Are these are the ones whose remains are supposed to be exposed to the elements and eaten by vultures and crows? I always thought that was pretty hardcore, as in the family has to care enough to make sure it gets done right and it seems pretty tough I guess from western Christian eyes. Seems like a pretty big commitment. Freddie Mercury was one of these folks to my understanding, don’t know if he was disposed of that way or not.
Freegards
“Are these are the ones whose remains are supposed to be exposed to the elements and eaten by vultures and crows?”
They used to do that centuries ago, in “Towers of Silence” well away from urban areas. Nowadays Zoroastrians in Iran and abroad, even in India, are either buried in coffins or cremated.
You may also be thinking of “Sky Burials” as was and is still practiced by some Tibetans and in some regions of Mongolia, Bhutan, Nepal and parts of far Northern India among those who practice Vajrayana Buddhism.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_burial
I am not sure if the similar Zoroastrian practice which seems to predate it, influenced the Buddhists or not.
It is believed that the practice of Sky Burials in Tibet, especially in the high mountainous regions, areas above the tree line, may have developed because the hard rocky terrain, the permafrost along with the lack of timber, made in ground burials or cremation impracticable.
Also in most traditional forms of Buddhism, there is no need to preserve the body, as they believe that the physical life, the physical body is impermanent and that after death it is now believed to be just an empty vessel, and that allowing the body to decompose naturally or to be give up to carrion is considered an act of generosity on the part of the deceased, since the deceased and his/her surviving relatives are providing food to sustain other living beings. That is not to say that they don’t pray for the dead or intend disrespect.
Interestingly I found this video that shows how some modern Chinese and other tourists who travel to Tibet, gawk, film and laugh and make fun of and show complete disrespect for the ritual as if their (the Tibetan’s) burial rituals are some sort of side show.
Sky Burials: Tradition Becomes Controversial Tourist Attraction