Vedic Rituals After Death
The rituals that may be followed in Vedic religions after the death of a human being, for his or her peace and ascent to heaven are:
- Niravapanjali is a sacred ritual in Hinduism where after the cremation rites, the ashes are ceremonially immersed in holy water by the closest relatives, so that the soul may rise to heaven. In Hindu mythology, king Bhagiratha performed a tapasya to bring down the river Ganges upon earth, so that he could immerse the ashes of sixty thousand of his slain ancestors in her sacred waters.
- Tarpana is a sacred ritual whereupon the closest relatives make a sacred offering to the Gods so that the departed soul may enter Swarga. In Hindu mythology, the Great Parasurama offered a tarpana for his father Jamadagni with the blood of his father's killer.
The ceremonial offerings varies across the spectrum of Hindu society. These ceremonies are also practiced in Sikhism.
Read more about Vedic Rituals After Death: In Ayyavazhi
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