DEATH AND FUNERALS OF THE HINDOOS.
My dear Children--The death of a Hindoo is followed by many ridiculous
ceremonies. I will give you a description of a few, connected with the
death of one who has moved in one of the higher ranks--of a Brahmin.
[Illustration]
When it is evident that a Brahmin has but a little time to live, a space
is prepared with earth, well spread with cow-dung, over which a cloth,
that has never been worn, is spread. The dying man is placed upon this
at full length. Another cloth is wrapped around his loins. This being
done, the ceremony of expiating his sins is performed as follows. The
chief of the funeral brings on one plate some small pieces of silver or
copper coin, and on another the punchakaryam, etc. A little of this
punchakaryam is then put into his mouth, and, by virtue of this nauseous
draught, the body is perfectly purified. Besides this, there is a
general cleansing, which is accomplished by making the dying man recite
within himself, if he cannot speak, the proper muntrums, by which he is
delivered from all his sins. After this, a cow is introduced with her
calf. Her horns are decorated with rings of gold or brass, and her neck
with garlands of flowers. A pure cloth is laid over her body. Thus
decked, she is led up to the sick man, who takes hold of her tail.
Prayers are now offered up that the cow may conduct him, by a blessed
path, to the next world. He then makes a gift of a cow to a Brahmin.
This gift is considered indispensable to enable the soul to go over the
river of fire, which it is said all must pass after death. Those who
have made this gift, are met by one of these favored creatures the
moment they arrive at the bank of the stream, and by her help, they are
enabled to pass without injury from the flames.
As soon as the breath has left his body, all who are present must weep
for a reasonable time, and join in lamentations together.
After various ceremonies, the body is washed, and a barber is called to
shave his head. He is then clad with his finest clothes and adorned with
jewels. He is rubbed with sandal-wood where the body is uncovered, and
the accustomed mark is put upon his forehead. Thus dressed he is placed
on a kind of state bed, where he remains until he is carried to the
pile.
After every preparation is made to bear away the corpse, the person who
is to conduct the funeral, with the assistance of some relative or
friend, strips it of its clothing and jewels, and covers it with a
handkerchief provided for the occasion. The corpse is then placed on a
litter. Those who die in a state of marriage, have their faces left
uncovered. The litter, adorned with flowers and foliage, and sometimes
decked with valuable stuffs, is borne by four Brahmins. The procession
is arranged as follows.
The chief of the funeral marches foremost, carrying fire in a vessel.
The body follows, attended by the relations and friends, without their
turbans, and with nothing on their heads but a bit of cloth, in token of
mourning. The women never attend the funeral, but remain in the house,
where they set up a hideous cry when the corpse is taken out. While
advancing on the road, the custom is to stop three times on the way,
and, at each pause, to put into the mouth of the dead a morsel of
unboiled rice, moistened. The object of stopping is considered to be
very important. It is not without reason; for they say that persons
supposed to be dead have been alive, or even when lifeless have been
restored; and sometimes, also, it has happened that the gods of the
infernal regions have mistaken their aim, and seized one person instead
of another. In any view, it is right to afford the opportunity for
correcting these mistakes, so as not to expose to the flames a person
who is still alive. Hence the propriety of these pauses, each of which
continues half of the quarter of an hour.
Having arrived at the place for burning the dead, they dig a trench
about six or seven feet in length. This is consecrated by the muntrums.
It is slightly sprinkled with water to lay the dust, and a few pieces of
money in gold are scattered upon it. Here the pile is erected of dried
wood, on which the body is laid out at full length. Over the body a
quantity of twigs are laid, which are sprinkled with punchakaryam The
chief of the funeral then takes on his shoulders a pitcher of water, and
goes around the pile three times, letting the water run through a hole
made in it. After this he breaks the pitcher in pieces near the head of
the corpse.
At last the torch is brought for setting fire to the pile, and is handed
to the chief of the funeral. Before he receives it, however, he is
obliged to make some grimaces to prove his sorrow. He rolls about on the
ground, beats his breast, and makes the air resound with his cries. The
assistants also cry, or appear to cry. Fire being applied to the four
corners of the pile, the crowd retire, except the four Brahmins who
carried the body; they remain until the whole is consumed.
The funerals of the Sudras differ in some particulars from those of the
Brahmins. Deafening sounds of drums, trumpets, and other instruments of
music, not in use among the Brahmins, accompany their funerals. To
increase the noise, they sometimes shoot off an instrument which
somewhat resembles a small cannon. I do not now think of any other
particular worthy of mention.
By the ceremonies which are performed at their funerals, this wretched
people expect to secure the pardon of all the sins of those who have
died. Alas, what a delusion! O, that Christians had sent the Gospel to
this dark land in the days when they sent it to our heathen fathers.
Then might the Hindoos now be seeking the expiation of their sins,
through the blood of the ever-blessed Redeemer. Of this Redeemer,
however, they know nothing. They enter eternity, not that their souls
may be consumed as their bodies have been, but to endure the flames of
divine wrath for ever and ever. Alas, alas, that it should be so! O,
that the generation of Christians now living would lay these things to
heart, and do what they can, through grace, to rescue those who are yet
within the reach of hope from so tremendous a doom. What, my dear
children, will you do for this purpose?