In Hinduism, funeral rituals are deeply symbolic, helping the soul move to its next journey. While adults are usually cremated, babies and very young children are often buried.
This is not just a tradition it's based on spiritual reasons explained in the Garuda Purana, an ancient Hindu text.
Cremation uses fire to purify the body and release the soul from worldly attachments and ego. Adults have lived and gathered karma, so fire helps break those ties.
But babies haven't yet done worldly actions or gone through life's rituals (samskāras), so they don't carry karmic burdens. Their souls are still pure and close to the divine.
The Garuda Purana says such pure souls don't need fire for release. Instead, they are buried usually under sacred trees which symbolizes a peaceful return to Mother Earth. This also comforts grieving parents and allows a gentle farewell.
In some traditions, buried children are believed to be reborn soon, often in the same family. While customs vary across regions, the belief remains that babies deserve a soft, respectful goodbye one filled with love, not fire.
