Jayalalithaa dead: Amma's relatives perform last rites again according to Hindu customs for her 'moksha'

The relatives of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa performed her last rites again on Tuesday according to Hindu customs so that her soul could attain 'moksha' (emancipation from the cycle of death and birth). A ceremony was held at Paschima Vahini on the banks of Cauvery River in Srirangapatna.

According to her relatives, Jayalalithaa's soul would not attain moksha as she was buried and not cremated as per Hindu customs, the Times of India reported.

Chief priest Ranganath Iyengar performed the last rites by cremating a doll symbolising her replica. He said that her body should have been cremated to help her attain moksha and that several rituals will be conducted over the next five days.

Varadaraju, Jayalalithaa's step-brother, led the rituals and said that All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) should have honoured her beliefs. Jayalalithaa's nephews also were present with Varadaraju to perform the last rites after having expressed disappointment that her last rites were not carried out according to Iyengar customs.

"Had my sister been an atheist, she would not have visited temples, participated in Hindu festivals nor observed Hindu traditions. Why did her party take the decision to bury her? Why did they keep us away from her last rites?" Varadaraju told the Times of India.

Jayalalithaa passed away last week following a cardiac arrest at Chennai's Apollo Hospitals where she had been admitted for almost three months.