Re: Death Denial
namaste everyone.
Although Hindus in practice do grieve death, it seems to me that the concept of death as only transmigration is built into the Hindu psyche.
• The first thought that occurs to a (Tamizh) Hindu towards the target person, when he/she condoles a death--or any misfortune for that matter--is 'pAvam!' Although this term is translated as 'poor man/woman/child' in English, the word actually means pApam--sin/karma, so the Hindu understands that a death or misfortune is according to one's karma.
• Mourning death by oppAri--wailing, was practised widely in the past, sometimes making one wonder if it was all just for show. Since women are easily moved to tears, in the earlier generations, they grieved death by wailing with profuse tears, beating their chests, forehead and letting their hands fall on the dead body with a thud. There are even oppAri songs sung on such occasions in villages.
• As against this, death of very old people who have seen life is often perceived as kalyANa sAvu--auspicious death. There is much less wailing and mourning, as people look upon the deceased as more divine than human.
• The mantras in Hindu death rituals are geared towards the deceased person attaining a good gati--path, in his/her afterlife.
रत्नाकरधौतपदां हिमालयकिरीटिनीम् ।
ब्रह्मराजर्षिररत्नाढ्यां वन्दे भारतमातरम् ॥
To her whose feet are washed by the ocean, who wears the Himalayas as her crown, and is adorned with the gems of rishis and kings, to Mother India, do I bow down in respect.
--viShNu purANam
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