CONDOLENCE MESSAGES :'May the soul rest in peace' ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடைய, etc.Is it right?

[Sarma sasthrigal]

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CONDOLENCE MESSAGES :'May the soul rest in peace' ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடைய, etc.Is it right?

CONDOLENCE MESSAGES
'May the soul rest in peace, ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடைய, etc. Is it right?

Now-a-days I observe at several places - when a death occurs, the nearest, close and known to the family, express
their feelings and send condolence messages.. It is natural, no doubt. It also gives some sort of solace to the family members.

But is it right?
While doing so some of them add phrases like 'MAY THE SOUL REST IN PEACE' ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடைய, etc. While
I appreciate the heart-felt feelings of these people I am tempted to point out and share my reactions.
The phrase 'May the soul Rest in Peace" , ஆன்மா சாந்தி அடைய,etc can be avoided - this is a western concept of expression, and in our tradition we look at the soul in a different way.

Then how to express? This question may arise, it is natural. Let us look into it for a while.

The condolence messages, though common in spirit, it differs from sampradya to sampradya like Smarthas and Vasihnavas -
attaining Kailasam or Vaikuntam. One can choose either one in addition to his own thoughts - adding some good qualities of one who died. The one way, in addition to your own feelings, of expressing our condolence is "Jeevan Nargathi adayattum." ஜீவன் நற்கதி அடையட்டும்.

Well. Let me explain further.

Death is inevitable, we all agree. We all understand one thing: from the moment a person is born he is moving towards death. The mind does not easily accept it when a person close to us is ‘no more’ – and believes that he has in fact attained paraloka, that jiva (the soul) cannot be destroyed though the sarira (the body) can be.

This is correct. A sinner suffers the effects of his bad deeds by going to hell, and a saintly person realises the results of his good deeds and goes to heaven.

In the after-life a person achieves 'saalokhya' when he gets into devaloka; he achieves 'sarshtita' when he can get the wealth of devas; and he achieves 'saayujya' when he becomes a deva himself.

 

[renuka]

Death is inevitable, we all agree. We all understand one thing: from the moment a person is born he is moving towards death. The mind does not easily accept it when a person close to us is ‘no more’ – and believes that he has in fact attained paraloka, that jiva (the soul) cannot be destroyed though the sarira (the body) can be.

Dear Sir,

Yes I agree that death is inevitable but the process of dying can differ from person to person and some have traumatic and painful death.

No doubt it is very easy to say "Death is inevitable" but the fact remains that dying can be painful to the deceased and the person he/she lefts behind.

Death is inevitable when it does not happen to our loved ones and only applies to others.

The great hero Arjuna only felt killing is wrong when he was facing his own flesh and blood and he did not think killing was wrong when he had previously fought wars with outsiders.

The point I am trying to drive at is only when death hits those we see as ours like relatives/family etc..that time all this "Death is Inevitable" goes out of the door.

When it happens to those who are not our own..some crocodile tears or some words of condolences are said in the undertones of Death is Inevitable and may he/she rest in peace/heaven/Vaikunta/Shivaloka etc.

That time alone some good words are said about the person but when he/she was alive the very person saying the condolence would have not had a good thought of the deceased.

So technically speaking it does not really make a difference how the condolence greeting goes..what matters is how we treat fellow human beings when they are alive.


Our Balinese Hindus have a simple condolence greeting that can never go out of fashion.

All they say is "Tat Tvam Asi" as a condolence.

I guess may be we Indian Hindus should adopt that...it does not say "go to heaven/Vaikunta/Shivaloka etc"..."Tat Tvam Asi" just denotes the real nature of the Atma and stops at that.

 

[prasad1]

All they say is "Tat Tvam Asi" as a condolence.

I guess may be we Indian Hindus should adopt that...it does not say "go to heaven/Vaikunta/Shivaloka etc"..."Tat Tvam Asi" just denotes the real nature of the Atma and stops at that.

I like that message.
But the recipient should reciprocate the sentiment. A message is complete only when the conveyor and recipient are on the same plane.

 

[renuka]

I like that message.
But the recipient should reciprocate the sentiment. A message is complete only when the conveyor and recipient are on the same plane.

Many years ago when the Bali Bombing took place and many lives were lost...for each person who died in the bombing a placard carrying the words "Tat Tvam Asi" were placed at the site of the bombing.

It was the Balinese way of saying "Rest in Peace" for the victims who were from all walks of life and religion.

I feel this is one of the best form of condolence a Hindu can greet another in times of death..so it is left to the priest to educate the masses.