The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-11-07
A HINDOO FU \ ERAL.
ARRANGEMENT BY WHICH CHASTITY
EFFECTS ARE AVOIDED.
The Preparation for Cremation Ths
Ceremonious Performances Of tho
Sons-Hindoo View OF Death
A Mothers Philosophy.
fSan Francisco Call

A marriage and funeral are affairs much
to be draa lie by wealthy Hirloo, for on
either occa ion thers has to DO considera bic
spent on "a ting not only on the relatives
but host OF dependents; and as without .
feast tho soul of the departed one is in dan
ger of not tn ting the joys of the life here
after, a funeral feast is really ofton the real
source OF the woe on such occasion. As a
matter of course the Brahmins figure con
5ficuously, for it is hoped that through their
intercessi will the dead man gain
heavenly bli 8.
In Madras the ceremonies arc arranged
scientifically. There much Of the hi locus
mes that is so revolving to Il person II deli
cate nerves is hidden. Tner3 are no fierce
flames To b3 seen cracking around and
Lurnin, tho corpse, no terribly offensive
oiors, hut, ON the contrary, at IL hi5h-casto
funeral there is to be seen the groatojt re-
9, ect paid to the dead, AMI also every posi-
bic arrangement to deprive the funeral OF
its gha>tly effect
PREPARING FOR CREMATION.
The body is laid in a slopins position, rest
ing on heavy bed of dry straw. This
straw bed rests upon solid stone founla-
ton imbeddel i'll cement When tie straw
has been laid and be,prinklel three time
slightly with holy wator tho body is laid
upon it. The teg5 are crooked up tailor
ashton, and the body il clothed in pure
white of peculiar linen used solely for tae
shrouding of the dead. The corpse Is then
covered with white flowers, the only part
that is visible being the face. The cheeks
are painted bright red. After the surviy-
ing son has pa ,sed around tho pyrc three
times, muttering a mantra "a. with the pot
in hand containing the holy fire, he
lights tho pyre. The straw i speedily
ab!aze, AMI tue slight layer OF wood is soon
burning, and when the flames begin to
touch the body it is covered with thick
coating IF mud, that the corpse is actu
ally burned within covering. 1t is thus
LETT for three days, when this coating of
mud i, broken open, and the collected ashes
are thrown into the ad jacent river
No sooner has the mourning cortege left the
spot where under the mud dome is burning
the corpse than the Oldest sou prepares him
self for the last rite of the ceremony. He
drrobes entirely, and taking up his position
near the late pyre, gets shaved from head
to foot, the razor pas ing over every inch of
his body's surface. Here. as in Northern
India, the funeral feast is observed rightly,
and the number of people feI is generally
more than the purse of the dead man can
actually afford.
HINDOO VIEW OF DEATH.
Death in India is not looked upon with
that ray starious awe in moro northern
countries. IT. presence is SO universal its
den, either by burning or burial, that the
bereaved have never the time given them
to indulge in the luxury Of grief by the
pleasant spectacle of having tho dead in
their mdat Funeral cGrtegeS in all parts
of India are dIsorieriy, and it is not
common for them t. indulge in unseenly
lighting with each other when they are
under the impression that one OF item is
perhaps Sinking his portion Of the load
when carrying, the corpe to the ghat.
Perhaps never to better advantage does
the philosophical nature of the indoo show
than the occa ion of death. Rarely
doe5 mother, even when a!mo be-ide
herself with grief over the close approach
ing death # her -on. once make u moan
after tile breath has left tao body. death
has come she says, "ani hence let there
be weepinG" And hired mourncr5 are
engaged for that unpleasant task, while
she will, with fearless eyes, follow tho re-
mains of her chill l..