in thecompanionship of the Deity.' There is no need for them toreturn to earth because they have freed themselves 'from allmaterial desires.' While they do experience a sense ofindividuality, they also experience a oneness with Brahma. Thisis the realm of immortality.
There is one other way to achieve liberation from samsara.This is to die within the city of Banaras, on the Ganges.'Death, which elsewhere is feared, here is welcomed as along-expected guest.' A city of many names, it was known inancient time as Kashi, the city of light, and the Mahabharatarefers to it as Varanasi. The funeral pyres, which are located onthe river, burn nonstop. 'Death, which elsewhere ispolluting, is here holy and auspicious.' People travel fromaround the country and the planet to spend their last days inBanaras because, 'Death, the most natural, unavoidable, andcertain of human realities, is here the sure gate to moksha, therarest, most precious, most difficult to achieve of spiritualgoals'.
For those who are unable to die in Banaras, cremation on thebanks of the Ganges or the spreading of the ashes in her watersis the next best thing. Referred to as the 'River ofHeaven' or the 'goddess and mother,' she isconsidered to be sacred from her source in the Himalayas, all theway to the sea in the Bay of Bengal. Her power to destroy sins isso great that, people say, 'even a droplet of Ganges watercarried one's way by the breeze will erase the sins of manylifetimes in an instant'.
The Hindu Faith, Mourning, Burial at Sea and Cremation
It must be understood that while this information wasfurnished by reliable sources, there are many different opinionsbetween those of Hindu faith, and any Hindu contemplatingcremation or burial at sea must seek the advice of a trustedpriest.
Hindu death rituals in all traditions follow a fairly uniformpattern drawn from the Vedas, with variations according to sect,region, caste and family tradition. Most rites are fulfilled bythe family, all of whom participate, including the children, whoneed not be shielded from the death. Certain rites aretraditionally performed by a priest but may also be performed bythe family if no priest is available. Here is a simple outline ofrites that can be performed by Hindus in any locality. Variationsare noted and suggestions made for Hindus in Westerncountries.
1. As Death Approaches
Traditionally, a Hindu dies at home. Nowadays the dying areincreasingly kept in hospitals, even when recovery is clearly notpossible. Knowing the merits of dying at home among loved ones,Hindus bring the ill home. When death is imminent, kindred arenotified. The person is placed in his room or in the entryway ofthe house, with the head facing east. A lamp is lit near his headand he is urged to concentrate on his mantra. Kindred keep vigiluntil the great departure, singing hymns, praying and readingscripture. If he cannot come home, this happens at the hospital,regardless of institutional objections.
2. The Moment of Death
If the dying person is unconscious at departure, a family memberchants the mantra softly in the right ear. If none is known,'Aum Namo Narayana' or 'Aum Nama Sivaya' isintoned. (This is also done for sudden-death victims, such as ona battlefield or in a car accident.) Holy ash or sandal paste isapplied to the forehead, Vedic verses are chanted, and a fewdrops of milk, Ganga or other holy water are trickled into themouth. After death, the body is laid in the home's entryway,with the head facing south, on a cot or the ground--reflecting areturn to the lap of Mother Earth. The lamp is kept lit near thehead and incense burned. A cloth is tied under the chin and overthe top of the head. The thumbs are tied together, as are the bigtoes. In a hospital, the family has the death certificate signedimmediately and transports the body home. Under no circumstancesshould the body be embalmed or organs removed for use by others.Religious pictures are turned to the wall, and in some traditionsmirrors are covered. Relatives are beckoned to bid farewell andsing sacred songs at the side of the body.
3. The Homa Fire Ritual
If available, a special funeral priest is called. In a shelterbuilt by the family, a fire ritual (homa) is performed to blessnine brass kumbhas (water pots) and one clay pot. Lacking theshelter, an appropriate fire is made in the home. The 'chiefmourner' leads the rites. He is the eldest son in the caseof the father's death and the youngest son in the case of themother's. In some traditions, the eldest son serves for both,or the wife, son-in-law or nearest male relative.
4. Preparing the Body
The chief mourner now performs arati, passing an oil lamp overthe remains, then offering flowers. The male (or female,depending on the gender of the deceased) relatives carry the bodyto the back porch, remove the clothes and drape it with a whitecloth. (If there is no porch, the body can be sponge bathed andprepared where it is.) Each applies sesame oil to the head, andthe body is bathed with water from the nine kumbhas, dressed,placed in a coffin (or on a palanquin) and carried to the homashelter. The young children, holding small lighted sticks,encircle the body, singing hymns. The women then walk around thebody and offer puffed rice into the mouth to nourish the deceasedfor the journey ahead. A widow will place her tali (weddingpendant) around her husband's neck, signifying her enduringtie to him. The coffin is then closed. If unable to bring thebody home, the family arranges to clean and dress it at themortuary rather than leave these duties to strangers. The ritualhoma fire can be made at home or kindled at the crematorium.
