Garuda Purana: Sanatan Dharma describes 16 rituals. One of these rituals is cremation. The Garuda Purana states that only when cremation is performed according to the prescribed rituals and rules can the soul of the deceased attain peace. However, according to the scriptures, cremation is not considered necessary for everyone. The Garuda Purana also prescribes land or water burial for certain categories of people instead of cremation. Furthermore, the Garuda Purana prohibits cremation for these five types of people. Let's find out.

The Garuda Purana states that pregnant women should not be cremated if they die. The reasoning behind this is both practical and sensitive. During cremation, the body could rupture, potentially expelling the fetus from the womb. Therefore, pregnant women are given a land or water burial upon their death.

The Garuda Purana states that if a person dies from a snake bite or other poison, they should not be cremated. It is believed that due to the toxic effect, subtle life forces remain present in the body for approximately 21 days. Such a person is not considered to have fully died. Therefore, it is appropriate to perform a water burial for such a body.

According to the Garuda Purana, if a child dies under the age of 11 or in the womb, their cremation is not performed. It is believed that at a young age, the soul is less attached to the body. If a boy has not yet completed the sacred thread ceremony or a girl has not yet begun menstruating, they are either buried in water or immersed in the water.

If a person died due to a serious infectious disease, cremation is prohibited. There's a scientific reasoning behind this rule. If such a person is cremated, infectious agents can spread through the air, potentially causing illness to others. Therefore, burial on land is considered appropriate for such a body.

Cremation is also prohibited for those who have renounced worldly life and taken up Sanyas (renunciation). This is because saints and sages have their senses under control. They have no attachment to the body. This is why divine beings are given a land or water burial.

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