In Murasing Hindu culture, death is seen as a natural process of life and it is a significant event that is marked by a series of ceremonies and rituals. The death ceremony, also known as Antim Sanskar (in Hindi), is a crucial part of the Hindu belief system, and it is believed to be the final journey of the soul from the physical world to the spiritual realm. The Murasing death ceremony involves several stages and rituals that are performed by the family members and close friends of the deceased. The first stage is the announcement of the death, where the family members inform their relatives and friends about the passing away of their beloved one. Cremation is the most common practice in Hindu death rituals, some Hindu communities including the Murasing community also bury the deceased. In this article, we will explore the details of the Murasing Hindu death ceremony.
The burial ceremony, also known as kwthwi Fopmung, involves a series of rituals that are performed by the family members and close friends of the deceased. The first stage is the announcement of the death, where the family members inform their relatives and friends about the passing away of their loved one. This is followed by the washing of the body and the application of holy ashes or vibhuti on the forehead.
The next stage is the preparation of the body for the burial. The body is dressed in new clothes and is adorned with Tulsi plants and garlands. The body is then placed in a coffin, which is either made of wood or bamboo. The coffin is then taken to the burial ground, by the children of the dead person where the final rites are performed.
At the burial ground, the priest recites prayers and hymns from the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures, and performs the final rituals. The eldest son of the deceased is the chief mourner and is responsible for breaking a coconut on the ground to signify the beginning of the burial ceremony. The coffin is then lowered into the ground, and the priest recites more prayers and hymns.
After the burial, the family members observe a period of mourning known as the Shradh, which usually lasts for 3 days for vairagya also known as ascetic or hermits, 5 days for shadu also known as a saint or holy person, and 13 days for normal people.
During this period, the family members abstain from eating non-vegetarian food and perform daily rituals to honor the deceased. Also, the children of the dead person Aren't allowed to wear any footwear or umbrella till the shradh. After gifting the Bairagyas footwear and an umbrella along with a cotton towel they only can wear footwear.
It is believed that 3 days, 5 days, and 13 days of shradh have been practiced by lighting up the candles on the respectable nights in the graveyard( lighting candles in the graveyard every respectable night from the day of the death till the day of shradh)
So, after that on the day of shradh. Elderly Vairagya completes the rituals by practicing Tulsi Puja, Providing the last meal to the soul of the dead person, known as Boishnob bhujon.
On the same day, kirtan has been practiced as a way to honor their memory and provide spiritual comfort to the bereaved family. It is believed that the chanting of the divine names can purify the soul and help it on its journey toward the next realm. It is also believed that kirtan can provide solace to grieving family members and help them cope with the loss of their loved one. The family members perform daily rituals to honor the deceased and seek the blessings of the divine. Kirtan is an important part of these rituals and is performed to create a positive and peaceful environment in the house.
In an interview with an elderly Vairagya, he has mentioned that we have to plant Tulsi on top of the graveyard and follow the Puja in the graveyard so that the demons of the wild forest do not take control over it.
Also talked about some of the pujas that usually has been practiced by the Murasing community are Boisnob kusu, Boisnob Kotor ,Boisnob mohanto ,Boisnob seba and Boisnob bhujon .
"Kirtan has also been practiced so that the family members don't have to go through the negativity that the dead person was supposed to go through" Said by elderly Bairagya.
Historical address of the Murasing beliefs said by the elderly bairagya person.
-Harichand was the famous saint and devotee of Lord Krishna who lived in India during the 15th century. He is regarded as one of the great saints of the Bhakti movement, which emphasized devotion and love toward God as the path to salvation.
-Murasing Hindu has got huge influence by the Harichand also known as Haridas.
- There are 4 sub-tribes of the Tripuri community to come under Harichand Thakur religious beliefs such as Mospang, Dongorong, Totram, and Murasing.
- The Dongorang and Mospang has totally converted into Murasing community
-Totram has few numbers of people still
-Murasing has the highest number among the 4 of the subtribes .
After the death of Murasing community person it is only practiced rather as a vairagya or as a shadhu not as a common people. So in Murasing community shradh contains a timeline of 3 days or 5 days.
In conclusion, the HINDU MURASING DEATH ceremony is a solemn and significant event that is marked by several rituals and ceremonies. It is a way for family members and friends to bid farewell to their loved ones and to help the departed soul attain peace and liberation.
This article has been created as a part of the Adivasi Awaaz project, with the support of Misereor and Prayog Samaj Sevi Sanstha.