Vedic Mythology c9.s1.5

c9.s1.5

The dead man was provided with ornaments and clothing for use in the next life, the object of the custom being still understood in the Veda (AV. 18, 4³¹). Traces even survive (RV. 10, 18⁸·⁹) which indicate that his widow and his weapons were once burnt with the body of the husband⁷. A bundle of faggots (*kūdī*) was attached to the corpse of the departed to wipe out his track and thus to hinder death from finding its way back to the world of the living (AV. 5, 19¹² cp. RV. 10, 18². 97¹⁶)⁸.