--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "dhamiltony2k5" > <dhamiltony2k5@> wrote: > > > Well, nothing in the 'vedic scripture' proscribes this particular > > distinction about funeral rites. No separation by gender from > > scripture in Shastra and the like, hence this particular funeral part > > about gender Jim-crow is not 'Vedic'. It was conceived. > > "All the relations present, men and women bow to the dead. Finally the > corpse is put upon a ladder-like bier of bamboo and borne by four > persons on their shoulders to the crematin ground, the priest and the > chief mourner (who holds the sacred fire for burning the dead body) > walking in front of the bier. Women do not accompany a funeral > procession." > > http://www.nagpuronline.com/people/rit_hndu.html > > > > Not vedic, it was just in the choreography and power-tripping of this > > unique event.
"That a woman should be allowed to perform the last rites of a Hindu in one of the most holy places has a special significance. For, the authorities of Ujjain's Mahaakaal temple duly approved the act. Ashes from adjoining Shipra Ghat (cremation ground) are used to propitiate Lord Shiva in the daily morning bhasma aarati (ritual in which ashes are used) in this famous temple. Around the time Sandhya was challenging the Hindu custom of not allowing women to enter cremation grounds, another young woman was setting a similar example in Allahabad, one of the holiest of holy Hindu pilgrim centres." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030914/herworld.htm#4
