Some are of opinion that the object of the death-wail, which begins with “O māra bhāi!” that is, “Oh my brother!” or “O māra bāp!” that is, “Oh my father!”, is that at the moment of death, the soul, by hearing the sound ‘Om’ may ascend to the brahmarandhra or the divine seat of the brain and thus attain salvation.[174]
When the funeral party start with the bier for the burning ground, the women of the house, accompanied by other women of the neighbourhood or village, follow them as far as the village gate, crying and singing funeral dirges. There they stop a while and sing more funeral dirges, keeping time by beating their breasts. They then start to return home, and, on their way, bathe in a tank or well and again mourn for some time before entering the house. The funeral party enter the house after the women and cry aloud for a few seconds. They also cry when the pyre is set on fire.[175]
The mourning of the women continues for thirteen[176] days after death. They also weep on such holidays as the Holi, the Divāli, etc., and on the quarterly, six-monthly and the first anniversary Shrāddha day.[177]
Male relatives of the deceased wear a white turban as a sign of mourning.[178]
It is generally believed that bhuts or evil spirits prove beneficial to those who succeed in securing locks of their hair or subjugate them by incantations or magical rites.[179]
Such spirits generally belong to the class of the Bavan, the Vir, the Bābro, Māmo, Vaitāl, Dādamo and Yaksha. Of these, Māmo, Vir, Vaitāl and Dādamo prove beneficial through favour, while the rest become the slaves of those who subdue them.[180]
It is believed that Suro Puro and Dādo favour only their blood relations.[181]
It is related that in building the numerous tanks and temples attributed to Siddhrāj Jaysing, a former king of Gujarāt, he was assisted by the spirit Bābario whom he had brought under his control.[182]
A tradition is current that Tulsidās, the celebrated author of the Rāmāyan in Hindi and a great devotee of Rām, had secured personal visits from the god Hanumān through the favour of a ghost.
The king Vikram is said to have received great services from the evil spirits Vaitāl and Jāl.[183]