It is true that Vallalar has preferred burial to other disposals of the dead like burning, proclaims the highest degree of compassion shown by the Saint even to the dead as he has shown to the withering but the living plants. Ooran Adigal has also reflected on the same issue in his much acclaimed book “The History Ramalinga Adigal”. In page 431 therein, he has answered by way of compromise that it may be due to the lingering of the Dhananjayan vayu within the dead body for 3 more days after death for burst opening the decomposing dead. Accordingly, the author has concluded that any immediate disposal by burning may amount to eviction of the vayu prematurely by force which in the opinion of Vallalar may qualify as murder.
Perhaps, the comments recorded by the founder of Vallalarspace also extending the same privilege of the vayu to the soul are also conditioned by the same thoughts.
It is an age of science. Whatever may the method of disposal, ultimately the dead body is to be disintegrated into atomic and subatomic constituents across the space and again to be integrated from the subtler to the grosser in a cyclic existence.
But the article is based on the specific commands given to disciples vide his letters dated 27.4.1870, 30.3.1871 and other references wherein his promise that the dead not only buried but also burnt would be brought back to life by the divine will, is unmistakable. In Jeeva karunya Ozhukkam, Vallalar has formulated as to how the soul after the death, mounts different bodies in its onward journey towards its karmic fulfillment.
There may be a thousand and one reasons for resorting to burial but the one of such reasons was definitely to bring the dead back to life. Therefore, the question was formulated on the ground of paradox between the concept of the immortal soul and the mortality of the body and raised for sat vichara as to how the previous bodies of the soul could be brought back to life after their complete/partial decomposition and with intent to accomplish what purpose.
With regards
sivajayakumar
