2/12/2009
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Yazd , Iran-Walking across the wind-whipped plains of the forgotten city, a young Iranian woman dressed in colorful floral garbs points out a sand-dusted tower hovering in the distance like a dormant volcano under a relentless sun. “This is where we put tens of thousands of corpses over the years,” she explains with a congenial smile.
It is a benefit for us all to learn about the funeral customs and traditions of others because it opens us up to new possibilities and helps us to see our own culture in a new light. An excellent example of cultural differences in funeral customs is the 3000 year old Zoroastrian / Parsi tradition of sky burial. Sky burial is a custom that is considered wonderful, kind and proper in one culture, and a repugnant desecration in many others. The relativity of this situation and earnestness with which both views are held should help us to open our minds to the many possibilities that exist, respect the traditions of others and understand how our traditions may seem horrid to others, even while we cherish them.
Recently, in a discussion about green funeral options, the topic of animals devouring the dead was brought up and I mentioned the Zoroastrian / Parsi tradition of 'sky burials' where remains are left for vultures to devour in 'towers of silence'. Though not for everyone by any means, this may well be one of the oldest and greenest of disposition options.
In the discussion, I noted that in modern times the vultures are disappearing, and I mistakenly blamed antibiotics in humans for the decline in the vulture population in India.
I decided to look into the subject further for the Daily Undertaker and found that in fact, the decline in the vulture population is due to drugs that are given to cattle (and may be banned already.) I also learned that efforts are underway to bring the vultures back. This is a positive step for Parsis, vultures, and for the ecosystem as well.
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Tower of Silence
The funerary tower is part of the ancient burial practice of Zoroastrianism, the world’s oldest monotheistic religion. Zoroastrians (known in India
The priest believes that open burials are a fulfillment of the central tenet of his religion, which is to practice good deeds. With a forlorn expression, he notes that, 3,000 years after the tradition of open burials began, there are not enough Zoroastrians left alive to keep the tower in Yazd Mumbai , India , where the last Tower of Silence
A View of the Mumbai Tower of Silence in an old Stereopticon
"We're your friends 'til the bitter end"
(from the vulture's song in Disney's Jungle Book)
But the Tower of Silence in Mumbai has had problems of its own:
Mumbai- The Parsi tradition of keeping bodies in the Tower of Silence
Certainly the reintroduction of vultures does have a very real and positive impact on ecosystems in India. The vultures, although creepy to some, play a vital role. When vultures are missing from the ecosystem less desirable animals such as rats and packs of wild dogs move in to scavange. In addition to species diversity issues, these animals pose a threat to the health and safety of the human population.
