Exposure of the Dead
Traditional practice of disposing of the dead without polluting earth, fire, or water.
Traditionally, Zoroastrians exposed the dead in Towers of Silence (dakhmas) for vultures to consume, preventing pollution of sacred elements. Modern communities often use other methods due to changed circumstances.
Let not the dead pollute the sacred elements.
This distinctive practice reflects environmental purity concerns.
Vendidad
Written about in
- What Zoroastrianism says about illness and the body failing
Bodies were exposed in the dakhmas so the dead would not pollute earth, fire or water; many modern communities now use other methods. The logic is consistent — even a corpse is handled to protect creation — and it is the clearest case of the tradition following a principle past the point of comfort.