MH370: Normal religious rites for Buddhist and Hindu passengers

The Buddhist Chief High Priest of Malaysia, Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana said Buddhism did not give much priority on burials or cremations.

"The Buddhist burial ceremony is actually simple, but full of dignity and customs and Buddha too did not believe that the conscience or mental power of those who have died do not have any links with the body or ashes which have been left behind.

"Buddha believed that when someone dies, there will be a reincarnation in another place depending on his good deeds or otherwise," he said when contacted by Bernama Thursday.

He was asked to comment on the religious rites of Buddhists who were on board the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 following the announcement by the director-general of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman yesterday that the aircraft had been officially declared as having been involved in an accident and that everyone on board had perished.

He said that according to the religion, only "Arahants" who had overcome all their desires will not be reborn and as such they would achieve their final objective which was the "Nirvana" (paradise).

Meanwhile, for the Hindus, the "Athama Santhi Poojai" ceremony must be held by family members of the victims as a religious ritual.

The president of the Hindu Sangam Malaysia, Datuk Mohan Shan said the "Punyavachanam" ceremony must also be held by followers of the faith.

"Family members must carry out both ceremonies with the help of an 'Iyer' (monk) for the peace of the victim's soul. This ceremony is most important as a ritual to honour the victim," he said.

Flight MH370, which carried 12 crew members and 227 passengers, including two infants, disappeared from radar screens while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, about an hour after taking off from the KL International Airport on March 8, last year.