Hindu cremation vs other cremation styles
Hindu cremation is simple, it is done through fire. The body is burnt till it turns ashes. The remanents of the body is called asthi. The asthi is collected and released in the holy waters. It is believed that the holy waters shall liberate the deceased soul. This understanding can be attributed to the story of King Bhagirath who liberated all the souls of his deceased ancestors by bringing the Ganges from heaven to the earth through lord Shiva. The Ganga river flows and reaches the hermitage of Mahasiddha Kapila muni who had cursed the king's ancestor to be burnt till ashes. The Ganga river then sweeps and sways the ashes and the ancestors of King Bhagirath is then liberated. Basically it was due to Mahasiddha Kapilmuni, the cremation of releasing the ashes on the holy river is practiced. It is believed that when the asthi is released in the holy water the deceased soul gets liberated. That is for the reason this tradition has been practiced for pure liberation of the deceased sou...