In the Vedic tradition, burning the body through cremation is the standard post-mortem ritual. The rationale for burning the body can be conveyed through the acronym PET: Physical constraints, Emotional closure, and Teaching of temporariness.

  1. Physical constraints

Cremation is a practical solution to the problem of limited space. Across the world, cremation is increasingly adopted even by those not following the Vedic tradition. If every deceased individual were buried, with tombstones or memorials marking their graves, the space consumed would be enormous. Eventually, the space devoted to the dead could become so vast that the living might struggle to find sufficient room on Earth.

Moreover, the maintenance of burial sites diminishes over time as visits by loved ones become infrequent. This neglect leaves cemeteries in disrepair, creating an additional burden. Cremation avoids these issues by requiring only a temporary space, offering an efficient and sustainable way to honor the deceased.

  1. Emotional closure

The Bhagavad Gita explains that the soul is distinct from the body, akin to a person discarding worn-out clothes and moving on to new ones (2.22). Despite this distinction, the soul often becomes strongly attached to the body during its lifetime. This attachment can sometimes persist even after death, causing the soul to hover near the body in the vain hope of re-entering it.

When the body is buried, it may take years for natural decomposition to occur, potentially prolonging the soul’s attachment and delaying its onward journey. Cremation, by rapidly reducing the body to ashes, provides an irreversible closure, signaling to the soul that there is no possibility of re-entry. This allows the soul to move forward in its spiritual evolution and begin the process of transmigrating to its next body.

  1. Teaching of temporariness

For those witnessing the cremation, the process serves as a stark reminder of the body’s temporariness. While all death rituals underscore the inevitability of mortality, cremation offers a visceral demonstration of the body’s impermanence. Watching the flesh burn and the body reduced to ashes delivers a powerful jolt, highlighting the futility of over-indulgence in bodily pleasures and excessive attachment to physical appearance.

In today’s world, where industries profit from cultivating an obsession with bodily beautification and indulgence, such reminders are crucial. They serve to counterbalance the cultural glorification of external appearances, urging individuals to reflect on deeper, more enduring aspects of existence.

Summary:

  • Cremation is preferable to burial for three reasons encapsulated by the acronym PET:
  • Physical constraints: Burial consumes excessive space, which could eventually leave little room for the living. Cremation offers a sustainable alternative.
  • Emotional closure: Cremation helps the soul realize the impossibility of re-entering the body, allowing it to move on in its spiritual journey.
  • Teaching of temporariness: Cremation vividly reminds survivors of the body’s impermanence, reducing excessive attachment to it and encouraging reflection on life’s deeper realities.

Think it over:

  • Why is burning the body beneficial for humanity at large?
  • How does cremation assist the departed soul in moving forward?
  • How does the practice of cremation help survivors reflect on mortality and transcend bodily attachment?

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02.22 As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.