Tibetan Traditions - Celestial Burial

Tibetan Traditions – Introduction of Celestial Burial

Celestial burial which is unfamiliar to people always give people a kind of mysterious and horrible feeling. As one of the most distinctive Tibetan traditions, celestial burial is the most commonly used burial way by Tibetans. Celestial burial, in a nutshell, is to carry the body to a specific place to feed eagle after some special treatment.

After died, the body will be carried to the platform for celestial burial. After dedicating the whole body to the eagles in nature, the whole life is end.

Tibetan Traditions – Origin of Celestial Burial

There are several different views about the origin of Tibetan celestial burial. The first view thinks that the earth in most districts of Tibet is frozen soil which is hard to dig, and there are fewer trees to make coffin in Tibet. Hence, the celestial burial is a suitable way for Tibetans. There is another more credible view which connects celestial burial with the doctrine of Buddhism. In Buddhism, "alms giving" is one symbol of Tibetan believers. The highest level of alms giving is "sacrificing oneself". Furthermore, based on the doctrine of Buddhism, the soul will leave body and come into new cycle after death. The body becomes useless. To feed eagles with body is the last benefaction of this life.

Tibetan Traditions – Process of Celestial Burial

The celestial burial has its special process. After death, the celestial burial masters will first take off the clothes on the dead, bent the head to the knee, like a newborn baby. Then, use white cloth to wrap up the body, and put a Hada on it. The celestial burial can not be held in Sunday because Tibetans think that's inauspicious. In general, the celestial burial will be held in Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. And the time is from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock before the sun rising up.

After reaching the platform of celestial burial, the celestial burial masters will first make a fire with cow dung, and then add some tsamba into the fire. Later, the celestial burial masters will sit cross-legged to chant scripture, shake the Buolang Drum and blow a bone-made bugle. The eagles around will circle around the platform after hearing the sound of drum and bugle, and quietly place the eyes on the celestial burial masters.

After some special treatment, the celestial burial masters will give a sign to the eagles. Then, the eagles will come to eat the body. When the eagles eat up the body, the whole celestial burial ends.