Why do Hindus cremate?

They see the body as a prison for the soul, one that generates attachments and desires that prevent forward progress towards freedom. Therefore, in Hindu funerals, the role of cremation is to sever the ties of the soul to the body that it is leaving, freeing it to move toward mukti.
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What do Hindus do with cremated ashes?

Cremation is traditional, and generally takes place within 24 hours of a person's passing. In Hindu cremation rituals, any families scatter ashes in a sacred body of water within a day or two to signify the final separation of the soul from the body.
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What is the point of being cremated?

The key reasons why so many people are choosing cremation are: Separation of family across the U.S. (non-traditional family nucleus) Increasing acceptance of the cremation process in our culture. Eco-consciousness tendencies in consumers (don't want to take up precious land space with a traditional burial in a cemetery ...
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Is cremation common in Hinduism?

The funeral rites are very similar within the various traditions of Hinduism. Most Hindus cremate the dead, though some communities allow burial. Those who cremate make exceptions for young children and devout older believers. These individuals are considered pure and not needing the purification of burning.
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What religion does not like cremation?

Of all world religions, Islam is probably the most strongly opposed to cremation. Unlike Judaism and Christianity, there is little diversity of opinion about it. Cremation is considered by Islam to be an unclean practice.
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Why do Hindus Cremate?



Why do Hindu wear white at funerals?

While in most cultures wearing black to a funeral is the norm, during a Hindu funeral most mourners will wear white. To the Hindu culture white means purity, and it is used to show respect to the departed and the family. It is also very common for the deceased men to be wearing white clothes when buried.
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Do you still go to heaven if you are cremated?

No matter what a person's preference is, from the Christian perspective, cremation does not prevent one from going to Heaven. So there's no need to worry, if God can create life from dust, surely he can restore life from ashes.
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Do you feel being cremated?

The body does not feel pain during cremation because the person is no longer alive. When a person dies, their brain stops sending signals to the body. This means that the person cannot feel pain or any other sensation.
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Do you have clothes on when you are cremated?

Cremation of a body can be done with or without clothing. Typically, if there has been a traditional funeral (with the body) present, the deceased will be cremated in whatever clothing they were wearing.
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Why do Hindus throw ashes in water?

The notable exception is Hinduism, which has a long and honored tradition of scattering the ashes of loved ones in the Ganges river. It is believed that a Hindu's salvation (nirvana) is achieved when their ashes are immersed in the river Ganges.
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Why do Hindu take baths after funerals?

The ancestors of India, much like many other parts of the world back then did not have vaccination against hepatitis, smallpox and other deadly and contagious diseases. Hence they came up with a set of rituals to be followed after the funeral rites are performed so as to prevent infection from the dead body.
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What is the Hindu tradition when someone dies?

Most Hindu funerals have three parts: A wake or funeral in the family's home immediately upon death. A cremation ceremony (MukhAgni) at the cremation site. A ceremony (Shraddha) to help the soul of the deceased enter the next world.
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Does it smell when a body is cremated?

If you are concerned that the ashes will smell after the cremation, the answer is no. There is no odor emitted from ashes that have been properly cremated. Even over time, you shouldn't expect any particular smells to develop. If anything, certain cremation containers will simply emit a slight incense-like smell.
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Do cremated ashes have teeth?

Do teeth burn during cremation? Teeth usually burn up during the cremation process. Tooth fragments that are not burnt up will be ground during the ash processing.
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Can you touch cremated ashes?

The average cremated adult will produce about five pounds of pulverized bone fragments, a coarse powder that is sterile and safe to touch, even if the person died of a communicable disease.
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Do people watch you get cremated?

Yes. This is called a "witness cremation" or simply a "cremation viewing." Family members may watch as the body is brought into the cremation retort and the process of cremation is begun. Read on to learn more about witnessing a cremation.
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How long does a cremated body last?

How Long Do Cremated Ashes Last? A common question that we find in the cremation diamond industry is do ashes have an expiration date? The short answer is they don't; at least not in our lifetime. It would take around one million years for ashes to dissolve since they are made solely of inorganic material.
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Is it better to cremate or bury?

If simplicity is a factor, cremation is definitely better. Traditional burials are more expensive, less environmentally-friendly, and under a tighter deadline. They're also a lot more complicated.
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What does Jesus say about cremation?

There is next-to-nothing mentioned about cremation in the Bible. Both Old and New Testament passages refer to burial as the standard practice for the Israelites and the early Christians. Rather than seen as a standard for most people of biblical times, cremation was often a form of punishment.
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Do you reunite with your spouse in heaven?

HAVING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SPOUSES, LOVED ONES IN HEAVEN

A. Yes to both. The reunion will take place, but not as husband and wife. We learn this in Jesus' explanation to the Sadducees: "When people rise from death, there will be no marriage.
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Which part of the body does not burn during cremation?

What's really returned to you is the person's skeleton. Once you burn off all the water, soft tissue, organs, skin, hair, cremation container/casket, etc., what you're left with is bone. When complete, the bones are allowed to cool to a temperature that they can be handled and are placed into a processing machine.
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What are some dos and donts after a death in a Hindu family?

At the funeral, visitors and family members should avoid wearing black. They can wear plain white clothes. Females should not participate in the cremation ceremony of the deceased person. During the funeral and cremation ceremony, nobody is allowed to consume food and drink like the other religion's customs.
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Do Hindus believe in heaven?

Most Hindus, Muslims, Christians believe in heaven

Most Indians say they believe in heaven (55%), though teachings about heaven vary widely across India's religions.
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Where does the soul go immediately after death in Hinduism?

Immediately after death, the soul is not clothed in a physical body but in a vaporous thumb-sized structure (linga ṡarīra). This is immediately seized by two servants of Yama, the god of death, who carry it to their master for a preliminary identity check.
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Why are cremated ashes heavy?

The weight is unlike what might be expected from a box of campfire ashes. Human cremation ashes include crushed bone, which makes them denser than ash from wood. Sources in the funerary industry state that one pound of human or pet weight equals one cubic inch of cremated remains.
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