English: To attain salvation, one needs a guru (teacher). If be the teacher is truth, nothing else is required. This has been practically illustrated by a saint.. Mahant Rudra Giri (changed name). Talking to the Mahant revealed a lot.

Why a name change is required? When we start to walk on path of nirvana, we have to leave our past behind. Carrying it will never lead us to nirvana as it would always attract us to be the part of the society. Hence, the first thing what is done is to change the name to get a new identity which is called punarjanm (reincarnation).

What else do a reincarnation requires? A reincarnation requires to repay what all we owe to our family. Though we can never repay it, still in Hindu mythology, it's said that one can repay what all he ows of his family by performing after cremation rituals (pind daan). Hence, next stage is to perform this ritual which is a very tough job for the one whose family still exists. The most tough part appears when he himself has to do his own pind daan at the same time, which mythologicaly proves that the person is dead hence the new life thereafter treated as his reincarnation.

To be cont in upcoming posts...

© Fotografia da Blåçk Pærl