Why do we cremate bodies in Hinduism?

You ever wondered why in Hinduism we cremate our dead or in simple words set their bodies on fire?

One of the core tenets of Sanatana Dharma is that all our souls are moving towards the same path of salvation i.e. “mukti” & we can get there by doing good karma in many bodies, one life after another.

But during our lives, our soul might develop attachments to the body so when its job is done, it might be difficult for it to move on.

It’s said that after the sukshma sarira i.e. our subtle body has left behind the “sthoola sharira” which is our gross body, the soul is said to hover around it, also being part of the antim sanskar i.e. the last rites being done.

Fire is considered the all-cleansing holy element so cremation cuts any physical ties to this body & allows the soul to accept its fate, continuing its journey ahead - but that’s not the end of the story.

For a few days, it’ll hover around our plane & go through different processes before its new life begins.

In practical terms, cremation saves space, is faster & cheaper, destroys any diseases or germs inhibiting the body, and also allows the family members to accept the reality once & for all since there is no revisiting the body.

Different religions have different beliefs & we should respect all of them.