The last few days have brought to light disturbing instances of mobs preventing last rites, cremation and burial to Covid victims – both patients and doctors. It is doubly sad when doctors and similar frontline warriors, who contract the disease in the performance of duty and succumb, are denied this dignity.
That such instances should happen in Tamil Nadu, a so-called progressive State is even more worrying. Ironically, there are four Divya Desams in the State that extol the virtues of those who take the effort to administer last rites and cremate the bodies of strangers/ non-blood relatives. I am documenting these in the sincere hope that somewhere it touches a chord in the minds of those who hamper the cremation of Covid victims. This is an expression of my anguish.
The first Divya Desam is Thirupputkuzhi where Lord Rama is said to have cremated Jatayu after the bird, grievously hurt in its battle with Ravana, clung on to life till it could inform Rama that Sita had been taken away to Lanka. This is not far from Vellore. The next, Thirupullabhootamkudi, is near Kumbakonam and has the same sthalapuranam as Thirupputkuzhi. The Lord was not above cremating even a bird.
The next two stories are even more moving. In Kanchi there lived a man who on seeing an unclaimed dead body, was moved to perform the obsequies and conduct the cremation. The people of the town shunned him for it, chiefly because they felt it was a demeaning act. Lord Varadaraja, yes, the same Lord to see whom everyone queued up last year, established that such ostracisation was unacceptable to Him by declaring Oorukku PollAn, emakku NallAn – he may be despicable to you, but he is dear to me! Descendants of that devotee even now use the initial NC, which stands for NallAn Chakravarti.
The final story concerns Lord Sarngapani in Kumbakonam. Just outside the sanctum is a statue for Lakshminarayanaswami, a devotee of the Lord. To him, Lord Aravamudan was everything. He never married and when he died, his cremation had to be done by the townsfolk. When they went to the temple they found the Lord all ready, in wet clothes, His sacred thread worn the other way and with darba grass in hand. Even today I am told, the Lord enacts this once a year.
We as Tamils need to realise that with such instances in our glorious past, the least we can do is to allow Covid victims a dignified last journey. Let us not be forever obsessed about what is likely to befall us. If doctors and frontline warriors too began thinking that way, God help our State and the rest of India.
I add this postscript because I have since read some perfectly rational explanations on each of the cases where burial was protested against. If these are true, then it is as usual up to the authorities to prevent such occurrences – in one case the workers at the crematorium demanded basic protective gear, in another a Protestant was being buried in an RC grave. But who will go into such detail each time these things happen? The broad news of denial of burial is what will gain currency and it will only cause bitterness in an already vitiated atmosphere. Time to correct such wrongs before they happen.
Hats Off Sriram. Superb article. God bless. Thanks to Vijay for the picture.
very enlightening, thank you
Dear Sriram yet another article opening everyone’s eyes thank you
That doctor was a Christian and their cemeteries are associated with their respective churches and only Christians are allowed to be buried there.
Why guilt trip Hindus about that sad incident then?
Thanks for pointing out a communal angle to this article even in this situation. As a Hindu I write stories on Hindu culture. I don’t know enough on Christianity to write about it. There was no intention to guilt trip as you have labelled it. On the other hand it should be read as an example of how Hindu culture takes pride in such deeds
The only other burial that encountered problem was in Tumkur in Karnataka, though the victim was from Sira which is a town near Tumkur they chose to bury him in the Muslim burial grounds which after the city grew, is in the middle and is next to schools and more importantly the district hospital. Again it was fellow Muslims who had an issue with their own religious leader being buried (I too don’t know much about their denominations and their myths) where as the crematorium in the heart of Bengaluru respectfully cremated a victim, a senior citizen. They even did as much ceremony they could without touching the victim. And cleansed the crematorium after it. Except for Harishchandra’s episode and few odd episodes, dead people are treated with utmost respect in our traditions.
Also I don’t understand why should Chennai should be shameful (as accused by twitterati) for the actions of a subset of a community in a corner of the city. As if all the citizens went and shamefully prevented the burial!
Ultimately it affects the image of a city. You cannot say someone else did it.
The sentiment is good. But, God! What a fuss! Electric crematorium van should be made available in every place. Something like an ambulance van. It is not at all an insult to the departed soul. We are no longer living in remote villages of the famed cauvery delta. The progeny of such families are almost as a rule living abroad in western countries. We need to simplify marriage and birth/death ceremonies. Have we not already given up the 5 day marriage functions of 1940’s? The money thus saved can be used in feeding the very poor in memory of the departed souls. I had the good luck to attend a Pentecost wedding! Amazing simplicity & and piety. . A prayer by the priest, exchange of marital vow, beseeching the Grace of GOD and chorus singing of a hymn. Everything over in just 15 minutes. No ostentation, No vulgarity. Not even a cup of tea!
On 4/20/20, Madras Heritage and Carnatic Music
On the need to simplify marriage and birth / death ceremonies, while abstaining from vulgar displays of grandeur or ostentation is preferred (some countries like Pakistan have even legislated against pompous marriage ceremonies, for whatever it is worth), it is largely left to the individuals concerned or in the case of a death ceremony, since the individual is the dear departed, it is left to the family and the next of kith and kin to decide on what kind of ceremony is to be followed. Moreover, wedding arrangements are an industry by itself, supporting thousands though, the present Covid 19 is certainly a dampener.
What is good for the goose may not be good for the gander. This however, does not mean a departed person should be denied the dignity of being laid to rest properly, in whatever respectful manner and it is unacceptable for someone to obstruct this. Take all precautions against spread of communicable diseases but not obstruct the dignity of passing on for the departed.
On simple marriage ceremonies of 15 minutes, the unwinding of such ceremonies in the form of splits and divorces can take even shorter time in the present day world by those who practice such solemnization. Marriage ceremonies and rituals have their own purposes and meanings and without understanding these, it may not be appropriate to write them off.
Which is better ? burial or cremation? we dont know. But both are archaic. Electric crematorium van does not mean disrespect at all.
The ashes can be taken around the country and people can pay their respect.
Pentecost people are strictest followers of the Gospel according to St.Mathew. Like our ancient marital vow, even as laid down by Manu, mutual fidelity is the most cherished value in marital life. So, too among the Catholics. I would suggest Charles Lamb ‘ A Quaker meeting. and the film ‘Friendly Persuasion’. Indira Gandhi celebrated the marriages of her two sons as a very simple register marriage at home, with closest family friends. The ‘mantras’ in Brahmani marriage ceremonies I am told are having many unacceptable vulgar import. How many of the bridegrooms nd brides really understand or even recite them? The priest does it.
Your humanity shines through in this article. Despite all the caveats the major sentiments do hold.
For the Gods, the compassionate ones are ஊருக்கு பொல்லான் எமக்கு நல்லான்! So beautifully expressed. Thank you.