Death
According to the Hindu religious books, death is the sixteenth and the
last samskara or
ceremony. The divijas, i.e. the twice-born, have more ceremonies than
the others. The body of a Veerasaiva is carried to the burial ground and
buried in a sitting posture, unlike that of the others buried in a lying
posture. Brahmins
and Kshatriyas have
elaborate rituals and rites.
The body of a Brahmin is carried to the cremation
ground without pomp and show, whereas the others take the corpse with
much fanfare and a musical band. They also throw coins and coppers mixed
with rice and flowers over and across the body. Sometimes the tools belonging
to one's profession like bows and arrows, sickle, axe etc also accompany
the body into the grave. The divijas perform annual sraddha
on the day of one's death, whereas others perform this on the
Pitru Amavasya. i.e. the 15th day of the dark fortnight in the month
of Aswayuja.
