Buddhist Funerals - Significance And Customs
Buddhist funeral rites and rituals are filled with religious significance for Buddhists. The funeral service, according to Buddhism, signifies the setting free of the deceased’s soul, which was trapped in the futility of existence, and its quest for a new life after death.
Monks are invited to perform the ceremonies and rituals during a Buddhist funeral, that usually ends with cremation. After a person has died, the monks chant from the holy scriptures which are expected to free the positive energies of the soul. While the chanting continues, the deceased is made ready for the funeral and for visitors to bid a final adieu, so that there is no decay even if the cremation is delayed. After washing the body, it is placed in a coffin with candles, bouquets, fragrant incense and a photograph of the deceased.
When the last rites are deferred to allow far away relatives to arrive for the last glimpse of the deceased, monks visit the house everyday to read and chant from the Buddhist religious scripture Abhidharma.
On the day of the funeral, Buddhist monks perform the final rituals and their chief gives a brief speech in tribute to the dead person highlighting his contributions in life and comforting the aggrieved relatives that death is destiny. Other rites like wrapping a white cloth around the coffin during the religious invocation and Pansakula, a ritual of passing on blessings and virtues to the departed soul are also performed.
Prior to the cremation, one of the family members or the nearest kin has to say something about the deceased. The Buddhist funeral ceremonies end with a special meal for the visitors after the funeral.
Although some variations in traditions can be seen, these are the broad ritualistic procedures carried out during funeral service by followers in Thailand, Tibet, China and many other countries, where a large number of Buddhists live.
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