Antyeshthi Sanskaara (Full)

ओमग्नये स्वाहा ॥

Om agnaye svaahaa

Homage to the active energy [footnote: active, kinetic energy is present in everything in motion.] that flows all around.

ओं सोमाय स्वाहा ॥

Om somaaya svaahaa

Homage to the inactive energy existing all around.

ओं लोकाय स्वाहा ॥

Om lokaaya svaahaa

Homage to the world with all its natural elements

ओमनुमतये स्वाहा ॥

Om anumataye svaahaa

Homage to the earth

ओं स्वर्गाय लोकाय स्वाहा ॥

Om svargaaya lokaaya svaahaa

Homage to the world that sustains us, including the sun, space and earth

सूर्यं चक्षुर्गच्छतु वातमात्मा द्यां च गच्छ पृथिवीं च धर्मणा ।
अपो वा गच्छ यदि तत्र ते हितमोषधीषु प्रति तिष्ठा शरीरैः स्वाहा ॥

Sooryaṃ cakshur gacchatu vaatam-aatmaa
dyaaṃ cha gaccha prithiveem cha dharmaṇaa
Apo vaa gaccha yadi tatra te hitam-
oṣhadheeṣhu prati tiṣhṭhaa shareeraih svaahaa.¹

The eyes and the sight, the wind and the breath, the soul and the space, the earth and water, the fibers and the body – all follow the natural laws and return to their original form and place upon death.

सूर्यम् sun, light चक्षुः sight, eyes गच्छतु go वातम् wind आत्मा self, soul द्याम् atmosphere, space, sky च and गच्छ go पृथिवीम् earth धर्मणा natural laws, righteousness अपः water वा or, either यदि if, in case तत्र there, now, then, in that place ते you हितम् make, provide, give, out ओषधीषु medicinal plants प्रति towards, respectively तिष्ठ stay, stand, situate, exist शरीरैः body

अजो भागस्तपसा तं तपस्व तं ते शोचिस्तपतु तं ते अर्चिः ।
यास्ते शिवास्तन्वो जातवेदस्ताभिर्वहैनं सुकृतामु लोकम् स्वाहा ॥

Ajo bhaagastapasaa tam tapasva
tam te shochis-tapatu tam te archih.
Yaaste shivaas-tanvo jaatavedas
Taabhir-vahainam sukritaamu lokam svaahaa.²

The immortal part and the austerities, the combustible and the non-combustible, the hot and the cold, the auspicious and benevolent, and the beauty and desires – all return by the Grace of the Almighty One, in accordance to his Vedic Laws.

अजः immortal भागः part (part of) तपसा penance, austerity तम् this, that तपस्व heat, burn तम् that, this ते it, you शोचिः fire, radiance, purified through fire तपतु burn तम् this, he, she, it अर्चिः fire, flare याः who शिवाः auspicious, benevolent तन्वः body जातवेदः Giver of the Vedas, God, Soul ताभिः this वह carry, remove एनम् this सुकृताम् beautiful good ऊँ besides, indeed लोकम् world

अव सृज पुनरग्ने पितृभ्यो यस्त आहुतश्चरति स्वधाभिः ।
आयुर्वसान उपवेतु शेषः सं गच्छतां तन्वा जातवेदः स्वाहा॥

Avasrija punaragne pitribhyo
yasta aahutash-charati svadhaabhih.
Aayur-vasaana upavetu sheṣah
sam gacchataam tanvaa jaatavedah svaahaa.³

The natural laws of the world allow us a chance to be reborn after death. With death, the body that was the garb of the soul is without power or energy, and thus, the only thing left over after death is the elements of nature. May the Almighty God bless the coming of this soul again to noble parents.

अवसृज chance to set forth, chance to beget पुनः again अग्ने energy, fire, God पितृभ्यः parents यः who, this, that ते you, that आहुतः sacrifice, offer चरति enter (a state), cause, process स्वधाभिः free will, offering स्वधा duty, law आयुः lifetime वसानः garb, sojourn उप toward, on, next वेतु approach, ask, go शेषः leftover सम् together गच्छताम् go, situate, disappear तन्वा body, embodiment जातवेदः God, Giver of Wisdom

अग्नेर्वर्म परि गोभिर्व्ययस्व सं प्रोर्णुष्व पीवसा मेदसा च ।
नेत्त्वा धृष्णुर्हरसा जर्हृषाणो दधृग्विधक्ष्यन्पर्यङ्खयाते स्वाहा॥

Agner-varma pari gobhir-vyaysava
sam proṇuṣhva peevasaa medasaa cha
Nettvaa driṣhṇur-harasaa jarhri-ṣhaaṇo
Dadhrig-vidhakshyan-paryaṇg-khayaate svaahaa.⁴

The entire body, its outer covering that protected it, its fatty tissues and muscles, its blood vessels, its digestive and circulatory systems, and its nervous systems that used to pulse with energy are all now tended to earth. The imperishable soul is directed elsewhere.

