If a person dies due to this infection, the body is not handed over to the family. It is cremated by government employees.
According to the science of rituals, rites such as tilanjali and pinḍadan should be performed beginning from 1st day till the 10th day.
Death signifies cessation of activities of the five vital energies in the body and other sub-vital energies related to the gross body. When a jiva (Embodied soul) loses a life, the transmission of various waves within the body comes to a standstill.
When the funeral is half way through or when it reaches the entrance of the crematorium, the bier is lowered and placed on the ground.
Once a person dies, his/her post-death rites are to be performed at the hands of a priest as mentioned in the Scriptures.
North is the direction of Deity Som’s abode, that is, it is the abode of Shiv in Principle form. Hence, the distressing vibrations emitting from the region below the waist are disintegrated to a maximum extent instantly.
The dead body should preferably be cremated during the day time because cremation is a Tama act. Since the night is related to the Tama component, the proportion of negative energies which themselves are Tama-predominant is high during this period.
To make human life worthwhile, if a person follows the rules stated in Hindu Dharma and acts accordingly, the life of a jiva (Embodied soul) can become fruitful and even its Mrutyudharma (Life after death) can become blissful, meaning, one that does not lead to Hell.
The heat generated due to the fire that is lit while reciting mantras reduces progressively after the third day of cremation. Consequently, the potential of the sheath (created around the ashes) to protect them also reduces proportionately.