practice of Samadhi of the dead. In some sects, the important sadhus (mendicants) are Samadhist. The preparatory rituals are more or less similar to cremation viz, washing the body, applying vibuthi or chandam on the forehead of the deceased etc., but instead of cremating, the deceased is buried. The body is either placed in a sleeping position or in some Shaivite and tribal traditions is in the padmasana sitting position with legs folded and arms resting on the thigh simulating a meditative position. The Samadhi pit is prepared in the community samadhi ground called the shamshana, usually situated outside the city or village. Some affluent will bury their dead in their own field. The burial pit for the sleeping position is generally three feet in width and six feet in length and for the sitting position, it is three feet by three feet. As a rule of thumb among various sects, the saints are buried in sitting positions in a separate place where later on a samadhi is built which becomes a place of worship. For example, followers of Ayyavazhi sect Samadhist the body, facing the geographic north in a padmasana position, without coffinsand it is covered by sand or namam (sacred soil) as an act of austerity for the unfolding of Dharma Yukam.