SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN THE CONTEXT OF DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD AND ITS IMPACT; A PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

India is a country of diverse cultures with various religious beliefs. People's religious right is protected under Article 25 and Article 26 of the Constitution of India. Spirituality states that only the body dies but the soul remains unborn, immortal, and infinite. It also believes in the theory of reincarnation and attaining Nirvana (the ultimate liberation from birth and death cycle). It is a root cause of practicing various death rituals depending upon age, gender, marital status, religion, and how the death had happened. But few socio-cultural practices create conflict and overburden the concerned authority which somehow cannot be overlooked. Practices related to performing the last rite including disposal of the dead have created some issues in the field of legal medicine as well as for concerned authorities.We must find an alternative way to cope with these issues.