VAJRAYANA LIFE-CYCLE RITESbiicii piijii,^53 he may be suffering from a great fatal disease and even though all
kinds of remedies are tried, the disease may not be removable.
In order for the prii!Javiiyu^54 to exit from one of the 9 orifices (from the ear,
etc.), a powerful medicine [must be given] to increase the respiration. Biiitara!Ji
diina^55 is given to guru iiciiryas.
Again, according to the regulations, the cow diina is offered. Afterwards,
having poured empowered argha water on the legs, the priest will recite the kula
devatii's and other mantras [to the dying person].
Only the prii!Ja will go out from the body because there is only the prii!Ja left.
That prii!Ja will go out from the body and go to Yama' s gate.
Immediately, [Yamaraja] will show to the being his own karma level. If
good, the result will be good; if bad, a bad result. (It is all according to one's
own karma [and] he will have to take the result of that karma).
- First death rites
After death, one does Utkriinti yoga. 56 To do this before death is not appropriate.
If done then, we will go down to hell quickly.
So that only if we know death has come should this be done. - After-death observances
After life is finished, the dead body should be in contact with iron (or a knife)
for protection. Alongside the head, [there should be] a lamp; next to the legs,
also, another lamp. (If possible, lamps should be put all around the body.)^57 The
prii!Ja goes out and it may return, but if iron or a knife are put there, the prii!Ja
cannot return into the body. If they are not there, the prii!Ja viiyu upon return
will enter [the body] again and so will become an agati? Therefore, we must
keep iron on the dead body and this is the reason for its presence. - Coming to the depository for impure things
One must throw out the clothes of the dead one, his old clothes, his personal
things, the waistcloth, the mat he used, etc. at the same chvasa^59 where his
umbillical cord was discarded. So that the dead one's disease, etc. cannot be
transmitted, his clothes, things, etc. must be thrown at the chvasa. It must be
done for this reason. - Smoke fumigation
At the Pikhii luku^60 and in all the dark room concerns, one places a clay pot with
the burning cow dung [inside]. The smoke must be brought around the house to
all places. If done well, the disease and smell of death etc. and the germs will be
removed.