DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0307
Death, Funeral Rites, and Ancestor-worship. 295
find that, however intense is a Hindu's belief in the reality
of hell's most excruciating torments as described in the
Garuda and other Puranas, he is equally ready to accept
the doctrine laid down in the same works, that by performing
certain religious rites and giving gifts to the Brahmans all
the terrific penalties of sin may be avoided and the god of
hell disappointed of his victims (compare p. 291, first line).
What, then, is the nature of the various observances and
ceremonies which secure this immunity from future punish-
ment and make the course of the departed spirit—however
guilty—peaceful and pleasant ? We can only give an outline
of some of those most usually practised in religious families
of the higher classes.
In the first place, when a man becomes seriously ill, it is
common for his relatives to assume rather prematurely that
his case is hopeless. They therefore make preparations for
performing the last offices of religion in anticipation of his
decease in a manner which to us Europeans would appear
not unlikely to hasten on the crisis. Perhaps his only chance
of warding off the approach of death may depend on perfect
repose of body and mind. Yet how can his kinsmen allow
him to run the risk of falling into the hands of the god of
punishment, when by a little exertion they may secure for
him the protection of the sacred river which flows perhaps
not more than ten miles from his abode? Hence, his eldest
son and other near relatives lose no time in placing him on
a litter and conveying him to the banks of the nearest holy
stream. If such a river as the Ganges or Narmada or Goda-
vari or Krishna (Kistna) happen to be within reach, the
relatives of the dying man are the more eager to bring him
into close proximity to the sacred waters. At Calcutta this
is often done two or three days before death supervenes.
According to Mr. S. C. Bose, 'Persons entrusted with the
care and nursing of a dying man at the burning-ghat [on
the Ganges] soon get tired of their charge, and rather than
find that, however intense is a Hindu's belief in the reality
of hell's most excruciating torments as described in the
Garuda and other Puranas, he is equally ready to accept
the doctrine laid down in the same works, that by performing
certain religious rites and giving gifts to the Brahmans all
the terrific penalties of sin may be avoided and the god of
hell disappointed of his victims (compare p. 291, first line).
What, then, is the nature of the various observances and
ceremonies which secure this immunity from future punish-
ment and make the course of the departed spirit—however
guilty—peaceful and pleasant ? We can only give an outline
of some of those most usually practised in religious families
of the higher classes.
In the first place, when a man becomes seriously ill, it is
common for his relatives to assume rather prematurely that
his case is hopeless. They therefore make preparations for
performing the last offices of religion in anticipation of his
decease in a manner which to us Europeans would appear
not unlikely to hasten on the crisis. Perhaps his only chance
of warding off the approach of death may depend on perfect
repose of body and mind. Yet how can his kinsmen allow
him to run the risk of falling into the hands of the god of
punishment, when by a little exertion they may secure for
him the protection of the sacred river which flows perhaps
not more than ten miles from his abode? Hence, his eldest
son and other near relatives lose no time in placing him on
a litter and conveying him to the banks of the nearest holy
stream. If such a river as the Ganges or Narmada or Goda-
vari or Krishna (Kistna) happen to be within reach, the
relatives of the dying man are the more eager to bring him
into close proximity to the sacred waters. At Calcutta this
is often done two or three days before death supervenes.
According to Mr. S. C. Bose, 'Persons entrusted with the
care and nursing of a dying man at the burning-ghat [on
the Ganges] soon get tired of their charge, and rather than