UNIVERSAL FREE CREMATIONS – 6. Hindus Reject CNG and Electric Cremations?

Often, we discuss about the environment and how to safeguard it. There are many reproaches against Hindu open-air wood cremations. Scientific studies have pointed out that open-air wood cremations of Hindus are also contributing to the present environmental calamities. Many people ask the question ‘why Hindus only do open-air wood cremations?’ Why can they not opt for CNG or Electric cremation? We must educate Hindus. The Indian government is spending billions of taxpayer’s monies in making CNG and Electric crematoria pan India. Take any Indian town it has at least one Electric or CNG crematorium. In order to have one CNG or Electric crematoria, the government spends at least two crores of rupees. The moot question now arises: how many people are using these facilities? Answer also is known to us: very few, negligible. Government is doing its effort to encourage people to opt for CNG or Electric crematoria so that it will contribute positively to the environment. Unfortunately, these expectations are never met.

Garuda Maha Puran, which defines the exit policy of every Hindu prohibits (I wanted to use the word discourages but I cannot) the usage of CNG, Electric or any other method of cremation other than open-air wood cremation. Further, this rule book of Hindus enjoins that only by doing open-air wood cremation. in the manner suggested in the book, alone one can get Salvation, Sadgati or Moksha. Follow any other method the departed soul cannot attain Moksha. In chapter 10, shlok 56 and 57 of Garuda Maha Puran, the method of obtaining Moksha through open-air cremations is stated:

अर्धेदग्धेऽथवापूर्णेस्पोटयेत्तस्यमस्तकम्।गृहस्थानांतुकाष्ठेनयतीनांश्रीफलेनच॥
प्राप्तयेपितृलोकानांभित्त्वातद्ब्रह्मरन्ध्रकम्|आज्याहुतिंततोदघान्त्रेणानेनतत्सुतः॥

What is the meaning of the above shlokas? If stated in a very simple manner, it is as follows:
When the body is either half cremated/burnt or after fully cremated/burnt, the person who is performing the cremation, for example, the son should break the skull of the half cremated/burnt or after fully cremated/burnt body.

Why skull must be broken?

There is a hole on the top of our head/skull which is known as Brahmarandhra. That needs to be reopened. Hindus believe soul of the deceased can only be released through the hole called Brahmarandhra named after Lord Brahma. If the deceased is a married man/women then the skull/head to be broken with any stick. If it is an unmarried man or Yatishwar, (there are many meanings of the word Yatishwar but I am not dwelling on that) the head should be broken with Bilva stick. Bilva leaves, fruits and tree is very dear to Lord Shiva (Bilva in Telugu is known as Maredu).

Every person has nine holes – two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth and two holes of excretion. The soul cannot escape the body from these holes. It has to escape only through Brahmarandhra i.e., the hole situated on the top of the head or the 10th hole. How do we know whether there is a hole? If you take 6 months or 1-year-old child and touch the head you will find soft tissue there. Over a period, the skull grows to cover the hole. It is believed by the Hindus that God puts the soul in the body through that opening. In order for the soul to be released and reach God, the hole must be opened.

This injunction prohibits Hindus from opting for CNG or Electric cremations. Both in CNG or Electric cremations, the body is put in the incinerator. Once the body goes into the incinerator, it cannot be taken out for the skull-breaking ceremony. Within minutes, the body is reduced to ashes and you can collect the ashes. Thus, CNG or Electric cremation cannot give scope to break the head of the deceased. Hence, Hindus do not prefer them.

Few Hindus who have nobody to perform their last rites or who do not believe in Hindu injunctions may opt for CNG or Electric cremations. Thus, when you look at the statistics of all India, less than 1% of total cremations are performed using CNG or Electric facilities. When the issue is Salvation of departed soul, given the belief system, who dares to cremate the body other than open-air wood cremations?

Does this mean the Hindus will continue to contribute to the environmental disaster? Or whether any alternate exist? Yes. There is a cheaper and viable alternate. We shall deal with it soon.

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