DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0309
Death, Funeral Rites, and Ancestor-worship. 297
the notion that by the sacred animal's assistance he will be
safely transported over the terrible river of death, Vaitarani,
already described. This, however, is a precautionary measure
which will be quite ineffectual unless the cow is afterwards
handed over as a gift to the Brahmans.
Others again who believe that the passage of the Hindu
Styx is compulsory on all, and that it cannot be accomplished
without direct Brahmanical aid, take care to send for two or
three priests for the performance of the Vaitaranl-rite. This
ceremony, which is very usual in Bengal, consists mainly in
paying money to the Brahmans, who in return mutter a few
texts and prayers, supposed to be efficacious in helping the
deceased man across the dreaded river.
Of course Mantras or texts from the Vedas and Upanishads
are repeated during all the ceremonies, and hymns to Vishnu
and Siva are occasionally recited. Then at the last moment
the dying man is made if possible to repeat the Taraka-mantra
or 'saving-text.' This formula may vary according to the
sect to which the family belongs. In most cases it consists
in merely uttering the name of Rama, or Narayana, or Hari,
or the eight-syllabled Mantra,' Blessed Krishna is my refuge.'
When the moment of death arrives the spirit is supposed
to escape, invested only with its linga-sarira (see p. 28),
through one of the upper or lower apertures of the body1,
according to the character for good or evil it achieved during
life (see p. 291).
The corpse has now to be transported to a place where its
cremation may be accomplished in due form and according
to prescribed rules, but not until certain other rites have been
performed. And first the eldest son or his nearest repre-
sentative carefully shaves the body 2. This he does without
1 The seven upper apertures are the mouth, the eyes, the nostrils, and
ears.
2 This is according to the directions in the Garuda-purana. At Benares
the shaving process generally takes place at the burning-ghat.
the notion that by the sacred animal's assistance he will be
safely transported over the terrible river of death, Vaitarani,
already described. This, however, is a precautionary measure
which will be quite ineffectual unless the cow is afterwards
handed over as a gift to the Brahmans.
Others again who believe that the passage of the Hindu
Styx is compulsory on all, and that it cannot be accomplished
without direct Brahmanical aid, take care to send for two or
three priests for the performance of the Vaitaranl-rite. This
ceremony, which is very usual in Bengal, consists mainly in
paying money to the Brahmans, who in return mutter a few
texts and prayers, supposed to be efficacious in helping the
deceased man across the dreaded river.
Of course Mantras or texts from the Vedas and Upanishads
are repeated during all the ceremonies, and hymns to Vishnu
and Siva are occasionally recited. Then at the last moment
the dying man is made if possible to repeat the Taraka-mantra
or 'saving-text.' This formula may vary according to the
sect to which the family belongs. In most cases it consists
in merely uttering the name of Rama, or Narayana, or Hari,
or the eight-syllabled Mantra,' Blessed Krishna is my refuge.'
When the moment of death arrives the spirit is supposed
to escape, invested only with its linga-sarira (see p. 28),
through one of the upper or lower apertures of the body1,
according to the character for good or evil it achieved during
life (see p. 291).
The corpse has now to be transported to a place where its
cremation may be accomplished in due form and according
to prescribed rules, but not until certain other rites have been
performed. And first the eldest son or his nearest repre-
sentative carefully shaves the body 2. This he does without
1 The seven upper apertures are the mouth, the eyes, the nostrils, and
ears.
2 This is according to the directions in the Garuda-purana. At Benares
the shaving process generally takes place at the burning-ghat.