What are Hindu practices when a family member is nearing death?
There is no standard prescription for Hindus. Practices vary. Typically, when a person is on the point of death, the nearest kin sits close to the dying person and utters the lords names in his right ear, a few drops of Ganga water (if unavailable, regular water) and a leaf of Tulasi is placed in the persons mouth. In some parts of India a small piece of gold is also placed along with the Tulasi. What are Hindu practices when a person has died? Here again there is a diversity of practices. Typically, when life is extinct, drops of holy water and Tulasi leaf are placed in the moth (if it hasnt been done while life is ebbing away), the body is removed from the bed and laid on a mat on the ground, with the head to the north (as if it is looking in the south direction where Yama resides). The next of kin utters ‘Narayana’ or ‘Govinda’ or ‘Nama Shivaya’ or the name of favorite deity of the deceased, three times in the right ear of the deceased. The mouth and eyes are closed. A piece of clot
