"Kriya"

(continuation of the previous post)

Once the cremation is done, the "kriya" starts. The eldest son of the deceased is supposed to follow the "kriya - set of rituals" which as the faith goes, helps the soul rest in peace.

One key Hindu belief is - rebirth !  Soul never dies. The body does. One the soul leaves the body, it can come back to any other body, based on Karma.

The truly complete lives / souls - without any desires left, attain Nirvana / Moksha, which means, those souls never take rebirth.

The kriya in a way is the last ditch attempt at making the soul believe that it had a complete life and there is no desire that was left behind undone ! Which along with prayers to Yama, who keeps account of Karma, should help the soul get moksha.

While the concept is explained, the rituals go like the following.

The eldest son, every day goes to a river bank (or water body like lake / pond), takes a dip in the water, prays the "soul" and "yama", cooks some food on the river bank and offers to the soul. Then takes a bath in the river again.

This goes on for 10 days. Through these days, the eldest son, does not shave, eats a specific boiled food (tasteless are you are supposed to be mourning !! ) ONE time a day, feed a few bramhins each day and give them clothes.

A lamp is kept lighted through all the 10 days. The objective being not to let is go off until the 10th day.

The bones collected from the cremation are kept in a secured place and are prayed as symbolic presence of the soul.

After the days Kriya and after feeding the bramhins in the evening, the son is supposed to sleep on floor right next to the lamp, guiding the flame through the night.

It is certainly physically tiring. But does work as a powerful distractor and helps the mourning family in a way.