what is the importance of cremation of dead body by son , ie why son is important in Hindu methodology.?

Answer 1

The following is applicable only for the believers and those practise Hindu dharma sastras:
Cremation of dead body by son is preferable. But the cremation is to be done only by a male member, related to the deceased. If no related male member available and only a related female is available, on her behalf after getting a tharpa from her, any male member can perform the cremation and other rituals later also. In the case of orphan
"Govinda" pyre is made for cremation.

Reference 1:
The near relative has to perform the necessary rites who is called the karma karta or the one who acts. This is the eldest son, if there is one who is old enough to have received upanayanam. Failing such a son, the ceremonies are performed by the following persons : if the dead person is a woman, her husband ; if a man, his father ; if the father is dead, the next brother and so on in order of nearest relationship.

Reference 2:
Son is required otherwise,for the reason which follows:
The Brahmin is born with three debts: he owes a debts to the sages, to the celestials and to the father & forefathers. These are Rishidebt, Devdebt, and Pithrudebt. He repays the first by learning the Vedas as a student-bachelor; the second by taking a wife and performing sacrifices; and the third by begetting a son. So without marriage he cannot repay the second and third debts.

Son is primarily intended for the repayment of the debts to the father and forefathers. Performing the sraddha ceremony is not enough. Forefathers of the past three generations are to be made to ascend from the manes. So even after a man dies, for two generations the daily libations must be offered to him. That is why the birth of a son is considered important. [In the case of the naisthika brahmacarin (lifelong brahamacarins) or the sannyasin it is different. Because of their inner purity and enlightenment, they can liberate, not just two generations, but twenty-one generations fathers without performing any sraddha ceremony.]

Grandson/(grandchildren) through daughter/s can also liberate their ancestors both mathula and pitru varkam (both father and mother side).

Edited:
Reference 3:
Two of the Hindus most holy cities, Ujjain and Allahabad (Prayag), in August 2003 witnessed what orthodox Hindu clerics would consider a sacrilege—women performing the last rites at a Hindu funeral. The sons did not turn up and so daughter-in-law lit the pyre in one. The only daughter lit the pyre in another.

Shashi, eldest of three daughters, of Balol village of Kangra district, had to face a very piquant situation. After controlling her emotions, she rose to the occasion by lighting the funeral pyre of her father. She performed all the rituals which hitherto were considered sacred and complete only if performed by either sons or cousins of the family.

Answer 2

Dear Friend,

In Hindu system there is a saying '' Aputrasya gatirnaasti.''

(if there is no son in family, the parents after death will not be able to reach the higher Lokaas as there is no blood related son to lit funeral pyre .It is a belief.

It is so strongly believed and misunderstood too.Believing in this , as the son carries the Sunr name of Father and same Gotram , the generation will be kept up,where as when a daughter is married to another family her surname changes and Gotram too.
So they thought that a Son is so important and went on having children till a son is born.
The son is GENERALLY empowered to conduct all funeral rites to parents after their death.If this is done. it is belived, that then the parents way to higher Lokaas is clear.
So a son prevents the parents from entering and suffering in Punnaama Narakam.

But here the scholars have opined thatin'' Aputrasya Gatirnaasti'' the word Putra is used to represent both daufghter and son.Both genders are indicated .When Hamsa (Swana) is said it means both both genders of Hamsas, so also Fish etc,In sanskrit it is so many times used for several words.
So if they have a child be it a daudaughter or son, they are saved from punnama Narakam, so many scholars have opined it.A daughter too can perform the rites.If she is married anothe Brahmin will do and there is no bar.Scholars have said it.
But it is sad that people are blindly after a male child , consequentlt we are seing so many unwanted ,meaningless and brutal acts on female children, just born.People shall be educated and this brutal activity be eradicated.
Let us hope common sense prevails and God will open the eyes of those innocent but cruel persons.

Answer 3

According to the Hindu Dharmas, womenfolk are given the right to only serve their husbands to the best of their ability. The sins and good deeds done by parents are inherited by the sons. Hence only they have the right to perform the death rites.Hinduism promotes a patriarchal society where a son can cremate his parents but a daughter cannot.-

Answer 4

Isn't it something like passing the Olympic torch - why should it be any different.

Perhaps a tradition from the old times to keep the flame burning - after all the male person was supposed to be the forerunner in most cases, unless there isn't one in a family even as the next of kin.