अग्नेः energy, God, digestive systems वर्म armor, protective covering परि from, around गोभिः earth व्ययस्व cover संप्रोर्णु total surrounding पीवसा abundant मेदसा fatty layers, tissues च and न no, not त्वा that, you धृष्णुः strong, firm हरसा firery, energetic जर्हृषाणः repeatedly agitate दधृक् audacious, bold विधक्ष्यन् directed elsewhere पर्यङ्खयाते encircle, clasp

यं त्वमग्ने समदहस्तमु निर्वापया पुनः ।
कियाम्ब्वत्र रोहतु पाकदूर्वा व्यल्कशा स्वाहा ॥

Yam tvamagne samdahas-
tamu nirvaapayaa punah.
Kiyaambvatra rohatu paakadurvaa
vyalkashaa svaahaa.⁵

The fire burns everything that was of the body. The ashes are ground and strewn to mix and merge with the soil from which plants can benefit.

यम् who, which त्वम् you, that अग्ने energy, fire, digestive systems सम्अदहः where everything is burnt तम् that ऊँ now निः away, out,without वापय grind, strew पुनः again कियाम्बु aquatic area, aquatic plants अत्र now, there रोहतु ascend, grow पाकदूर्वा विअल्कशा various species of plants

परेयिवांसं प्रवतो महीरनु बहुभ्यः पन्थामनुपस्पशानम् ।
वैवस्वतं संगमनं जनानां यमं राजानं हविषा दुवस्य स्वाहा ॥

Pareyi-vaamsam pravato maheer-anu
bahuhbyah panthaam-anupas-pashaanam.
Vaivasvatam samgamanam janaanaam yamam
raajaanam haviṣhaa duvasya svaahaa.⁶

When death occurs to the body, the soul undertakes the immediate journey powered by the Almighty Brahman to reincarnate in a new body, a new collection of atoms and molecules with a new start to life. We honor and worship that Almighty God through whose grace this journey is possible and from who we come and to whom we return.

परेयिवांसम् one who has died प्रवतः blown forward महीः firm, great अनु subsequent, behind बहुभ्यः abundant, many पन्थाम् path, journey अनु atoms पस्पश preface, precedent अनम् Brahman वैवस्वतम् coming from or belonging to the Light, direction सम्गमनम् uninterrupted series of happening जनानाम् birth यमम् course, coming, flight राजानम् Brahman, the Ruler of everything हविषा having gone दुवस्य worship, honor, reward

यमो नो गातुं प्रथमो विवेद नैषा गव्यूतिरपभर्तवा उ ।
यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेयुरेना जज्ञानाः पथ्या अनु स्वाः स्वाहा ॥

Yamo no gaatum prathamo viveda
naiṣhaa gavyootir-apabhartavaa oo.
Yatraa nah poorve pitarah pareyurenaa
jagyaanaah pathyaa anu svaah svaahaa.⁷

God the Almighty is the Creator and guide. His laws ensure that the path to reincarnation is appropriately based on the actions of the previous life. Everyone should be aware of their place in life. The ancestors have come and are gone by these same laws.

यमः God, the Creator and Dissolver, coming, going, self-restraint नः our गातुम् path, progress प्रथमः first विवेद find, detect, be aware न not, no एषा this गव्यूतिर् place of residence, living space अपभर्तवै destroying, taking away ऊँ indeed यत्र wherein नः our पूर्वे previous, former पितरः forefathers, ancestors पराईयुः depart, die एना thus जज्ञानाः be, become पथ्याः path, proper, appropriate अनुस्वाः preceding

मातली कव्यैर्यमो अङ्गिरोभिर्बृहस्पतिॠक्वभिर्वावृधानः ।
याँश्च देवा वावृधुर्ये च देवान्त्स्वाहान्ये स्वधयान्ये मदन्ति स्वाहा ॥

Maatalee kavyair-yamo angiro-bhir-
brihaspati-rikvabir-vaavridhaanah.
Yaamsh-cha devaa vaavri-dhurye cha
devaant-svaahaanye svaadhyaanye madanti svaahaa.⁸

We are blessed with body, limbs, and senses; we can control our minds and senses; we can use this gift of life and wisely engage in worship and good work. We can thrive and prosper by choosing good or bad habits and pleasures. At the end of this life, we are accorded the next life based on our good or bad habits or pleasures. This is the basic natural law of the world. Homage to our Creator and Preserver.

