Shmashāna also spelled as Smashan is the name for Hindu cremation ground, where dead bodies are brought and then lit on pyre to be burnt.[1][2] The word has its origin from Sanskrit language, Sham means Shava, a corpse. Shana means Shanya a bed.[3][4] It is usually located near a river or water body in out-skirts of village or town. As they are usually located near river ghats they are also called Smashan Ghat. The other Indian religions like Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism also use Shmashana for the last rites of their dead ones.
As per Hindu rites, the dead body is brought to Shamshana for Antim Sanskar or last rites. At cremation ground, the chief mourner has to obtain the sacred fire from the Dom, who usually resides in Shamshana only and one has to pay him his fees to lit of pyre for dead body.[5] The funeral pyre in Hindu religion is called Chita.
Further, Shmashana is said to be abode of ghosts, evil spirits, fierce dities, tantrics. Therefore, people in general prefer to avoid going near Shmashan during nights. Also as per Hindu rituals women do not go to Shamshana. Only males go to shmashana to perform last rites.[6] Only Doms and Chandals, resides in or near Shamshana.
Further, Shmashana is place, where followers of Vamamarga like Aghori, Kapalika, Kashmiri Shaivism, Kaula of now scarce Indian Tantric traditions do sadhna and rituals to worship Kali, Tara, Bhairav, Bhairavi, Dakini, Vetal, etc. invoke occult powers within them. Shmashana is also used for similar purpose by follower Tibetan Buddhism traditions of Vajrayana, Dzogchen for sadhna of Chöd, Phowa, Zhitro, etc. The deity called Shmashana Adhipati is usually considered to be lord of Shmashana.
Various Hindu scripts also give details of how to select the site of Shamshana. It should be on northern direction of village with land sloping towards south. Further, it should be near a river or a source of water and should not be seen from distance.[7]
Dead bodies are traditionally cremated on a funeral pyre usually made of wood. However, nowadays in many cities of India you can also find electric or gas based furnaces used in indoor crematoriums.[8]
But there are cases of sattvic worship on smashan. For example, Shri Shailendra Sharma, a realized yogin, has been living on a smashan near the Govardhan hill since 1993. He found and installed a natural Shivalingam there and began to perform daily Puja of Shiva worshipping.[9]