Munde cremated - tradition and brken tradition

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:45 am

As per tradition his daughter Pankaja takes over his political mantle....but she also broke a hindu tradition by lighting his father's pyre.

by indophile Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:45 pm

Does he have no sons, or a son could not perform the ritual because of other reasons (medical, away in America, etc.)? Sometimes a family faces this dilemma -- a time limit for the ritual together with the right person being unable to do it. So you go for a reasonable alternative. Dahana samskaara (cremation) must be performed, it can't wait, and someone has to do it.
A similar situation could arise with ashtikas (ashes). They have to immersed in flowing water withing the year of death. I know a family who was in a bind on this time limit, and they chose the daughter to carry them to Benares and had a priest do it on their behalf.

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:04 pm

indophile wrote:Does he have no sons, or a son could not perform the ritual because of other reasons (medical, away in America, etc.)? Sometimes a family faces this dilemma -- a time limit for the ritual together with the right person being unable to do it. So you go for a reasonable alternative. Dahana samskaara (cremation) must be performed, it can't wait, and someone has to do it.
A similar situation could arise with ashtikas (ashes). They have to immersed in flowing water withing the year of death. I know a family who was in a bind on this time limit, and they chose the daughter to carry them to Benares and had a priest do it on their behalf.

Scientifically it makes sense for the time limit. If I remember, the muslims and the Brahmins must dispose of the body within 6 hours. non-Brahmins tend to wait a day or two so that all their relatives from neighboring villages can come and say good bye (this also makes sense as it brings a closure to those alive).

There was time that whoever lights the pyre had a right to a share of the property. That was the reason people always said a couple must have a "son" for the final rites. Also, women are not supposed to go to burial/cremation ground - which prevented them from lighting the pyre. But, in this day and age of electric switches, and e-funerals on youtube and skype - all these rules can be sidelined.

by Seva Lamberdar Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:39 pm

but she also broke a hindu tradition by lighting his father's pyre.

>>> There is no religious reason in Hinduism to forbid girls / daughters / women from lighting funeral pyres for their parents and others ...
http://www.geocities.ws/lamberdar/cremation.html

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:44 pm

Seva Lamberdar wrote:but she also broke a hindu tradition by lighting his father's pyre.

>>> There is no religious reason in Hinduism to forbid girls / daughters / women from lighting funeral pyres for their parents and others ...
http://www.geocities.ws/lamberdar/cremation.html

I suspect the "son-only" rule must have been introduced by men with a view on property. Now with the law giving equal property rights to all children, this soon will become a mute point.

by Seva Lamberdar Wed Jun 04, 2014 1:55 pm

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:
Seva Lamberdar wrote:but she also broke a hindu tradition by lighting his father's pyre.

>>> There is no religious reason in Hinduism to forbid girls / daughters / women from lighting funeral pyres for their parents and others ...
http://www.geocities.ws/lamberdar/cremation.html

I suspect the "son-only" rule must have been introduced by men with a view on property. Now with the law giving equal property rights to all children, this soon will become a mute point.

As indicated in the above link, the "son / man-only" rule in lighting the funeral pyre seemed to be the result of difficulties in the beginning in lighting fire by rubbing sticks. Lighting the fire by rubbing sticks was a tedious and time consuming job (as mentioned also in some Rig Vedic hymns). Therefore, men (being usually stronger etc.) were better suited for it than women trying to light the fire. Funeral fires were even more difficult to light, which led to the custom of men / sons undertaking that responsibility.

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Munde cremated - tradition and brken tradition

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