मातली like a wheel कवि reins यमः God, restraint अङ्गिन् with limbs बृहस्पतिः God ऋक्वभिः with praiseworthy वव्रि body, cover धानः gift, charitable यान् that च and देवाः illuminated persons वृध – वर्धते grow, thrive, prosper ये that च and देवान् wise ones स्वाहा offer, homage अन्ये other, remaining स्वधया according to one’s habit or pleasure अन्ये other मदन्ति मत regarded as अन्तिम end, final, ultimate

इमं यम प्रस्तरमा हि सीदाङ्गिरोभिः पितृभिः संविदानः ।
आ त्वा मन्त्राः कविशस्ता वहन्त्वेना राजन्हविषा मादयस्व स्वाहा ॥

Imam yam prastaramaa hi seedaangi-
robhih pitribhih samvidaanah.
Aa tvaa mantraah kavishastaa vahant-venaa
raajan-haviṣhaa maadayasva svaahaa.⁹

While alive, the body with its layers of tissues and limbs, its parentage, its restraints, its thoughts, desires, and actions, allows us to feel like a king, like a superior gem, earning praise from all for its beauty and niceness. We enjoy the fulfillment of desires and delight in life, but then it crumbles into death and is gone. The body is not permanent.

इमम् this यम restraint प्रस्तरम् stone, gem, layer आ toward हि indeed, for सीद break down, crumble अङ्गिरःभिः with limbs पितृभिः with parents, with lineage सम्विदानः mode of action, disposition, joined or untied with आ toward त्वा that, you मन्त्राः thought, advice, plan कविशस्ताः praised by wise ones वहन्तु wind एना that, this राजन् sovereign, kingly हविषा having gone मादयस्व delight, inflame, gladden

अङ्गिरोभिरा गहि यज्ञियेभिर्यम वैरूपैरिह मादयस्व ।
विवस्वन्तं हुवे यः पिता तेऽस्मिन्यज्ञे बर्हिष्या निषद्य स्वाहा ॥

Angirobhiraa gahi yagyiye-bhiryam
vairoopair-iha maadayasva.
Vivasvantam huve yah pitaa te’smin
yagye baihiṣhyaa niṣhadya svaahaa.¹⁰

We invoke your mercy and grace, O Almighty Father, our Creator, and benefactor, as we dispose of this dead body. With its limbs, muscles, tissues, and all its layers and parts, the body gives us much delight and enjoyment. After the illuminated soul has departed, the body is now lying on a bed of wood for its final yagya, through which all the elements will return to their natural form by your Grace, O lord.

अङ्गिरःभिः with limbs, with body आ towards गहि go, disappear, vanish यज्ञियेभिः with yagyas, with sacrifices यम restraints वैरूपैः various types, various parts इह in this world मादयस्व enjoy, delight विवस्वन्तम् brilliant, shining forth, God हुवे call, summon, invoke यः who, which पिता father ते that अस्मिन् in this यज्ञे ceremony, yagya बर्हिषि placed on sacrificial grass/sticks/wood आ toward निसद्य bed

प्रेहि प्रेहि पथिभिः पूर्व्येभिर्यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेयुः ।
उभा राजाना स्वधया मदन्ता यमं पश्यासि वरुणं च देवम् स्वाहा ॥

Prehi prehi pathibhih poorvebhir-yatraa nah
poorve pitarah pareyuh.
Ubhaa raajaanaa svadhayaa madantaa
yamam pashyaasi varuṇam cha devam svaahaa.¹¹

The body gives up its brilliance and life eventually, and the joys, willpower, restraints, and glorious life enjoyed – all end with death. This is the law of the universe. Everyone departs, and everyone dies. From ancient times to the future, wherever there is birth, there is death, and the grace of the Almighty God is seen through it all.

प्रेहि Depart, proceed, go on पथिभिः path, road, method पूर्व्येभिः age-old way, of ancient times यत्र whereever नः pur पूर्वे previous पितरः fathers पराईयुः depart, die उभा both राजाना kingly, brilliance स्वधया free will, hold withing oneself मदन्ता delight, revel, joy यमम् laws, restriant पश्यासि see, look वरुणम् God’s च and देवम् righteous, of godly quality

संगच्छस्व पितृभिः सं यमेनेष्टापूर्तेन परमे व्योमन् ।
हित्वायावद्यं पुनरस्तमेहि सं गच्छस्व तन्वा सुवर्चाः स्वाहा ॥

Sam-sacchhasva pitribhih sam
yameneṣhṭa-poortena parame vyoman.
Hitvaayaavadyam punarastam-ehi
sam gacchhasva tanvaa suvarchaah svaahaa.¹²

The laws of this world are well established. Our ancestors lived with these laws; they are timeless. We all depart from this life, and we all undergo the experience of life, death, and reincarnation again and again because the body dies, but the soul is preserved to be born again. Each time, our soul is placed again in a new body, but into such body, its place and parentage are determinable by our actions of the previous life, be they meritorious or immoral.

