Losing a loved one can be a very difficult and trying time for the family. We are here to help and support you during this time. There are many ceremonies that can be performed to offer blessings and prayers for the departed to help them progress on their onward journey to Krishna. There are also ceremonies that can be done every year to help create auspiciousness for the departed soul and also assist in bereavement for the family.

If you’ve lost a loved one, we will help you all the way in the process and ceremonies that need to be performed.

  Ceremonies available to book

Funeral (Antyeshti)

The final samskara is the Antyeshti or the last rites. Out of necessity, in the west temple priests perform funeral services in conjunction with the local system for handling the deceased. 

Upon the death of an individual, the family will call a funeral home to prepare the body as well as a Hindu priest to perform the last rites. During the funeral, family members and friends come to a funeral home or chapel. Afterwards the body is taken to a crematorium where the body is committed to the fire.

In conjunction with the legalities and formalities for cremation in the UK, the ceremony is performed with the coffin at home. The Temple priest will perform the ceremony at home and also at the crematorium. 

•  Performed when: Before and at the funeral
•   Performed by: Priest
•  Performed at: One part of the ceremony is performed at home with the coffin, and the other part at the crematorium

The final farewell (10th-13th day ritual)

The 4 days of ceremonies are generally all done on the 12^th or 13^th day in the UK.

As per the sacred scripture Garuda Purana –
The 10^th day ceremony is call Dasa-gatra. This ceremony is very important to help our loved one form a Pinda Sharir (Pinda body) preparing for their journey and supporting their hunger and thirst. It also ends the Sutak period.

The 11^th day ceremony starts with  Visnu Puja , Saya Daanam , Dasa daanam and Pinda-daan. Again, very important ensuring a smooth journey for our loved ones for their 11.5-month journey to Pitru loka.

The 12th day ceremony called Sapinda Karan (Milan) gives right for our loved one to enter the safe planet of Pirtru loka. The forefathers are worshiped and meeting of the deceased takes place (Milan).

13^th day ceremony involves a Havan (fire sacrifice) by which we ask the Lord for forgiveness and purify the house from the Sutak period. Once the priest is fed the soul leaves. We can also perform the Varsika Puja (one year anniversary) in advance too.

The Garuda Purana explains that the thirteenth day ceremony is the time when the soul leaves it’s physical connection with the family, and hence as a dependent it is our foremost duty and responsibility to work and act for the deliverance of our departed.

•  Performed when: After the 11th, 12th or 13th day of passing away unless 10^th day performed separately.
•  Performed by: Priest
•   Performed at: Home

Prayers for the departed (Shraddh – Pitru Paksha)

The vedic calendar sets 15 days during the year where time is set for expressing love and gratitude to our departed family members by making offerings to help on their onward journey. In this time, joyous celebrations such as weddings are put on hold as remembering the departed takes priority.

•  Performed when: Every year during Pitru paksha (Usually in September, but varies according to the lunar cycle)
•  Performed by: Priest
•  Performed at: Home/Temple