Death Among Hindus in India and England

Abstract

This article examines the nature of beliefs and attitudes that Hindus have acquired toward the notion of death, rebirth, the afterlife, and the transmigration of the soul. The Law of Karma, notwithstanding its inherent contradictions, plays a crucial role in the acquisition of such beliefs and attitudes. The article discusses the manner in which such deterministic values have influenced the development of the Indian psyche. The article then examines the powerful influence of the caste system including the role of the Brahmin priests, on the maintenance of the rites, the rituals, and the religious ceremonies related to funerals and the ceremonies thereafter. The beliefs and practices of Indians concerning death serve functional and cathartic purposes not only for the bereaved family but also for the community as a whole. A conceptual model of cultural differences is developed, which is used to examine the similarities and differences in the process of bereavement between the Indian and English societies.