Thirumoolar has told that the body of one without fame has to be burnt , and the body of one with fame has to be buried.
"எண்ணிலா ஞானி உடல் எரிதாவிடில்
ennilaa gnani udal erithaavidil
அண்ணலதம் கோயில் அழலிட்ட தாங்கொக்கும்
annalatham koayil azalitta thaangokkum
மண்ணில மழை விழா: வையகம் பஞ்சமாம்
mannil mazhai vizaa: vaiyagam panjamaam
எண்ணரும் மன்னர் இழப்பார் அரசுமே
ennarum mannar izappaar arasumae"
- திருமந்திரம் (Thirumanthiram)
"அந்தமில் ஞானி அருளை அடைந்தக்கால்
anthamil gnani arulai adainthakkaal
அந்த உடல்தான் குகைசெய்து இருந்திடில்
antha udalthaan kukaiseythu irunthidil
சுந்தர மன்னரும் தொல்புவி உள்ளோரும்
sunthara mannarum tholpuvi ulloarum
அந்தமில் இன்ப அருள்பெறு வாரே
anthamil inba arulperu vaarae"
- திருமந்திரம் (Thirumanthiram)
The sages are those who consider their body as temple. Burning that body is like burning the temple itself. If we do like that that there would be no rains on the earth. The king may tend to loose his kingdom. If there is nobody to bury the body of the sages and if the body is let on the ground it decomposes and the beauty of the world is lost and the kingdom falls off and a great loss occurs says Thirumoolar.
If their body is buried then for the people of country attains goodness, the country gets a great wealth, the people of the country will be blessed says Thirumoolar. Those who have been buried will once again come out and roam around and again enter into the sepulcher back. Hence they do not say that they are buried rather they say they are made as Jeeva Samadhi*.
*Jeeva - Life/soul; Samadhi - Intense Yogic contemplation of becoming oneness with God.
Original - www.siththarkal.com
Translated by - சந்தியா
