In India the funeral often occurs on the day of death or on the following day. In western countries there is a longer period before cremation. Before taking the body to the crematorium, it is ritually bathed and clothed. Verses of scripture are sung and the Ardas is said. In the crematorium tributes are paid to the deceased and the Kirtan Sohila late evening prayer and Ardas are recited. Sikhs prefer cremation over all other ways of disposal.
Other methods including burial in the ground or at sea are permitted if the cremation is impossible. The cremated remains are typically submerged in a river.
The body is just an empty shell to Sikhs. Therefore, there is typically no monument erected for the dead. Crying out, wailing, or other public displays of emotions are disapproved of.
Even the closest of relatives try to stay detached from the emotion of the occasion. The body is taken to the place of worship before cremation. There, hymns are sung and prayers recited. At the site of the cremation, more hymns are sung and speeches are made about the deceased.
At the close, a prayer is said. At that time, the youngest son or another close relative will start the cremation. To Sikhs, everyone is equal in the eyes of God. When one dies, the soul journeys back to God where it originated. Like other religions, Sikhs believe in karma. Today, over 25 million people worldwide practice Sikhism and the majority of them live and practice in India.
Sikhism is often confused with other religions like Islam or Hinduism, but there are key differences. COVID tip: If you're planning a virtual Sikh funeral using a service like GatheringUs , you can still adapt many of these traditions, like shabads, prayers, and mourning, to include your online guests.
Brainstorm with your funeral director, event planner, or religious leader to help you figure out the logistics or any limitations. Create a free Cake end-of-life planning profile and instantly share your health, legal, funeral, and legacy decisions with a loved one.
As such, everyone follows the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. Sikhs believe in reincarnation. They believe the soul cycles through many births and deaths before even reaching the human form. Living is a way to become closer to God. Death, in this tradition, is a way to break the reincarnation cycle.
As the soul leaves this earth, it returns to God. Death is a natural process. Sikhs stay mindful of death during lifetimes so they can remain detached from the human form. These different beliefs about reincarnation and returning to God all lead to the Sikh funeral customs. Post-planning tip: If you are the executor for a deceased loved one, the emotional and technical aspects of handling their unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process.
We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of. The funeral rites in Sikhism are known as antam sanskar. Again, all Sikhs believe in equality. There is no caste system or gender divides. Because everyone is equal, funeral traditions are also the same amongst followers.
Most Sikhs believe in only cremating loved ones, but there are still specific practices around this process. These customs actually begin before death. This is especially true for the ill and elderly.
Family and friends read what is known as the Psalm of Peach, or writings from one of the Sikh gurus. Prayers are also common as a way to console the dying person. Like other traditions, the family washes and dresses the body. For the cremation, the family takes the deceased to the Gurdwara or Sikh house of worship.
Hymns are read to bring feelings of consolation to the family. This service takes up to an hour. The body goes to the cremation site.
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