Cremation & Last Day Rituals
Cremation and last day rituals mark the soul’s final journey and are performed with deep reverence. The Antyeshti or Dahana involves offering the body to fire, symbolizing its return to the five elements. Guided by a purohit, the rituals include prayers, vehicle arrangements, and sacred offerings. After cremation, the Asthi Sanchayana is performed to collect and immerse the ashes in a holy river, ensuring peace and liberation for the departed soul.
Antheshti (Dahana) – Funeral pyre and cremation
Antheshti, or Dahana, is the cremation ceremony where the body is offered to fire, guided by a purohit with Vedic chants. A vehicle and necessary materials like firewood are arranged for the ritual. After cremation, Asthi Sanchayana collects and preserves the ashes for immersion, completing the final rites and ensuring peace for the departed soul
- Involved Parties:
- Purohit – Priest to conduct rites.
- Vehicle – Transportation of the deceased.
- Other Items – Firewood, ceremonial materials, etc.
Asthi Sanchayana
Asthi Sanchayana is the ritual of collecting and preserving the ashes after cremation. This ceremony is performed with reverence and devotion, marking the final stage of the funeral rites. The ashes are gathered carefully and often kept for immersion in a sacred river or other holy water bodies, symbolizing the soul’s liberation and its return to the elements of nature. This ritual provides closure to the family and ensures peace and spiritual upliftment for the departed soul.