Shmashana
Encyclopedia
Shmashāna also spelled as Smashan is the name for Hindu
cremation ground, where dead bodies are brought and then lit on pyre
to be burnt.
The word has its origin from Sanskrit
language, Sham means Shava, a corpse. Shana means Shanya a bed. It is usually located near a river or water body in out-skirts of village or town. As they are usually located near river ghat
s they are also called Smashan Ghat. The other Indian religions like Sikhism
, Jainism
and Buddhism
also use Shmashana for the last rites of their dead ones.
As per Hindu rites, the dead body is brought to Shamshana for Antim Sanskar or last rites. At cremation ground, the chief mourner has to obtain the sacred fire from the Dom, who usually resides in Shamshana only and one has to pay him his fees to lit of pyre for dead body. The funeral pyre in Hindu
religion is called Chita.
Further, Shmashana is said to be abode of ghosts, evil spirits, fierce dities, tantrics
. Therefore, people in general prefer to avoid going near Shmashan during nights. Also as per Hindu
rituals women do not go to Shamshana. Only males go to shmashana to perform last rites. Only Doms and Chandals
, resides in or near Shamshana.
Further, Shmashana is place, where followers of Vamamarga like Aghori
, Kapalika
, Kashmiri Shaivism, Kaula
of now scarce Indian Tantric traditions do sadhna
and rituals to worship Kali
, Tara
, Bhairav, Bhairavi
, Dakini
, Vetal, etc. invoke occult powers within them. Shmashana is also used for similar purpose by follower Tibet
an Buddhism
traditions of Vajrayana
, Dzogchen
for sadhna of Chöd
, Phowa
, Zhitro
, etc. The deity called Shmashana Adhipati
is usually considered to be lord of Shmashana.
Various Hindu scripts also give details of how to select the site of Shamshana. It should be on northern direction of village with land sloping towards south. Further, it should be near a river or a source of water and should not be seen from distance.
Dead bodies are traditionally cremated on a funeral pyre
usually made of wood. However, nowadays in many cities of India
you can also find electric or gas based furnaces used in indoor crematoriums.
But there are cases of sattvic worship on smashan. For example, Shri Shailendra Sharma
, a realized yogin, has been living on a smashan near the Govardhan hill since 1993. He found and installed a natural Shivalingam there and began to perform daily Puja of Shiva
worshipping.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
cremation ground, where dead bodies are brought and then lit on pyre
Pyre
A pyre , also known as a funeral pyre, is a structure, usually made of wood, for burning a body as part of a funeral rite...
to be burnt.
The word has its origin from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
language, Sham means Shava, a corpse. Shana means Shanya a bed. It is usually located near a river or water body in out-skirts of village or town. As they are usually located near river ghat
Ghat
Ghat is the capital of the Ghat District in the Fezzan region of southwestern Libya.-History:In historical times, Ghat was a major terminal point on the Trans-Saharan trade route and a major administrative center in the Fezzan...
s they are also called Smashan Ghat. The other Indian religions like Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
, Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
also use Shmashana for the last rites of their dead ones.
As per Hindu rites, the dead body is brought to Shamshana for Antim Sanskar or last rites. At cremation ground, the chief mourner has to obtain the sacred fire from the Dom, who usually resides in Shamshana only and one has to pay him his fees to lit of pyre for dead body. The funeral pyre in Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religion is called Chita.
Further, Shmashana is said to be abode of ghosts, evil spirits, fierce dities, tantrics
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
. Therefore, people in general prefer to avoid going near Shmashan during nights. Also as per Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
rituals women do not go to Shamshana. Only males go to shmashana to perform last rites. Only Doms and Chandals
Chandala
Chandala is a Sanskrit word for someone who deals with disposal of corpses, and is a Hindu lower caste, formerly considered untouchables. Currently it is a term used specifically in Indo-Aryan speaking regions of India. Sandala has become a swear word in the colloquial usage of the Tamil language...
, resides in or near Shamshana.
