UNIVERSAL FREE CREMATIONS | 4. Can Every Type of Wood Be Used for Cremations?

In the series of Hindu death, none told us, regarding the 16th samskara Anthyesti, what type of wood to be used for cremations. Anthyesti can roughly be translated as Last Rites in English. We read in the newspapers, watched on television, come across incidents in social media - where the dead are cremated using old, discarded vehicle tyres or simply thrown in the Ganges - as happened during the Covid times. These times are also Covid times and it will happen again. As an individual or as government we justify - throwing in the Ganges is an old tradition in the Hindu system!

The writers of our Constitution are very intelligent. In the Preamble they wrote ‘fraternity, assuring the dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the nation’. Mark the phrase ‘assuring the dignity of the individual’. A Constitution is a document that runs the country. Constitution deals with the relationship between the government and the citizens. But the word used in the preamble is not Citizens…but ‘Individual’. Probably, throwing dead bodies in the Ganges is assuring the dignity of the individual! Any doubts?

These are dog eat dog times. We perform cremations of an individual. Hinduism applies only to individuals, not citizens. As individuals, we perform the last rites of our departed near and dear with pain and anguish. The pandit instructs to ready the wooden pyre. What kind of wood? According to Garuda Maha Puran (deals with Anthyesti), there are 4 types of wood used in cremations. If you were to use any other wood other than the 4 mentioned, the departed soul cannot attain Moksha or Nirvana or Sadgati. According to chapter 10, shlok number 20 of Garud Maha Puran:

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We are directed to use 4 kinds of wood for cremations – Sandalwood (Santalum Album), Bastard Teak (Butea Monosperma), Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum) and Banyan (Ficus Benghalensis).

Sandalwood (Santalum Album) is expensive. Therefore, only the rich can make a pyre with sandalwood. Hence, we cannot, as an ordinary middle-class individual, insist on sandalwood cremations.

Bastard Teak (Butea Monosperma) is easily available in India. If the deceased is cremated using Bastard teak, then salvation is assured. In the places where Bastard teak is not available, it is suggested to use wood from Banyan tree (Ficus Benghalensis). Banyan trees are huge and are spread almost half an acre. It survives extreme climatic conditions. The wood generates lot of heat and less smoke - which is ideal for cremations.

The last is Tulsi (Ocimum Sanctum - I will deal with importance of Tulsi in my next article). Tulsi is not a tree, it’s a shrub. It can be grown anywhere easily. It has medicinal qualities according to both Indian as well as Western medical systems. The dried Tulsi can easily be lighted and has the power of generating intense heat which helps in combusting the body. Tulsi is revered in India. There is no Hindu home without Tulsi.

All other wood is prohibited by Garuda Maha Puran. Can we not use the other wood? You can. Does it ensure the release of soul from the Karmic cycle? No. Does it ensure moksha to the deceased soul? No. Using other kinds of wood ensure Nirvana? No. It only ensures cremations with CO2 emissions and an environmental chaos. Question arises – can we put two pieces of Chandan, two pieces of Tulsi, two pieces of Banyan and use other kind of wood for cremation? This is cunning interpretation. By adding two Tulsi sticks in the funeral pyre, how can the Pandit assures Sadgati to the departed soul? We have two options - to believe Pandit or not to believe. Having read Garuda Maha Puran, I wouldn’t believe the Pandit.

Garuda Maha Puran is a discussion between Garud and Maha Vishnu. One day Shri Maha Vishnu decided, as the belief goes, to fly around the world, to see how the people faring in the world. During this trip the Garud asked ‘Sir! You have provided every conceivable law for humans on life, marriage, education, karma etc. Yet these humans are suffering from birth and rebirth. What they are not given are the rules to follow in death. The essence of rules of death are stated in Garuda Maha Puran. The shlok cited above is believed to be said by Shri Maha Vishnu. To have Sadgati cremate using the wood mentioned. Any other view can be regarded as an interpretation. If there were to be any calamity in family, please ensure to use the wood stated in the Garuda Maha Puran for cremation. This alone will satisfy us in believing the departed soul has attained Moksha.