April 20, 2014: Final rites are essential not only to help the soul of the deceased move on, but to comfort the living too.

Losing a loved one or someone we care about deeply is difficult; coping with the sorrow can be a painful affair in which we often suffer in silence.

According to Hinduism, death is the starting point of a new and better life. According to the Hindu scripture of Garuda Purana, death does not end an individual but opens the door to a higher form of life. Hinduism also teaches that death is simply the separation of the soul from the physical body and the soul, which is the real you, does not die.

The news of death, or even the discussion of it, is a sensitive matter in many communities; various belief systems, however, provide solace and guidance on how to manage such issues with strength, and to move on.

To the Hindus, death represents a spiritual opportunity to attain oneness with the divine. It is viewed as a component of the natural life cycle – life, death and rebirth.

The last rites are important to free the confused soul from being earthbound because it does not realise fully the body it inhabited has died suddenly. The ancient text recommends specific prayers and rituals to expedite the liberation of the soul in accordance with the religious system of the deceased person’s respective faith. This is vital because it is said that the soul will remain on earth for 12 years in cases of tragic death.

Another important aspect about death is the disposal of the body of the deceased, whether through burial or cremation, as both methods involve ceremonies that are to be done respectfully.

According to P. S. Maniam, the author of the book Hindu Rites of Passage: The Funeral, an effigy representing the body should be made using holy grass or dried coconut fronds and dressed appropriately. In the Hindu system, the figurine should be placed on a funeral pyre and after the fire dies down, the ashes must be collected and scattered in moving water.

The specific ceremonies performed are mainly for the purification of the body and to allow the departed soul to attain a celestial abode. Although some people feel these methods are primitive and not practical in the modern era, scriptures stress that failing to perform the appropriate ceremonies can result in the soul not resting in peace.

Ceremonies for the departed are imperative in all faiths because they provide the individual with some happy closure to their life journey. Although they may be gone physically, every departed individual will continue to live in spirit in the hearts of their loved ones.

Let’s all always keep in mind this quote from the Bhagavad Gita: “For the born, death is unavoidable and for the dead, birth is sure to take place. Therefore, in a situation that is inevitable there is no justification for you to grieve.”