Answer 5

I think due to Carri forward Family in Hindu girls are member of her husband's family

so Carrie forward Ur family u need son >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

And Second due to a son only can gave fire to his mother or father after dath>>>>>>>>>. Because girls r not allow to do that in Hindu>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

So people wants boy >>>>>>>>..But don't forgot there some cases in India where a girls give fire to her father >>>>>>>>

SO STAY READY THIS IS CHANGING INDIA

Answer 6

Apart from Dharma and Shaastra documented by rushis and Munies with all respect to them and shatra let me put my opinion which I have generated with closeness of Sadhu and saint.------------ first of all we will discuss Hiranyagarbh 1) It is seed that is important -- whether that seed is sowed in any earth , support of earth is needed but it is subsidiary because without seed jiv , jantu, vruksh , can not grow this is natural phenomena. However idiotic thoughts of western scholars have denied this basic natural process of the God. this process of nature is well defined and nurtured by Hindu philosophy and well documented in vedas and Upnishadaas but is connected with Dharma a way of life. Son is seed and will continue in the same Gotra or family but in case of daughter once she is married her sons seed will be different . hence daughter is unmarried she has got all rights of her father and once she is married her rights are vanished by kanya Daanam by her father. In Hindu philosophy once you make Daan ( Gift) any thing you loose your proprietery on the thing. hence cremation right/ Pinddaan right is given to son as it is moolbij and continued for three generation this is natural process and Hindu philosophy is revolving around nature including Hindu calender. It is vaast subject discussed in Vedaas can not be converted with small script. Namaskaar Ravindranath A. Andurlekar, Vengurla

Answer 7

i don't know because each sex have equal rights!

if you meditate you can yourself see how many lives you have lived before and how many times you were the opposite sex

but one thing maybe

Since son was only earning member in those days!

he would use the money for the process and

Would offer the good merit to the dead (like saying let the good merits that i have done now (it may be by providing food to other when someone dies) reach the xyz dead)

in doing this he offers a dana of good merits to the dead and which would literally help them in there next life!

Cheers!

Answer 8

Because, most of Indian society was patriarchal except in Kerala, where matriarchy existed among the nairs, menons etc

Answer 9

I am not aware of the agamas relating to the cremation of the ded bodies and the prescribtion of the rule relating to the setting of fire / lighting of the pyre by the eldest son.of the daed in the case of he father and the youngest sone in the case of the mother. but what we hear from people generalluy is that the lighting of the pyre by the grandson is even more special.
What I assume about this traditon is that the woen are not allowed to go to the cremation ground along wiht the dead body irrespective of the degree of thier relationships . presumabley they can not sand the sight of he dead body being set fire too and in most cases they can b eexpected to awoon in th ecreamtion ground itself .so as a rule woen ar prohibited from entering the creamation ground .Hence the practice of he sone setting fire to the funeral pyre should have been established .
i have seen ladies who aist Banares ( Kaasi) go the different banks of he gnafgges to see the performance of pujas and the creamation of dead bodies on the banks of the Ganges .in a particuilar portion where deadbodies ae queued up for cremation with the hope tjhat those whose bodies are burnt and on the banks of Ganges and the ashes strewn in to the ganges go to heaven..Though the ganges is considered to be a holy river the practice of burning a large number of dead bodies on its banks has resulted in burning them half way withourt reducing them to ashes has awfully defiled he whole ganges .the ganges looks to ahve received the whole of hte sins of he dead persons and defiled itself ! These practices seem to be foolish as it has no rationale behind it .When a person is dead ,his soul has already left the body.It ia only mortal remains that are burnt to ashes .How can the burning of he mortal remains on he banks of the river after the soul has left the body ,ensure a place for the soul in heaven?It is absurd and foolish.The exaggeration of the holiness of he river in mythology should have lead to this situation.. the buring of he dead bodies on the banks of he ganges should be prohibited and he Manikand Ghat should be shifted to aplce far away from the banks of the river..Ashes can be permitted to be dissolved in the river symbolically.so that the river can be kept free of dangerous pollution by the bits of unburnt flesh of dead bodies .
Anoithere reason for the son being required to set fire to the funeral pyre is that the one who sets fiore to the funeral pyre of he dead has a right to inherit the property opf the dead .There have been diputes and serious quarrewls over the right to set fire to the funeral pyre .The habit shoul shave been established at a time when the women in the family were not entitled to succeed to the property pof he family.they had no right to inherit the property of their parents as they are usually given away in marriage to other families ..Nowt he positon having been done away with ,women are also entitled to a share of the property along wth the other children of he dead .Still they are prohibited from going to the cremation grounds unless they are themselves dead .

Answer 10

in hinduism - son will carry the heritage of vamsha vruksham.
- daughter will be of part of others after her
marriage.
after marriage daughter will loose the relation with her meternity. hence, she will not carry cremation cermoney.