Hindu Religion (or Sanatan Dharma ) is considered more than 4000 years old .Hindu cremation is a sacred ritual deeply rooted in both religious and scientific principles.Like most of the practice established under Santana Dharma , choosing the practice of burning corpse over the burial of corpse has also science behind it . That is my opinion and would like to establish it in my post that even practice of cremation , like choosing saffron color or ringing bell , have science behind this practice !
Earliest Mention of Cremation
The earliest mention of cremation in Hinduism is found in the Rigveda, an ancient collection of hymns, prayers, and mantras dating back to between 1700 and 1100 BCE. Among its verses, the “Agni Sukta” (Hymn to Fire) is dedicated to Agni, the fire deity, highlighting the role of fire in the cremation ritual:
अग्ने यं यज्ञमध्वरं विश्वतः परिभूरसि । स इद्देवेषु गच्छति ॥ (Rigveda 1.1.1)
Translation:
“O Agni, you who encompass all the yajnas (sacrificial rituals), you are present everywhere. May the deceased reach the realm of the gods through your aid.”
This hymn underscores the belief that fire is a powerful medium that aids the soul’s journey to the afterlife. The Rigveda also emphasizes the importance of performing cremation with precision, as it is believed to directly influence the soul’s journey after death.
Hindu Philosophy for Burning Dead Bodies
According to Hindu philosophy, the body is composed of the five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. Upon death, the body returns to these elements, and cremation facilitates this process.
In Hinduism, the soul is believed to be eternal, merely passing through physical bodies on its journey. Cremation helps release the soul from its physical form, allowing it to progress to its next stage. The act of burning the body is also seen as a purification process, cleansing the body of any negative energies.
Fire holds a sacred place in Hinduism, symbolizing purity and the divine. The use of fire in cremation is therefore seen as a means of purifying the body and aiding the soul’s release from its earthly vessel.
In essence, the practice of cremation in Hinduism reflects a profound belief in the impermanence of the physical body and the eternal nature of the soul, guiding it toward liberation and unity with the cosmos.
The Science Behind Hindu Cremation
But , the moot point for this post is if there is science behind adopting cremation as practice of Sanatana Dharma .
Scientifically, cremation involves burning the body at high temperatures (typically 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit), breaking down the body into its elemental components. The water in the body evaporates, and the carbon is released as carbon dioxide.
Cremation at high temperatures also helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases, which is crucial in densely populated areas like India.
This is the scientific reason for adopting cremation for dead bodies . Our forefathers were scientist of very high caliber , therefore , they set best practices not only for live person , but also for behaving with dead bodies in a manner that satisfies its philosophy , saves man kind from spread of disease and giving back the elements of bodies to the nature .
Proof : COVID-19 Cremation Practices By People Who Practices Burial!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were instances worldwide where individuals who died from the virus were cremated, even when their religious customs traditionally called for burial. This was done to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Iran , a Muslim Country Forced to Cremate
Read this Al Jajira report titled “In Pictures: Struggling to bury COVID victims in northern Iran”
Italy : A Christian Country Adopted Cremation
Similarly, in predominantly Christian countries like Italy, the government ordered the cremation of COVID-19 victims to curb the spread of the virus, despite traditional Christian practices favoring burial.
It was reported in media that even though there was no ban on burials in Italy , many families choose cremation instead, to prevent infection from the virus inside the dead body. After all , WHO warned that the virus could spread from dead bodies. .
Other countries, such as Pakistan and Iraq, also reported instances where COVID-19 victims were cremated against their families’ and religious traditions’ wishes.
Conclusion
The Hindu practice of cremation , not only is in sync with its core philosophy of “panch tatwa”, but also very scientific of cleaning the body from any infectious disease and thereby saving the living human being . The recent dreaded Covid -19 period was the proof of foresighted ness of Hidu sages who established “the practice rituals for a Hindu”.
These decisions were made with public health and safety in mind, and were not intended to disrespect any religious or cultural practices.