Talk:Major Steps in Hindu Funeral Cremation Ceremony: Prayers for the Departed

By Vishal Agarwal

The surviving family members make donations in the memory of their lost relative, and organize prayer ceremonies in the belief that these noble acts would lessen his evil karma and enhance his good karma as well as ensure a safe passage to his next life. The importance of keertan for the benefit of the departed has been described thus-

“Prayer, or better yet is kirtan, which is the chanting or singing of the Lord’s holy names, can be extremely helpful for the departed and for their progress towards heaven and higher realms. It gives solace, comfort, as well as guidance to the departed. By concentrating on God while leaving the body allows the person the best possible opportunity to attain the highest destination after death. Whereas grief, sorrow, and weeping for them will cause pain and arouse clear memories of the mundane life of the past. This distracts them from their progress through the astral realms or toward heaven and makes their progress through the astral realms or toward heaven and makes them wish to return to the Earthly plane to be with their loved ones again. Therefore, friends and relations should not display much sorrow during the funeral or in thoughts and reflections of the departed, the vibrations of which can be felt by those who have recently left their bodies.”