Garuda Purana: 5 Types of People Who Are Not Cremated; Here’s Why!

The Garuda Purana mentions that we should not cremate the bodies of certain people. The holy text says that in five specific situations, cremating the deceased is forbidden. Let's find out what the Garuda Purana says about this.

Garuda Purana

In Hinduism, cremation is one of the most important of the 16 'samskaras' or life rituals. The Garuda Purana says that a proper cremation is the only way to give peace to the soul and ease its journey to the next life. But did you know Hindu scriptures don't make cremation mandatory for everyone? The Garuda Purana actually suggests a land burial (Bhu Samadhi) or water burial (Jal Samadhi) for five special categories of people. People often wonder which five groups are not supposed to be cremated.

Boys and girls under 11 years of age

According to the Garuda Purana, if a child dies before turning 11 or in the womb, we do not cremate them. The belief is that at a young age, the soul has very little attachment to its body. If a boy has not had his sacred thread ceremony (Janeu) or a girl has not started menstruating, they are buried in the ground or immersed in water.

Sanyasis, Saints

The Garuda Purana forbids the cremation of those who have given up family life to become ascetics (Sanyasis). This is because saints and sadhus have already conquered their senses. Through intense penance, they have no attachment left for their bodies. The tradition is to give them a respectful burial, either in the earth or in water.

Death by snake bite or poison

The Garuda Purana states that if a person dies from a snakebite or any other poison, they should not be cremated. It is believed that due to the poison's effect, the subtle soul remains in the person's body for about 21 days. The person is not considered completely dead, so it is customary to bury them in the ground.

Pregnant women

A pregnant woman is not cremated after she dies. There is a practical and sensitive reason behind this. During cremation, there's a chance the body could burst and eject the foetus, which would be a heartbreaking sight. Such women are buried in the earth or in water.