Hindu Funeral Rites: Why is a pitcher filled with water broken during cremation? Know the secret behind the tradition

funeral rulesImage Credit source: AI ChatGpt

Rules of Antim Sanskar: There are 16 rituals mentioned in Hindu religion. The last rites performed in this are cremation. This is done last, hence it is called last rites. After the death of a person, all the traditions of his cremation are performed, so that the soul of the deceased can rest in peace and move forward for salvation.

Some special rules are followed at the time of funeral, in which the tradition of breaking an earthen pot filled with water before the funeral pyre is also followed. Let us know in detail what is this tradition and why is it followed at the time of funeral?

According to religious scriptures…

According to religious scriptures, during the last rites the body of the deceased is burnt in the fire. This is called offering funeral pyre to the body, but before that, a pitcher filled with water with holes in it is placed on the shoulder and circumambulated clockwise around the pyre. At the end, there is also a rule to do one parikrama anti-clockwise. After this the pitcher filled with water is thrown backwards. Due to this the pitcher bursts.

After this the dead body is burnt. This stage of the last rites is considered very important. According to the scriptures, the earthen pot is taken as a symbol of the dead body. Then the water that is filled in it is considered a symbol of the soul. The slow dripping of water from the pitcher during the circumambulation of the pyre is said to symbolize the weakening and ending of the relationship between body and soul.

religious reason for breaking the pot

The breaking of the pot means that now the soul will have to be completely separated from the body and will have to go on a further journey. The human body will have to merge into the five elements. Breaking the pot shows that now all the worldly relations of the deceased have ended with this world and he should move towards salvation.

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