Vedic Mythology c9.s1.1

c9.s1.1

— In the Vedic hymns there is little reference to death. When the seers mention it, they generally express a desire that it should overtake their enemies, while for themselves they wish long life on earth. It is chiefly at funerals that the future life engages their thoughts. Burial and cremation were concurrent. One hymn of the RV. (10, 16) describes a funeral by burning, and part of another (10, 18¹⁰⁻¹³)¹, one by burial. The ‘house of clay’ is also once spoken of (7, 89¹). Fathers burnt with fire and those not burnt with fire (i. e. buried) are referred to (10, 15¹⁴; AV. 18, 2³⁴). But cremation was the usual way for the dead to reach the next world. The later ritual (cp. AGS. 4, 1) practically knew only this method; for besides the bones and ashes of adults, only young children and ascetics were buried².