Jain Funeral Procedures

This Jain text, "JAIN FUNERAL PRACTICES & OBSERVANCES: PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE COMMUNITY," compiled and edited by Dr. Tansukh J. Salgia, serves as a comprehensive guide for the Jain community in North America, providing practical advice and a historical perspective on funeral procedures. The book aims to equip families and community members with the necessary knowledge to navigate the complexities of organizing a Jain funeral with dignity and respect, especially in a Western context.

Key Aspects Covered:

• Historical Context and Motivation: The book's genesis is rooted in the author's personal experience of lacking clear guidance for Jain funerals in North America. This led to a collaborative effort to create a standardized, yet culturally sensitive, procedure.
• Planning and Pre-Arrangements:
  • Advance Planning: Emphasizes the importance of shopping around for funeral homes, comparing prices, and understanding one's rights regarding required and optional purchases.
  • Prepaid Funeral Contracts: Discusses the benefits of prepaid contracts for controlling costs and types of services, advising thorough research of providers and contract terms.
  • Funeral Homes and Costs: Provides guidance on selecting funeral homes, negotiating prices, and outlines various costs to check, including immediate cremation, traditional services, caskets, urns, and visitation/service fees.
  • Community Support Structure: Recommends establishing a committee of leading Jains to assist during the funeral, maintaining community contact lists, and organizing volunteers for various tasks, such as guiding guests and offering comfort.
• Logistical and Administrative Steps:
  • Death Notification: Suggests placing death notices in newspapers and outlines the information required.
  • Death Certificate and Permits: Explains the necessity of death certificates, how they are obtained, and the permits required for cremation, especially when death occurs in different states or countries.
  • Donation of Remains: Addresses the option of donating the body to science or medical facilities, outlining the procedures and rights involved.
  • Doctors and Medical Professionals: Recommends having a list of Jain or Indian doctors for assistance with death certificates, post-mortems, and other medical necessities.
• Funeral Program and Religious Observances:
  • Dress Codes: Advises simple, sober, and decent attire for attendees, with specific suggestions for men and women.
  • Priests: Guides on engaging Jain or Hindu priests for religious rites and suggests checking costs in advance.
  • Funeral Program Structure: Outlines a typical funeral program, including eulogies, religious readings, prayers, and mantras, emphasizing the importance of sharing memories and providing opportunities for loved ones to express their feelings.
  • Environment Sanctification: Details the use of traditional items like ghee lamps (Deevo), incense (Agarbati), and camphor, and explains their symbolic meanings.
  • Jain Beliefs on Death and the Soul: Explains core Jain tenets, including the eternal nature of the Soul (Atma), the law of Karma, reincarnation, and the ultimate goal of liberation (Moksha). This is crucial for providing context and comfort to the bereaved.
  • Key Jain Prayers and Mantras: Provides the full text of important Jain prayers and mantras such as the Namokar Mantra, Kshamaapanaa Sutra (Forgiveness Mantra), and Mangal Paath, along with their meanings and pronunciations.
  • Suggested Program Flow: Offers a detailed step-by-step guide for the memorial service, starting with greetings, prayers, eulogies, and concluding with prayers for sending forth the departed soul.
• Specific Jain Practices:
  • Cremation: Highlights that cremation is the primary method of disposition for deceased Jains, with burial reserved for stillbirths. Cremation should occur as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, and not between sunset and sunrise.
  • Body Handling: Discusses the importance of not leaving the body unattended until cremation and the role of volunteers in assisting with bathing and dressing the deceased.
  • Post-Cremation Observances: Mentions customs like avoiding religious ceremonies for three days for those who handled the body and the postponement of auspicious events.
  • Food: Provides suggestions for post-funeral meals, emphasizing vegetarian and eggless options and advising against underground vegetables and late-night serving.
• Financial and Legal Matters:
  • Expenses: Advises on handling expenses, keeping receipts, and the role of the community or Jain Center in reimbursement.
  • Bank Accounts, Wills, etc.: Guides on managing the deceased's financial and legal affairs, including closing accounts, obtaining benefits, and seeking legal counsel when necessary.
  • Conflict Resolution: Offers advice on mediating conflicts with love and care, allowing close relatives to make final decisions.
  • Charity: Addresses the practice of donations and sympathy cards.
• Problem Solving and Resources: Provides information on resolving issues with funeral directors and lists consumer protection agencies and organizations for further assistance and information.

In essence, "JAIN FUNERAL PRACTICES & OBSERVANCES" is a practical, culturally sensitive, and spiritually grounded manual designed to empower the Jain community in North America to conduct funeral services in accordance with their religious beliefs and traditions while navigating the practicalities of a non-Jain environment. It seeks to offer solace, guidance, and a structured approach to a sensitive and emotionally charged event.