Post Cremation Protocols
Someone is no more. The void will always be there, but the impact should not be permanent. Not because of money alone, but some of our established Indian traditions may not be appropriate for today. Contrary to popular belief, all post cremation traditions are for the grieving family which is left behind and NOT for the departed soul. God has already made appropriate decision for the soul right at the very moment when he took it away from us.
AryaSamaj2.0 recommends the following post cremation protocol.Do not immerse ashes in flowing water
Our water bodies are already scarce and immersion of asthi phool makes it even more polluted. We, In India, call and treat our rivers as mothers ( Ganga Maiyya, Narmada Maiyya , Har Har Gange and other godly names). We should not be polluting it by these acts. Vedic advice is to spread ‘Asthi-phool’ in an open field. The body is ‘Mitti’ and it should be united with mother earth. it further adds to the cultivating strength of soil.
Make it quick – Never more that 3 days
All Sanskars / procedures in the family should be finished in 3-days ( just good enough time for distant relatives to be with the grieving family ). Prolonging grief period to 10-13 days does not mean more respect to departed soul. Life must go on – and so should be your job, your business , children’s study and all necessary activities.
No elaborate feast – only a Shanti Havan
No grand food festival is prescribed to celebrate the departure of loved ones. It is not humanely appropriate for anyone to feast on another’s grief. AryaSamaj2.0 recommends a sober and gracious Shanti Havan on third day with symbolic prasad only.
No need to go to a Holy place
God is present everywhere and available all the time. There is no need to go to a ‘Holy’ place like Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik, Kanyakumari, Ujjain etc. for this purpose. The atmosphere over there is not spiritual but commercial.