Sikh Funerary Customs

Often archaeological practices surrounding the excavation of graves are centered on wealthy individuals.  These burial sites are often elaborately laid out and contain a wealthy supply of material goods. These sites provide the archaeologist with bountiful material culture and ample evidence about the burial practices used. However, these sites do not inform researchers about the burial practices of the entire population.   They only reveal evidence about the treatment of the privileged and wealthy individuals.  What about the "Common Man"?  In Egypt, Pharaohs spent their lives planning the pyramids they would be interned in.  But what happened to the thousands of slaves who built the pyramids for them?  Both history and archaeology are often focused on the great individuals of past: the Kings, Queens, Popes and Martyrs.  This is presumably because their stories are easier to trace. 

I began to consider a religion and culture very different from Western Christianity, the Sikh practices of South East Asia. The traditions of this religion have been practiced for many generations and are still practiced consistently around the world.  According to Sikh customs, birth and death are closely intertwined as they are both part of the cycle of life.  Both phases are viewed with respect and distinction.  Because Sikh's believe in reincarnation the idea of death is not associated with an end, but rather a new beginning.  As a result mourning, wailing and crying out loud are all discouraged within Sikh traditions.  Individuals are cremated upon death and it is preferred that their ashes are poured into one of five rivers.  However, other forms of interment are also accepted.  Gravestones or markers are discouraged within Sikh customs.  This is because the body is viewed only as a shell for the soul.  Once the dead have departed their body they enter into a new phase of life separate from their old existence.  

Because Sikh funerary practices resist the use of grave markers and encourage the pouring of ashes into large bodies of water there is little to no archaeological record surrounding their practices.  Buddhism and Hinduism  promote similar customs.  Because these three religions are the most popular in the of South East Asia I can imagine there are few areas of interest to archaeologists.  As a result, modern researchers must rely on accounts of the past rather than undergoing new excavations.  

I thought these practices very interesting because both the wealthy and poor are treated the same way in their death.  Neither group would theoretically have left material goods, lavish tombs or elaborate gravestones.  

I would like to credit my research to:

Younger, P., 2009. Review of South Asian religions on display: religious processions in South Asia and in the diaspora, Numen 56(4), pp. 513-516.

And several articles from the Vancouver Sun