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The purpose of funeral rituals often varies around the world. Postmortem rituals are largely influenced by religion and local customs. Historically, the purpose of most religious funerals was to assist the deceased in transitioning to the next life, and for many cultures this is still the case today.
However, in modern countries, the emphasis has shifted more to providing comfort and support to the bereaved. This is also true for Christian, especially Protestant funerals. In the last few decades there has been a move away from Christian burials towards humanistic or civil funeral rites in several countries, most notably in England. In the United Kingdom there are very few restrictions on the treatment of cremated human remains compared to most other countries.
In Buddhist countries such as India, China, Japan and Nepal, one of the most popular forms of posthumous ritual is the “Tibetan sky burial”. The deceased is scattered on a mountain to be eaten by vultures and other scavengers. If the vultures arrive quickly, this can be taken as a sign that the person is spiritually mature and will have an easy exit. Using one’s own body to feed birds of prey is also considered an act of great charity, demonstrating the Buddhist virtues of metta (loving-kindness) and karuna (compassion). It also helps one to attain nirvana.”“Perhaps the most serious reason we fear death is that we do not know who we are.” wrote Sogyal Rinpoche in his book The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.
Tibetan Buddhists read the Bardo Thodol (sometimes referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) to dying or already dead relatives. It is a set of teachings designed to help the deceased accept death, adapt to it, and successfully pass through the Bardo, the state between death and nirvana or rebirth. However, cremation, burial in water, or reincarnation, depending on local customs, is not uncommon among Buddhists.
━━ In Xinchuan, China, vultures gather to await their food after the ceremony.
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Islam believes that the body of the deceased remains in the coffin until the Day of Judgement. For them, the Day of Judgement is a test, when angels will question the person about their beliefs and practices. The coffin will appear to the righteous as paradise, while to the unrighteous it will become a tool of torture. On the Day of Judgment, the horn will be blown and the dead will be resurrected to face the very final judgment. It is also customary, if possible, for the dying to recite the shahada, or profession of faith, as their last utterance.
Because Muslims believe in physical resurrection, cremation is not permissible for them. The funeral should take place as soon as possible after death, preferably within 24 hours. If the cause of death is uncertain, it should be clarified by the funeral itself. The deceased person is washed and wrapped in a simple white shroud as soon as possible after death. Up to three pieces of cloth may be used for this purpose for men and five for women. Unlike in Western countries, the coffin is not used in these rituals. The body is deposited towards Mecca. It is also not uncommon to have tombstones erected to ensure that no one carelessly steps on them. In some Islamic countries, women are even discouraged from attending funerals because their mourning may be excessive.
