Saturday, September 06, 2014

The Liberating Fire

PHOTO PROMPT -Copyright – Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
The fire blazed, yellow flames crackling as I stood in front of the funeral pyre lost in my thoughts.  Once where there was life was now engulfed by the blaze.  

The ancients had said that when the body is burned the fire frees the soul.  The funeral hymn of the Vedas invokes Agni, the lord of the fire, minister of sacrifice, the giver of wealth. 

Is there life after death?  Do our deeds liberate us from saṃsāra, the cycle of death and rebirth?


The cremation was over and they could never do an autopsy now.  The fire does indeed liberate.


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Written for 
Friday Fictioneers. Word Count : 100

I didn't think I was going to write this time having been knocked out by viral fever for the whole week.  But finally the meds do their thing, the fever and the aches subsides and I seem to breathe normally again (after sounding like Darth Vader this whole week).  So maybe that's why its a darker theme this week. 

But here is some lighter music to make it better.

19 comments :

  1. Brings back too many bad memories; the last rites of my creator.

    http://uspandey.com/2012/01/25/my-son-must-i-stay/

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    1. Thanks for the link Umashankar I am sorry this bought back sad memories for you.

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  2. Anonymous5:08 pm

    wow the sinister ending totally caught me off guard. glad to hear that you're feeling better. :)

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    1. Thanks Kz, its good to surprise the Queen of Darkness like yourself :-)

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  3. Ah the sinister touch.. love how it changed from any funeral to covering up a murder.

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    1. Thanks Björn I wanted to do a switch of pov at the end. I am glad that worked.

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  4. Brilliantly told! I was reading it as a spiritual, almost folk story... and wham! Well done.

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    1. Thanks Dawn I am glad you liked it. I did aim to put is as remembrance of ancient wisdom before revealing the crime.

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  5. Thanks Shandra glad you liked it.

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  6. Dear Subroto,

    I'm sorry to read that you've been ill and am glad you're doing better. As for your story I think it's one of your best. I also saw it as a spiritual folk tale until the end. Nice set up and twist.

    shalom,

    Rochelle

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    1. Thank you for those kind word Rochelle. I have tried a few of these that mix with ancient texts and quite like doing them.

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  7. Brilliant! :)
    Cheers,
    Ankush.
    http://wheneveridontgetbored.blogspot.in/2014/09/fireflies.html

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    1. Thank you Ankush. Will read yours too.

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  8. Subroto, Glad to hear you're feeling better. Good story with a great twist at the end. Beautiful music. : ) ---Susan

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    1. Thanks Susan. I am glad you liked both the story and the music.

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  9. Anonymous12:42 am

    Dear Subroto, I FOUND YOU! I've been looking. Good story - really devious as the writer sounds suspicious - anyway, I don't think this was a natural death. - on a happier note - I'm glad you're feeling better! Nan :)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Nan, I am happy you were able to find my blog and glad you liked the story.

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  10. Good one, Subroto! There's nothing as pure and liberating like the fire.

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    1. Thank you for reading and commenting Aathira.

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