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“As we have responsibilities for the living, we have responsibilities towards the dead” Sadhguru

The Significance Of Death Rituals


Over the last century, certain significant rituals pertaining to the ‘journey beyond’ have lost their fundamental essence.

The process of death is not simply an abrupt ceasing of an individual’s existence; rather, it is a process that begins when a body is declared medically dead and continues afterwards for a minimum of 14 days. Understanding this, earlier generations took great care in creating the necessary situations to ensure a peaceful exit for their loved ones. Only in the last 100-150 years have these traditions become largely dormant, while what is left is generally corrupt and commercialized.

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Challenges Of India’s Crematoriums

Dignity In Death

The COVID pandemic has unleashed a deadly toll across India. There is scarcely any family which has not seen the death of a loved one. Hospitals are overflowing with patients, desperate demands for oxygen have skyrocketed, and crematoriums are overwhelmed with long queues of hearse vans, each bearing multiple bodies of COVID victims. At such a time, a dedicated group of Isha volunteers have stepped up to keep the Kayanta Sthanams fully operational so that the bereaved can bid a final farewell to the departed.

Cremation Services

When crematoriums across India are struggling to handle the daily surfeit of bodies of COVID victims, Isha volunteers are facilitating this most important service for the dead. From coordinating between relatives of the deceased and the crematorium staff, to ensuring a minimal waiting time and completing allied formalities, volunteers are striving to conduct the services smoothly in these painful times.

Transportation of the Deceased

A common difficulty facing families of COVID victims is finding hearse vans to bring the deceased to the crematoriums. Isha volunteers are liaising with state health authorities, government hospitals and grieving relatives to arrange for transportation. In cases where close family members are also hospitalized and unable to escort the deceased to the crematorium, volunteers are contacting other relatives to ensure that last rites are performed and all formalities completed.

Last Rites

At Isha’s Kayanta Sthanams, volunteers ensure that the family members get enough time and assistance to pay their last respects to their loved ones, while adhering to all the safety protocols. This extra effort for last rites and a dignified send-off before the body is consigned to flames has been much appreciated by the families, and their heartfelt expressions of gratitude have deeply touched and inspired the volunteers to continue these services.

Isha’s Involvement

Isha has revived ancient traditions and death rituals with a powerful energy basis, conducting them in the spirit of service rather than as a commercial venture. The processes are performed with sensitivity and awareness to ease the hearts of the family of the deceased.

Sustainable Practices

At Isha, cremations are conducted in a traditional way, with appropriate chants and karmas to benefit the departed life and the grieving families. Isha’s adopted crematoriums also provide services such as tonsure, 16th day karma ceremony and hygienic amenities.

A fixed standard fee is charged for each cremation (as agreed with the municipal government), preventing any kind of exploitation. The crematoriums also have mortuary vans, which provide transportation at a nominal cost.

The installation of LPG pipelines to replace the use of firewood improves the burning efficiency and reduces carbon emissions. The use of efficient burners hastens the cremation process, thereby enabling the family members to collect the ashes on the same day.

Exhaust pipes pass through a water tank to remove carbon particles before their release into the air, controlling pollution. This contributes to a safer, cleaner environment.

The crematoriums also provide employment to youth, training them to maintain the facilities and conduct themselves with care, grace and dignity.

Current Services

 Isha currently operates  18 crematoriums in partnership with the State Government.

• Alandurai • Besant Nagar • Bommanampalayam • Irugur • Kannamapet (under process) • Kannappanagar • Karamadai • Koundapalayam • Mylapore • Nanjundapuram • Neyveli • Nesapakkam • Pothanur • Sendamangalam • Thondamuthur • Thudiyalur • Veerakeralam • Vellalore

The local government authorities would like Isha to adopt as many crematoriums as possible. However, the inherent funding constraints have limited the expansion so far, as certain capital and operating costs are incurred in running these crematoriums.

Although the government refunds major costs in the capital outlay, the gap of incurred non-refundable capital costs still needs to be bridged.

Each crematorium has its own specific funding requirements. With your contribution, you can enable the adoption of a crematorium that will become self-sustainable in 3-4 years.

You can also make a donation towards meeting the running cost requirements. The cost to sustain these 11 crematoriums is approximately 1-1.25 crores per year.

Non-refundable Cost Components
Mandapam for performing last rites
Garden
Audio system
Mortuary vehicle
Two-wheeler
Genset

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Contact

+91 844 844 7707 | giveisha@ishafoundation.org

 
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