hindu funerals?

Question

1. at a hindu funeral, what do they use to light the fire during a cremation ritual?
2.how do they crack the skull of the desist and why?
3. how meany times do the men walk around the body? do they go clockwise or anti-clockwise? and why do they do it?
4.what is put in the desists mouth? and why?

Answer 1

Quote: "...the chief mourner (generally the eldest son) walks around the pyre three times keeping the body to his left. While walking he sprinkles water and sometimes ghee onto the pyre from a vessel. He then sets the pyre alight with a torch of flame. When the fire consumes the body, which may take few hours, the mourners return home...."

Sorry, could not find anything more specific. Yours is a good and interesting question.