Kayantha Sthanam: Isha Offers Dignity in Death to COVID-19 Victims

Swami Abhipada oversees Isha Foundation’s cremation services. In a candid interview, he talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic has made this offering even more significant.

The pain and grief of those who have lost loved ones cannot be captured in words. Still, there is always a positive contribution we can make. Among the various ways that Isha volunteers have been actively supporting local communities in the pandemic, providing dignity in death is unique. Isha Foundation manages 18 crematoriums in and around Coimbatore, where last rites are conducted with utmost sanctity and at a nominal cost. The day-to-day operations of these Kayantha Sthanams are managed by Swami Abhipada. In this interview, he shares why this effort is more critical than ever during the pandemic, for both the living and the dead.

Sadhguru’s Vision for the Living and the Dead

Swami Abhipada: Isha volunteers have been operating crematoriums with the Coimbatore corporation for the past ten years. We are running a total of eighteen crematoriums including a few in Chennai, Neyveli, and Namakkal. When the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit India, we had a meeting with Sadhguru where he told us about the importance of offering dignity in death to people dying from COVID-19. He said, “Ensuring that these people pass on in the right ambiance is the greatest contribution you can make to them and their loved ones.”

With Sadhguru’s vision as our guiding light, we began cremating COVID-19 victims in twelve of the Kayantha Sthanams (cooperation crematoriums operated by Isha) in Coimbatore. Kaya means body, antha means end, and Sthanam means place. A Kayantha Sthanam is a place where the body ends. For us, it is not a social service. Sadhguru says that death is the last thing that happens to a person, and it happens only once, so we are determined to conduct it in a proper way.

Special Challenges That Came With the Pandemic

Swami Abhipada: Dead bodies come to the crematoriums from both government and private hospitals. We have dedicated three crematoriums to handling non-COVID cremations, while the others are dedicated exclusively to COVID-19 cremations. There are many challenges that we face. We have to maintain social distancing, wear masks, and constantly keep ourselves sanitized. It is quite a challenging task to manage people who come here along with the dead because they are emotionally fragile. At the same time, we have to be firm in ensuring that the COVID-19 protocol is followed. To handle this delicate situation, we conduct a small orientation for relatives and guests, for everyone to stay safe and protected.

After the relatives and guests go through the orientation, the dead bodies are placed in front of the Kalabhairava shrine, and the rituals are done collectively. After this, the people gathered at the funeral pay their last respects to the departed, without touching the body. We have seen a fundamental shift in the mindset of people who come here for cremation. They are full of emotional turbulence when they arrive, but they always leave with a sense of closure.

It’s All About the People

Swami Abhipada: Though there are many people who help us directly or indirectly in our activities, the person who is in charge of the cremation needs to be physically strong and in good health to withstand the challenges that inevitably come. Sometimes, the relatives who attend the cremation get very emotional and break down. In such a situation, we maintain the ambience in such a way that the rituals are carried on without interruption, while still respecting people’s sensitivities.

There is also a social stigma attached to people who work in cremation grounds or crematoriums. Generally, very few want to do this kind of task. But this is not so with us. Each employee who is with us came here willingly after they found out that the place is being managed by Isha Foundation. We offer them support for their health and overall wellbeing, including access to the necessary medical facilities and the right kind of nutritious food. All of them go through a Yoga program so that they are in the best of physical fitness, mental health, and emotional balance.

The morning always starts with some form of Yoga. This is important because people come to the crematorium with great grief in their heart, and when they see their loved ones being cremated, there can be emotional outbursts, crying, and even shouting. If those conduction the situation are not balanced and composed, they could be affected adversely. Our people are well trained to maintain the necessary balance to do whatever is needed for the cremation without being affected mentally.

Why the Right Kind of Atmosphere Is Essential

Swami Abhipada: Due to the increasing death rate, we are always racing against time. We work continuously from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sometimes, we get calls even after 8 p.m. The cremation has to happen immediately because the relatives cannot take the COVID-19 infected body to their home and bring it back the next day. If we get such a request around 8 p.m., it takes another 2 to 2 ½ hours to complete the cremation process. We do whatever we can to ensure that we are equipped for such situations because the death of a dear one is a somber yet unforgettable experience in people’s lives. As Sadhguru says, this could be the first step towards spirituality for them. We truly find that people are positively impacted by how gracefully and efficiently we conduct the last rites.

The cremations happen in the Kalabhairava Sannidhi, which is designed by Sadhguru, and we witness how people’s fear and despair vanishes in this space. The volunteers and staff who are working here also contribute to creating the necessary ambiance.

Relentless Commitment and Responsibility

Swami Abhipada: Our people are so willing that none of them have taken any break since the second COVID-19 wave hit India. We have to encourage them to go on breaks because we do not want them to compromise their health.

Sadhguru always says that we have a responsibility not just for the living but also for the dead. The only reason we are able to manage a continuous stream of cremations throughout the day is because of the relentless commitment and sense of responsibility displayed by our volunteers and staff.

A Graceful Transition

Swami Abhipada: One person shared with me how he felt after cremating a family member at Kayantha Sthanam: “We had no idea how the cremation would be done. But after coming here and seeing the cremation taking place in the sacred ambience of the Kalabhairava shrine with an absolute sense of devotion, we do not know how to thank you. It is all beyond our expectations.”

This sentiment is inevitably mirrored by every single person who walks out of our doors. We also feel a deep sense of satisfaction that we are able to offer this to people in a time of desperate need. I think that this is possible only due to Sadhguru’s grace and that offering ourselves in this way will also help us a great deal in our own spiritual path.