Similarities Between Hinduism And Judaism

Hinduism has a cyclical world view due to the belief in samsara allowing for multiple physical lives, whereas Judaism has a more linear world view which only allows for one physical body that will be resurrected in the Messianic Age. These contrasting world views lead to differences in the funeral and mourning customs of these religious traditions, such as the treatment of the dead body, the moral stance on suicide and the display of grief during the mourning ceremony. Despite the distinctions between beliefs about mortality there are still parallels to be drawn between the practices of the two religious traditions, such as specifications of the location and direction of the cremation or burial of the body as well as the restrictive nature of the mourning period.

Hindus believe that the spirit of an individual will remain as long as the physical body is present (Gywnne, 2009, p.147), this is why
The Torah commands Jews to bury the dead promptly after death on the same day, the burial must not be put off unless the body still needs to undergo the process of tahara (purification), “his body is not to remain all night on the tree, but you must bury him the same day” (Dt 21:23). The body is not to be sealed in an airtight casket as Jews believe the body should be able to decay naturally, and return to the earth (Gwynne, 2009, p.150). The human body should never be mutilated (nivul hamet) even when it is dead as it contains the spirit of God. No other alternatives to in ground burial are permitted, especially cremation as it is associated with gentile practices, it is also seen as undignified, as well as disturbing the final state of the soul. A person who is cremated cannot have their resurrection promised by God (Goldstein,