At the Crematorium

At the crematorium, the coffin is carried from the vehicle to the platform with legs pointing South first. It is preferable to keep the coffin in such a way that the leg faces the incineration chamber. In case it is not in this direction (e.g. facing the gathering), please ensure that it is carried with the legs first when entering the incineration chamber.

After placing the coffin on the platform with its feet to the south, the performer of the funeral rites should sit, along with the other mourners, facing the south. The offering of 3 pindas should be performed, then the Punyaha Vachana ceremony is done to purify the corpse prior to it's consignment of the fires of the crematorium. The holy water is sprinkled over the corpse. The corpse is covered with a new shroud.

Another pinda should be placed in the hand of the deceased. The corpse should be anointed with the ghee and wood chips placed in the coffin. The eyes, mouth ears and nostrils are covered with dollar coins.

Last prayers — this is the time to recite the prayers which can be either mantras, slokas from the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, Thevaram, Divya Prabandham, Bhajans etc.

After the prayers are recited, the Karta circumambulates the coffin anti-clockwise three times, usually starting at the feet, followed by close relatives. Others could do the same but just one round instead of three. A few grains of rice, or coins or flowers are sometimes placed at the mouth by the relatives and friends after each round.

Finally the Karta carries a clay pot of water on the left shoulder. Another person - next of kin, walks behind him with a sharp iron instrument. Both of them go around the coffin anti-clockwise three times. When the person carrying the pot reaches the head each time, he stops for a second or two, and the one with the iron instrument hits the pot gently to make a hole so that water flows out from the hole. The first hole is made at the bottom of the pot, the second one at the centre above the first hole and the third one at the top, above the centre hole. This water is splashed with the back of the left hand onto the corpse by the person who follows. This procedure is repeated till three holes are made. At the third round, the pot is dropped behind the person carrying it. He walks away without turning back or looking at the body. The water or Ganga is the medium that separates the dead from the living in this case the nearest of the kin.

A fire should be lit in the clay vessel according to the injunctions in the sacred texts. Having invoked and worshipped the fire-god named Kravyada with flowers and grains of white rice the fire is placed upon the coffin as it is pushed into the incinerator.