Deformutilation: Tibetan Sky Burial

Sky burial is a ritual that has great religious meaning. Tibetans believe that the corpse is nothing more than an vessel. The soul, of the deceased has exited the body to be reincarnated into another circle of life. Sky burial is not considered suitable for children who are less than 18, pregnant women, or those who have died of infectious disease or accident. After death, the deceased will be left untouched for three days while prayed over by monks. Before the day of the sky burial, the corpse will be cleaned and wrapped in a fetal position in white cloth. The ritual of sky burial usually begins before dawn. Lamas lead a ritual procession to the charnel ground. There are few charnel grounds in Tibet, the existing ones are usually located near monasteries.

After the chanting, the 'body breakers' prepare the body for consumption by the vultures. It is believed that the vultures are Dakinis, the Tibetan equivalent of angels. As the body breakers begin, juniper incense is burned to summon the vultures. During the process of breaking up the body, the birds circle overhead, awaiting their feast, the body is then unwrapped, and the first cut is made on the back. Hatchets and cleavers are used to make precise cuts in the flesh, which is then carved into chunks of 'meat'. The internal organs are then cut into pieces, the bones are smashed and then mixed with tsampa, roasted barley flour. This pulverized bone mixture is then scattered on the ground the birds descending to eat their meal. To assure ascent of the soul, the entire body of the deceased should be eaten. After the bone mixture, the organs are served next, and then the flesh.