Further, Shmashana is place, where followers of Vamamarga like Aghori
Aghori
The Aghori or Aghora are a Hindu sect believed to have split off from the Kapalika order in the fourteenth century AD. Many mainstream Hindus condemn them as non-Hindu because of their taboo violation of orthodox practices...
, Kapalika
Kapalika
In Hindu culture, Kapalika means bearer of the skull-bowl, and refers to Lord Bhairava taking the kapala vow. As penance for cutting off one of the heads of Brahma, Lord Bhairava became Bhikshatana, an outcast and a beggar...
, Kashmiri Shaivism, Kaula
Kaula
Kaula Island, also called Kaula Rock, is a small, crescent-shaped offshore islet in the Hawaiian Islands.-Geography:It is located west-southwest of Kawaihoa Point on Niihau, and about west of Honolulu. The island is actually the very top of a volcanic tuff cone that rests on top of a larger,...
of now scarce Indian Tantric traditions do sadhna
Sadhna
Sadhna is a 1958 Hindi film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Vyjayanthimala and Leela Chitnis.-Awards:* 1958 Filmfare Best Story Award: Mukhram sharma* 1958: Filmfare Best Actress Award : Vyjayanthimala...
and rituals to worship Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
, Tara
Tara (Devi)
In Hinduism, the goddess Tara meaning "star" is the second of the Dasa Mahavidyas or "Great Wisdom [goddesses]", Tantric manifestations of Mahadevi, Kali, or Parvati...
, Bhairav, Bhairavi
Bhairavi
Bhairavi is a fierce and terrifying aspect of the Devi virtually indistinguishable from Kali, except for her particular identification as the consort of the Bhairava.-Symbolism:...
, Dakini
Dakini
A dakini is a tantric deity described as a female embodiment of enlightened energy. In the Tibetan language, dakini is rendered khandroma which means 'she who traverses the sky' or 'she who moves in space'. Sometimes the term is translated poetically as 'sky dancer' or 'sky walker'. The dakini, in...
, Vetal, etc. invoke occult powers within them. Shmashana is also used for similar purpose by follower Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
traditions of Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
, Dzogchen
Dzogchen
According to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of the mind, and a body of teachings and meditation practices aimed at realizing that condition. Dzogchen, or "Great Perfection", is a central teaching of the Nyingma school also practiced by...
for sadhna of Chöd
Chöd
Chöd , is a spiritual practice found primarily in Tibetan Buddhism. Also known as "Cutting Through the Ego," the practice is based on the Prajñāpāramitā sutra...
, Phowa
Phowa
Phowa is a Vajrayāna Buddhist meditation practice...
, Zhitro
Zhitro
In Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, Zhitro or Karling Zhitro is the name of a genre of scripture and associated tantric practices primarily concerned with the "Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities"...
, etc. The deity called Shmashana Adhipati
Shmashana Adhipati
Shmashana Adhipati is a name given to a deity either male or female and also together as a consort, who rules smashan. The Shamashana Adhiapati literally translates to Lord of Shmashana...
is usually considered to be lord of Shmashana.
Various Hindu scripts also give details of how to select the site of Shamshana. It should be on northern direction of village with land sloping towards south. Further, it should be near a river or a source of water and should not be seen from distance.
Dead bodies are traditionally cremated on a funeral pyre
Funeral Pyre
"Funeral Pyre" is The Jam's thirteenth single released on 6 June 1981. Backed by the B-side "Disguises", a cover of a Who track, it reached #4 in the UK Singles chart....
usually made of wood. However, nowadays in many cities of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
you can also find electric or gas based furnaces used in indoor crematoriums.
But there are cases of sattvic worship on smashan. For example, Shri Shailendra Sharma
Shailendra Sharma
Shri Shailendra Sharma – is kriya yoga yogi and guru. Shailendra wrote commentaries on such fundamental philosophical and yogic texts as Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta.-Youth and Search for a Guru:...
, a realized yogin, has been living on a smashan near the Govardhan hill since 1993. He found and installed a natural Shivalingam there and began to perform daily Puja of Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
worshipping.