The purpose of Hindu funeral rites is to guide the soul to the afterlife, and they are highly symbolic. A cremation ceremony and the 13 days of mourning kick off the funeral service. This period is devoted to performing sacred rituals that provide consolation and closure to the bereaved family while also assisting the deceased soul in finding peace. Here, we explain the process of 13 days of Hindu rituals after death.
The Importance of the 13-Day Rituals
After cremation, the family has thirteen days to mourn and revisit the memories of the deceased. Divalspakam or the Thirteenth Day: Hinduism extends the belief that the soul transforms. The practices performed at this time help the soul separate itself from the world and transition easily into the next life.
During this stage, the family avoids routine activities, dressed in white, and keeps an unhappy environment. The main goal is establishing an environment that encourages prayer, meditation, and remembering. The daily rituals are meant to help the soul on its journey and cleanse it of its earthly attachments.
Daily Rituals and Offerings
From day one to day twelve, several activities are performed by the family members. Some of these traditions included the Pind Daan, in which water and rice balls are given to the departed’s soul. It is believed that this rite will feed the soul on a journey. Priest also sings holy songs From the Bhagavad Gita And Garud Puran To Help the Soul Reach Moksha- liberation.
According to the tradition, the family provides food and prayers for their ancestor each day. Then, the food is handed out to the poor as a token charitable act that can be rightfully deemed benevolent and beneficial to the deceased’s soul. The twelfth day has Sapindikarana, meaning the soul is installed in the afterlife, or Pitru Loka, a ceremony.
The 13th Day Ceremony: Tervi
The mourning period comes to an end on Tervi, the last day. The Shraddha ceremony, which involves special prayers and offerings to the ancestors, is performed by the family on this day. The official mourning period ends when family and community members come together to pay their respects.
Since the soul is thought to have finished its journey from the earthly plane, this day is extremely significant. To guarantee that the deceased soul finds peace and its proper place in the afterlife, the family makes prayers and offerings during the Tervi ceremony. After that, the family returns to their usual activities, but they still perform sporadic rituals to remember the deceased, particularly during the yearly Shraddha.
Conclusion
Hindus have a practical and very religious practice of conducting a thirteen-day ritual after a person’s death. Apart from giving reverence to the dead, it provides the surviving family a way to move on. The cremation service that succeeds the funeral service is only the beginning of a process that supports the transition of the family and the soul to the next phase. Family believes that, by performing these rituals, the soul helps out on the path to achieving salvation and emancipation.