GANGAVATARANA - EIGHT

(Some of the points mentioned in Chapter 41 of BALAKANDA, RAMAYANA need further explanation, which is being done in this issue. Hope it will interest the valued readers. Picture is something I am struggling for. Please pardon. HAPPY READING AND SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT. FURTHER HAPPY SANKRANTI TO EVERY ONE OF YOU.)

Salilakriya means immersion of the ashes into water, which is one of the most important duties to be followed as part of final rites. Some commentators state that Salilakriya means offer of oblations or Tarpanakriya. Both meanings are appropriate. Amarakosha states: Aapaha vArvAri salilam kamalam Jalam, which means salilam is synonym of water and Kriya is action with hand.

The advice of Garuda to Amshumanta that he should immerse the ashes of his uncles into Ganga is relieving the soul from its sins, which has been stated in Smrutis too. In the present context, Garuda has clearly stated that the deceased children of Sagara could not be relieved of their sins through immersion of their ashes in the waters of any earthly river because they had insulted a Brahmin and got killed by a Brahmin. 

The arrogance exhibited by Sagara’s sons was, at least from the point of view of Kapila Maharshi, unwarranted and anyone disturbing someone without reason or relevance deserves punishment. If the Lord had left them unpunished, it would have become a bad precedent and sent wrong message to sinners. Sin, whether committed in a fit of rage or with a cool mind, is a sin and its impact cannot be avoided or left unpunished and that is why they were punished.

“Chandaladudakatsarpadyaidudyatadbrahmanadapi|

Damshstribhyashcha maranam papakarmanam||

 Udakam pindadanam cha Yetebhyo yadvidheeyate|

Nopatishthati tatsarvamantarikshe vinashyati|| 

This Sanskrit verse amply describes that the immersion of Asthi or the ashes of thedeceased who are sinful, comprising Chandalas — according to the V.M. Apte’s Sanskrit English Dictionary, Chandala meansan outcaste, wicked and/or the most despised person — those drowned, killed by snake bite, electrocuted, cursed to death by Brahmins, killed by wild animals and beasts, will end up midway in the space. This means there will be no salvation for such souls and unless their sins are cleared with special rites, including the immersion of Asthi in holy waters, and as prescribed by the holy texts, salvation will not be possible.

Since the death of the uncles of Amshumanta and sons of Sagara was caused by a curse of Kapila Maharishi, it was essential that their Asthi was immersed in Ganga. 

Even while immersing the Asthi in the waters, texts like Garuda Purana, which deals with various aspects of the soul’s journey to the world hereafter, the punishments that await the deceased person for different sins committed during his lifetime and also the benefits of good and righteous deeds, states that the performer should take it in an urn and immerse in the middle of the river. It is said that the soul of a deceased person will not return to earth till the Asthi remains in the holy waters/river of Ganga. Hence, it is desirable that the Asthi is immersed in Ganga.