5. Cremation
Only men go to the cremation site, led by the chief mourner. Twopots are carried: the clay kumbha and another containing burningembers from the homa. The body is carried three timescounterclockwise around the pyre, then placed upon it. Allcircumambulating, and some arati, in the rites iscounterclockwise. If a coffin is used, the cover is now removed.The men offer puffed rice as the women did earlier, cover thebody with wood and offer incense and ghee. With the clay pot onhis left shoulder, the chief mourner circles the pyre whileholding a fire brand behind his back. At each turn around thepyre, a relative knocks a hole in the pot with a knife, lettingwater out, signifying life's leaving its vessel. At the endof three turns, the chief mourner drops the pot. Then, withoutturning to face the body, he lights the pyre and leaves thecremation grounds. The others follow. At a gas-fueledcrematorium, sacred wood and ghee are placed inside the coffinwith the body. Where permitted, the body is carried around thechamber, and a small fire is lit in the coffin before it isconsigned to the flames. The cremation switch then is engaged bythe chief mourner.
6. Return Home; Ritual Impurity
Returning home, all bathe and share in cleaning the house. A lampand water pot are set where the body lay in state. The water ischanged daily, and pictures remain turned to the wall. The shrineroom is closed, with white cloth draping all icons. During thesedays of ritual impurity, family and close relatives do not visitothers' homes, though neighbors and relatives bring dailymeals to relieve the burdens during mourning. Neither do theyattend festivals and temples, visit swamis, nor take part inmarriage arrangements. Some observe this period up to one year.For the death of friends, teachers or students, observances areoptional. While mourning is never suppressed or denied,scriptures admonish against excessive lamentation and encouragejoyous release. The departed soul is acutely conscious ofemotional forces directed at him. Prolonged grieving can hold himin earthly consciousness, inhibiting full transition to theheaven worlds. In Hindu Bali, it is shameful to cry for thedead.
7. Bone-Gathering Ceremony
About 12 hours after cremation, family men return to collect theremains. Water is sprinkled on the ash; the remains are collectedon a large tray. At crematoriums the family can arrange topersonally gather the remains: ashes and small pieces of whitebone called 'flowers.' In crematoriums these are groundto dust, and arrangements must be made to preserve them. Ashesare carried or sent to India for deposition in the Ganges orplaced them in an auspicious river or the ocean, along withgarlands and flowers.
8. First Memorial
On the 3rd, 5th, 7th or 9th day, relatives gather for a meal ofthe deceased's favorite foods. A portion is offered beforehis photo and later ceremonially left at an abandoned place,along with some lit camphor. Customs for this period are varied.Some offer pinda (rice balls) daily for nine days. Others combineall these offerings with the following sapindikarana rituals fora few days or one day of ceremonies.
9. 31st-Day Memorial
On the 31st day, a memorial service is held. In some traditionsit is a repetition of the funeral rites. At home, all thoroughlyclean the house. A priest purifies the home, and performs thesapindikarana, making one large pinda (representing the deceased)and three small, representing the father, grandfather andgreatgrandfather. The large ball is cut in three pieces andjoined with the small pindas to ritually unite the soul with theancestors in the next world. The pindas are fed to the crows, toa cow or thrown in a river for the fish. Some perform this riteon the 11th day after cremation. Others perform it twice: on the31st day or (11th, 15th, etc.) and after one year. Once the firstsapindikarana is completed, the ritual impurity ends. Monthlyrepetition is also common for one year.
10. One-Year Memorial
At the yearly anniversary of the death (according to the mooncalendar), a priest conducts the shraddha rites in the home,offering pinda to the ancestors. This ceremony is done yearly aslong as the sons of the deceased are alive (or for a specifiedperiod). It is now common in India to observe shraddha forancestors just prior to the yearly Navaratri festival. This timeis also appropriate for cases where the day of death isunknown.
Hindu funeral rites can be simple or exceedingly complex.These ten steps, devotedly completed according to the customs,means, and ability of the family, will properly conclude oneearthly sojourn of any Hindu soul.
Religions such as Hinduism offer our own immortal soulssatisfying answers to questions of life and death. Their ancientmythic texts provide real reasons for our existence here onearth. They also demonstrate that death is something that can beprepared for instead of being feared. In addition, they offer thepossibility of something to look forward to, so we need not dreadour last days on this planet. A true hindu shall love death as heloves this life.
April 5, 2012— -- The final details of pop icon Whitney Houston's Feb. 11 death provide a clearer picture of the scene where the star was found face down in a water-filled bathtub with drug paraphernalia near by, and confirms the coroner's initial report that she died of accidental drowning.
The Los Angeles County coroner's 42-page report also reveals some unknown and often surprising details about the singer at the time of her death, along with what was found in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton, and gives glimpses of the addictions that plagued one of the greatest singer's of her time.
