Procedure for Christian Families

Since Christians also cremate in the nearby crematorium, an illuminated shrine of Jesus Christ has been mounted on the wall next to the shrine of the Deities. Recently two Christian families brought ashes of the deceased.

Devotees of the Society adopt the following procedure in the case of Christian families:

While the ashes are being deposited our devotees and members of the bereaved family utter the following verse, which our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda, incorporated in one of his universal Kirtans:

O My Jesus, O Lord Jesus, Hail Hail Jesus, O Saviour Saviour!

O My Mary, O Virgin Mary, Hail Hail Mary, O Mother Mother!

Before or after the deposit of the ashes members of the deceased are free to utter some prayers.

Our Master has written an inspiring account of the life of Lord Jesus. This is distributed to Christians who come to the Ghat as visitors or to deposit ashes of the deceased. Since our Master's teachings are universal in appeal, many Christians also read his writings and feel greatly inspired.

A few months ago a Christian family had a tragic experience when some dear ones were killed in an accident in Cape Town. They were very downhearted and depressed. One of our devotees gave them a copy of our Peace book. After reading it they felt relief at once. After reading one of our Master's books, a Muslim woman also overcame her depression because she could not go to Mecca.