सङ्गच्छते go away, depart, go towards, undergo change, agree पितृभिः ancestors यमेन laws, restraint, practices of the body इष्टापूर्तेन merit परमे extreme, best व्योमन् preservation, sky, atmosphere हित्वाय with exception of, swiftly अवद्यम् vice, sin, shame पुनः again अस्तम् place आ come गच्छस्व go तन्वा body, embodiment सुवर्चाः brilliant, divine

अपेत वीतवि च सर्पतातोऽस्मा एतं पितरो लोकमक्रन् ।
अहोभिरद्भिरक्तुभिर्व्यक्तं यमो ददात्यवसानमस्मै स्वाहा ॥

Apeta veetavi cha sarpataato’smaa
etam pitaro lokamakran.
Ahobhiradbhirktubhirvyaktam yamo
dadaatyavasaanamasmai svaahaa.¹³

By God’s laws, we come gliding through various lifetimes like day and night, coming and going. We get various parents, meet the world in different ways and distinctly different forms, and then depart life to another life.

अपेत gone, departed, free from वीतवि disappear away च amd सर्पत gliding, going, galloping अतः so, therefore अस्मै एतम् by this, to this पितरः parents, fathers, ancestors लोकम् world, earth अक्रन् make, do, transform, take effect अहोभिः day अत्भिः water अक्तुभिः at night व्यक्तम् create, manifest, distinctness, caused to appear यमः God, sun, laws ददाति give, add, administer अवसानम् death अस्मै this

यमाय सोमं सुनुत यमाय जुहुता हविः ।
यमं ह यज्ञो गच्छत्यग्निदूतो अरंकृतः स्वाहा ॥

यमाय घृतवद्धविर्जुहोत प्र च तिष्ठत ।
स नो देवेष्वा यमद्दीर्घमायुः प्र जीवसे स्वाहा ॥

Yamaaya ghritavad-dhavir-
juhota pra cha tiṣhṭhata.
Sa no deveṣhvaa yamad-dhir-
Ghamaayuh pra jeevase svaahaa.¹⁵

Like fuel to the fire, like ghee to the yagya fire, we are given the body to accommodate the divinely illuminated soul. We are then born and live a long life.

यमाय of the laws of the world घृतवत् like ghee, with ghee हविः offering, fire जुहोत worship, sacrifice प्र towards च and, besides तिष्ठत exist, stand, stay सः this नः us देवेषु like a divine iluminated object आ toward यमत् cover, restrain दीर्घम् long आयुः life जीवसे live

यमाय मधुमत्तमं राज्ञे हव्यं जुहोतन ।
इदं नम ऋषिभ्यः पूर्वजेभ्यः पूर्वेभ्यः पथिकृद्भ्यः स्वाहा ॥

Yamaaya madhumattamam
raagye havyam juhotana.
Idam nama riṣhibhyah poorvajebhyah
Poorvebhyah pathi-krid-bhyah svaahaa.¹⁶

The understanding of these laws of the world was made clear and pleasant to us by our forefathers, who paved the way for us through their Yagyas, which we follow today. Salutations to our Almighty Ruler of the world for his divine inspiration to our forefathers and to us so that we can undertake these acts.

यमाय of the laws of the world मधुमत्तमम् pleasant, sweet राज्ञे king, ruler हव्यम् offering जुहोतन sacrifice, offering इदम् this नमः salutation ऋषिभ्यः sages, seers पूर्वजेभ्यः ancestry पूर्वेभ्यः ancient ancestry पथिकृत्भ्यः setting the path, making the way

कृष्णः श्वेतोऽरुषो यामो अस्य ब्रध्न ऋज्र उत शोणो यशस्वान् ।
हिरण्यरूपं जनिता जजान स्वाहा ॥

Kriṣhṇah shveto’ruṣho yaamo asya
bradhna rijra uta shoṇo yashasvaan.
Hiraṇyaroopam janitaa jajaan svaahaa.¹⁷

The sun follows an eternal straightforward path. It glows at dawn, gets bright at midday, fades in the dusk, and disappears at night. Its glorious form and power impact all life on Earth. Similarly, we are born, we experience the world that was already here before we came, and we fade when the body dies. But like the sun that rises each day, we are reincarnated into another life after death.

कृष्णः black, night श्वेतः white, bright, day अरुषः sun of midday (fiery sun) यामः sun अस्य this ब्रध्नः great, mighty ऋज्रः going straightforward उत and, similarly शोणः red twilight यशस्वान् glorious, magnificient हिरण्यरूपम् golden form जनिता produced, created जजान power