As per Bhutanese Buddhist practices,
certain items are compulsorily to be placed near the dead body. They are Water,
Alcohol (preferably local Ara), Butter Lamp, Mirror and a Mala.
These items are placed as follows:
Aligned to the center of the lying dead body (between head and leg) a butter lamp is to be placed.
On the right side (towards head) of the butter lamp a cup of water is to be kept. Regarding type of water cup the best would be Bhutanese made wooden cup with silver lining on the inner side. If you don’t have that type of cup you can use any wooden cup with silver coin placed inside. If you don’t have silver coin, don’t worry you can put small bit of silverware.
On the left side of the butter lamp
place a cup of alcohol.
Nearby the head place a mirror and a Mala (Rosary).
You may wonder why these items are placed.
Vaguely people say water is for the dead to quench his thirst, alcohol to
enjoy, silver coin is to offer as gift for Lord Yama. All these statement are
incorrect.
The main purposes of such offerings
are:
1. Butter lamp
The bright
light of the butter lamp is to help the deceased to see his next path properly.
2. Water
The water
with silver content turns into silver water and is offered to the 42 peaceful Shetro
deities.
3. Alcohol
The alcohol
is for offering to the 58 wrathful Shetro deities.
Note: These
100 peaceful and wrathful deities emerge out of the dead body.
4. Mirror
The mirror
helps in reminding the deceased that he/she is dead as their image is not seen in
the mirror. It also helps the deceased to see all 100 peaceful and wrathful deities
in the mirror.
5. Mala
The mala represent your Yidum and keeping nearby blesses you continuously provided you have used mala and recited your Yidum’s mantra. The mala also allows all Shetro deities to dwell on it.
The Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful
Deities
It was originated from the Guhyagarbha
Tantra, the main tantra of the Mahayoga class. Most Tibetan
Buddhists are familiar with the teachings through the The Tibetan Book of
the Dead (Bardo Thodol).
Bardo, the intermediate state between
death and rebirth generally lasts "seven times seven days" or 49
days. At every stage, there is a gradual emergence of a special mandala,
emitting a variety of different dazzling glare of light and loud thundering
roar. As long as the one passing through the bardo state can recognize these
different deities as the reflections of one’s own basic nature, covering all
six realms, he or she can be liberated.
Forty-two Peaceful Deities
1) Samantabadra
2) Samantabadri
3-7) The
Five Male Buddhas of the Five Families
8-12) The Five Female
Buddhas of the Five Families
13-20) The Eight Male Bodhisattvas
21-28) The Eight Female Bodhisattvas
29-34) The Six Munis
35-38) The Four Male Gate Keepers
39-42) The Four Female Gate Keepers
Fifty-eight Wrathful Deities
1-10) The Five Wrathful Herukas and
their Five Consorts
11-18) The Eight Wrathful Females
19-26) The Eight Tramen
27-30) The Four Female Gatekeepers
31-58) The Twenty-eight Ishvaris
59-60) Chemchok Heruka and his Consort
