Why Is Water Associated With Life, Death, and Rebirth?

Water appears in rituals of birth, cleansing, and death in almost every culture. This article looks at some of them, and at the practical rules for water and ashes in the United States. Practices vary within every tradition.

Why is water so common in religion?

It is essential to life, and it can also destroy it. Wikipedia lists faiths that incorporate ritual washing: Christianity (baptism), Judaism (the mikvah), Sikhism (Amrit Sanskar), and Mandaeism, with the Ganges central in Hinduism. In Islam, the daily prayers are generally preceded by washing certain parts of the body with clean water, called wudu.

What are some of these rituals?

A range. The New World Encyclopedia says Judaism includes a purifying bath when converting, which it describes as the origin of the Christian tradition of baptism. Britannica says the Hebrew mikvah sought ritual purification using prescribed amounts and kinds of water, and that Shinto followers used water ablution to prepare for a shrine visit.

Is water used for the dead?

Yes. Wikipedia says that a ritual bath in pure water is performed for the dead in many religions, including Judaism, Mandaeism, and Islam. The New World Encyclopedia names the Jewish form as tahara, the ritual washing and cleansing of a Jew’s body before burial. For the Islamic practice, see Ghusl and Kafan.

What about the Ganges?

For many Hindus it is a river of liberation. Smithsonian Magazine says pilgrims have long hoped to die at Varanasi and have their ashes scattered into the Ganges, believing it will end their cycle of rebirth. See Why Do Rivers Symbolize Life and Death?.

Can I scatter ashes in water?

In the ocean, yes, under federal rules. The EPA says it has issued a general permit under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act that covers burial of human remains at sea, including release of cremated remains. Cremated remains may be released in ocean waters of any depth, as long as it is at least three nautical miles from land, and decomposable flowers and wreaths may be placed. EPA notification is required within 30 days. Funeral.com reports the EPA says scattering in lakes, rivers, and other inland waters is not covered by that permit, but states may have requirements, and some states prohibit it.

For details, see Burial at Sea and What to Do With Cremated Remains. For another water symbol, see Why Does the Lotus Symbolize Death and Rebirth?.