Horizontal Burying or Vertical Burying?
Sathya Sai Baba was buried in an horizontal position. Most burials in the world take place in an horizontal position.
A monk of Visakhapatnam Shri Swaroopaananda, was said to have objected to burying the Baba in an horizontal position.
It appears that as Baba's body was lying in a laid down state ever since his death, bending/shifting his body to a vertical posture might have become difficult.
News reports indicate that Shri Swaroopananda felt irritated for not being consulted about keeping the body in an erect position.
It may be true that God-seekers and preachers may prefer to sit in a sitting posture of 'lotus-seat' (padmasana in Sanskrit). Once a person dies, his/her identity is lost and what remains is only an admixture of several compounds of inorganic chemicals. The chemicals undergo decompositions and double decompositions, while interacting with the environment and the bacteria. A body mainly consists of hydrocarbons and moisture. The body in other words becomes a sort of damp charcoal and lime (bones).
Expecting that this mass of charcoal and lime must be lowered VERTICALLY into the earth and making fuss for an inadvertent omission is unbecoming of monks. This type of pother, if made by an illiterate-semi-literate person can be understood. Monks , particularly the Hindu Advaita Monks are expected to be very knowledgeable and philosophically self-realised souls. Philosophically enlightened souls should have indifference towards procedures and rituals.
We must, at the same time, recognise that 'vertical burying' saves space when compared to 'horizontal burying'. Horizontal burying roughly needs 15 sq. ft. whereas we can adjust with about 10 sq. ft. in case of vertical burying.
There is a severe shortage of land in India. People are finding it extremely difficult to find land for cultivation and animal husbandry. Spaces for burials , places of worship, clubs and pubs, golf and race tracks should have lower priority over the needs of agriculture and animal husbandry. A learned monk should have, therefore, used some foresight and wisdom, and suggested cremation (burning) instead of burial.
Rigid and troublesome customs have to yield place to overall public benefit.
Australia is not only a continent, but also a vast country with large expanses of woodlands, vis-a-vis the size of it population. An Australian firm in Melbourne has started offering services of 'vertical burying in biodegradable bags' at reduced prices.
NEED FOR UNIFORM CIVIL CODE FOR DISPOSAL OF DEAD BODIES
The practice of 'cremation (burning dead bodies)' in Hinduism is environmental friendly because the dead body vanishes in two hours time. Islam and Christianity on the other hand adopt the space-consuming practice of burials. Government of India and the 28 State Governments should try to convince the citizens of all religions to shift to the practise of cremation. Offering free gas/electric crematoriums to people of all religions will go a long way in overcoming the shortage of land in burial yards.
The Government should introduce a Uniform Civil Code if necessary. The country will have only tombs everywhere, unless the practice of burials is stopped through persuasion or coercion. No lands will be left for cultivation. Bullocks cannot till graves and tomb stones.
Government should have insisted upon cremating Sathya Sai Baba.
A monk of Visakhapatnam Shri Swaroopaananda, was said to have objected to burying the Baba in an horizontal position.
It appears that as Baba's body was lying in a laid down state ever since his death, bending/shifting his body to a vertical posture might have become difficult.
News reports indicate that Shri Swaroopananda felt irritated for not being consulted about keeping the body in an erect position.
It may be true that God-seekers and preachers may prefer to sit in a sitting posture of 'lotus-seat' (padmasana in Sanskrit). Once a person dies, his/her identity is lost and what remains is only an admixture of several compounds of inorganic chemicals. The chemicals undergo decompositions and double decompositions, while interacting with the environment and the bacteria. A body mainly consists of hydrocarbons and moisture. The body in other words becomes a sort of damp charcoal and lime (bones).
Expecting that this mass of charcoal and lime must be lowered VERTICALLY into the earth and making fuss for an inadvertent omission is unbecoming of monks. This type of pother, if made by an illiterate-semi-literate person can be understood. Monks , particularly the Hindu Advaita Monks are expected to be very knowledgeable and philosophically self-realised souls. Philosophically enlightened souls should have indifference towards procedures and rituals.
We must, at the same time, recognise that 'vertical burying' saves space when compared to 'horizontal burying'. Horizontal burying roughly needs 15 sq. ft. whereas we can adjust with about 10 sq. ft. in case of vertical burying.
There is a severe shortage of land in India. People are finding it extremely difficult to find land for cultivation and animal husbandry. Spaces for burials , places of worship, clubs and pubs, golf and race tracks should have lower priority over the needs of agriculture and animal husbandry. A learned monk should have, therefore, used some foresight and wisdom, and suggested cremation (burning) instead of burial.
Rigid and troublesome customs have to yield place to overall public benefit.
Australia is not only a continent, but also a vast country with large expanses of woodlands, vis-a-vis the size of it population. An Australian firm in Melbourne has started offering services of 'vertical burying in biodegradable bags' at reduced prices.
NEED FOR UNIFORM CIVIL CODE FOR DISPOSAL OF DEAD BODIES
The practice of 'cremation (burning dead bodies)' in Hinduism is environmental friendly because the dead body vanishes in two hours time. Islam and Christianity on the other hand adopt the space-consuming practice of burials. Government of India and the 28 State Governments should try to convince the citizens of all religions to shift to the practise of cremation. Offering free gas/electric crematoriums to people of all religions will go a long way in overcoming the shortage of land in burial yards.
The Government should introduce a Uniform Civil Code if necessary. The country will have only tombs everywhere, unless the practice of burials is stopped through persuasion or coercion. No lands will be left for cultivation. Bullocks cannot till graves and tomb stones.
Government should have insisted upon cremating Sathya Sai Baba.
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