Corpse

In the Hindu worldview, a corpse is the
source of the most virulent possible ritual impurity (ashaucha). Although
Hindus accept death as an inevitable
part of life, the dangers caused by a
corpse cannot be ignored. The dead
body must be appropriately handled,
both to protect the living from danger
and to help the deceased make a
smooth transition to the next life. For
this reason the last rites (antyeshthi
samskara) are begun on the day of
death itself. Among the earliest of these
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Consecration
The architectural technique of corbelling was
used to form the arched entrance to the
Mukteshvar Temple in Bhubaneshvar.
rites is the cremation of the dead body,
since the impurity will continue to affect
those around the body until it has been
consumed by fire. A second reason for
immediate cremation is to get rid of a
potential host for wandering spirits,
who according to popular fears, can
reanimate a corpse.