The Spoon
A 'small spoon with a white crystal like substance in it and a rolled-up piece of white paper' were found in the bathroom where Houston died, according to the coroner's report. Such items are used to snort cocaine.
'Some people use a spoon for cocaine administration,' a law enforcement official involved in Houston's case said. 'These days it's likely around for meth, which was not found at the scene, according to the investigator, so likely used as inhalation tool.'
Drug Use
Previous reports said traces of cocaine and prescription medications were in her system. Both the initial and final reports stated that blood tests indicate that she smoked marijuana within two weeks before her death. Marijuana is legal in California if used for medicinal purposes.
Forensic toxicologist Bruce Goldberger said the details about her blood from the toxicology report indicate that she was 'acutely intoxicated from cocaine' at the time of her death and was a 'repeated cocaine user.'
A 'plethora of prescription medication bottles' were found in the room, according to the final report. The final report lists a total of 12 different medications, including anti-anxiety medication Xanax, and muscle relaxer Flexeril, prescribed from five different doctors.
Goldberger described the level of prescription drugs in her system as 'mild' and said Xanax did not contribute to her death.
An open bottle of champagne also sat on the mini-bar and an open can of beer was on a table. There was also a bottle of beer on a nightstand and several loose tablets.
Houston's family has expressed surprise that she was using drugs again. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, sister-in-law Pat Houston attributed Whitney's downfall to a lifestyle change where she saw Whitney 'chasing a dream ... looking for comfort, love ... and it was younger.'
She said that Whitney was chasing someone 'that would ultimately hurt her.'
While admitting she was concerned about the singer's behavior at a party two nights before her death, Pat Houston told Winfrey that she didn't think the star was abusing drugs in her final days.
But after the initial toxicology report was released, Houston wrote in a statement to The Associated Press: 'We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure.'
The Missing Items
The coroner reported that when found in her room at the Beverly Hilton, Houston's purse contained her wallet, but the 'decedent's California driver's license had been removed from the wallet, which was inside the purse, prior to my arrival.'
'Also prior to my arrival, the majority of the decedent's prescription medication bottles had been removed from a brown bag that was on top of the table in the southeast corner of the living room, and then placed on top of that same table,' the report reads.
It has been determined that no foul play was involved in the singer's death.
Breast Implants
It is unclear how many plastic surgeries Houston underwent throughout her life, but it now seems clear that she did at some point undergo breast-augmentation surgery. The coroner's report described and 'small scars' on her breasts 'associated with breast implants.'
'The outlines of bilateral breast prosthesis are visible,' the report added.
Defibrillator
According to the coroner's report, 'there was a defibrillator patch on the upper right side of her chest and there was another defibrillator patch on the upper right side of her torso.'
This does not likely indicate therapeutic treatment for Houston's heart, but shows that part of the life-saving efforts administered by paramedics was likely the use of a defibrillator to establish normal sinus rhythm to Houston's heart.
The Wig
Another piece of new information from Wednesday's report is that Houston wore a brown wig, which was tightly affixed to her head at the time of her death.
Dentures
Houston also wore dentures, the coroner's report indicated. This is relatively common among long-term drug abusers. Habitual use of drugs such as crack cocaine, which contains acidic chemicals, will lead to the wearing down of the tooth's pulpy tissue over time. Tooth decay can also be the result of vomiting and tooth grinding, which is common among drug and alcohol abusers.
Death On A Cracker Meaning
Multiple Cigarette Butts
Findadeath Forum
The coroner said that mild emphysema was detected in Houston. Houston's voice was the gift she left for her fans, but sadly for her she was losing her beautiful voice at the time of her death. From the final report, it now seems clear that not only did she struggle with illegal drugs and alcohol, but she was unable to stop smoking.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/houston-insider-reveals-whitneys-anguished-fight-win-back/story?id=15689692
Water Temperature-Minor Abrasions on Face
Houston was discovered by her assistant the afternoon of Feb. 11 face down in a water-filled bathtub with a 'bloody purge coming from her nose' and, according to the report, 'there were two superficial abrasions to the left side of her forehead, and there was a superficial abrasion to the left side of the bridge of her nose.'
Forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht said he does not fully concur with the final anatomical diagnoses on Houston, noting that the water in her tub at the Beverly Hilton was extremely hot at 93.5 degrees. He believes this indicates that Houston was not sitting in her tub, and somehow accidentally drowned.
Saltine Challenge
'I think that she fell into this very hot water, that accounts for a little bruise that was seen in the left forehead area, some other pressure markings on the face, including the slight laceration of the lip, and the fact that she is lying face down,' Wecht told ABC News. 'I think that this lady fell into the water, she was unconscious, dead or dying when she fell into the tub.
Death On A Cracker
'I do not believe that the death was due to drowning,' he added, 'although I cannot rule out that she could've been in the agonal moments and with her head submerged in water that certainly could have contributed to her death.'