Reviewed for accuracy by Carlos Vargas, Texas Licensed Funeral Director (TFSC License No. 119648) · Last reviewed January 10, 2026 ·
What the pandit does (and what we do)
The pandit leads the religious ritual: reciting mantras, guiding the family through each step of antyesti, performing the pind daan and shraddha ceremonies, and offering spiritual counsel during mourning. The pandit is independent of the funeral home — our staff coordinates with the pandit but does not employ them or pay them. Honoraria are paid directly by the family to the pandit.
Our role is logistics: transport, facility, cremation scheduling, asthi handling. The pandit's role is the ritual. The two roles complement each other; clean separation is important.
Tradition-specific pandits
Hindu tradition includes many regional and community-specific strains. The right pandit for a Gujarati family may not be the right pandit for a Tamil family. Here are the main distinctions DFW families navigate:
- Iyer and Iyengar pandits — for Tamil Brahmin families, Vaishnavite or Smartha. Typically Sanskrit-fluent and trained in specific agamic texts.
- Smartha pandits — broadly trained, follow the five-deity worship (panchayatana puja) tradition; suitable for many South Indian families.
- Gujarati pandits — often affiliated with Swaminarayan, ISKCON, or independent Gujarati temples. Gujarati-speaking.
- Bengali pandits — specific mantras and post-cremation rites. Bengali-speaking.
- North Indian (Punjabi Hindu, Haryanvi, UP) pandits — shared traditions with other North Indian Hindu communities.
- Marathi pandits — Marathi-speaking, distinct regional traditions.
- Telugu pandits — Telugu-speaking, serving Andhra and Telangana families.
- Malayalee pandits — Malayalam-speaking, Kerala traditions.
- Kashmiri pandits — distinct tradition; smaller community in DFW but represented.
Where to find a pandit
Through your home temple
If your family has a regular temple, the temple likely has affiliated pandits. Call the temple office and ask for the pandit who handles antyesti and shraddha. DFW Hindu Temple in Irving, Ekta Mandir in Irving, and Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in Frisco all have affiliated pandits.
Through community networks
Most DFW Hindu families know someone who can recommend a pandit. Ask in your WhatsApp community group, your regional association (Tamil Sangam, Telugu Association, Bengali Association, Gujarati Samaj, Maharashtra Mandal, etc.), or your neighborhood Hindu friends. Recommendations within traditions are usually reliable.
Through us
Vargas-London has working relationships with 15+ pandits across DFW covering Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, North Indian, and other traditions. If you do not have a pandit, tell us your tradition and regional background at the intake conference; we make an introduction within hours. No fee for the introduction.
What to ask a prospective pandit
- Can you perform antyesti and shraddha according to [your specific tradition]?
- What is your honorarium, and how is it paid?
- Are you available on [the expected day of cremation, typically day 3 after passing]?
- Do you travel to crematories for family-witnessed cremation?
- Do you lead pind daan and shraddha at home or at the temple?
- Can you accommodate family members joining by video?
- What should we have ready for the rites (specific items, flowers, offerings)?
Pandit honoraria
Honoraria vary widely based on tradition, pandit experience, duration of service, and community norms. Typical ranges in DFW:
- Antyesti (pre-cremation and at-cremation rites): $200–$500
- Full shraddha sequence (10–13 days of rites): $500–$1,500
- Annual shraddha (for subsequent years): $100–$300
These are guides, not fixed prices. Some pandits have set fees; others accept whatever the family offers (dakshina). Ask upfront to avoid awkwardness.
If the deceased had a long-time family pandit in India
Some families want to maintain continuity with a pandit in India whom the deceased knew for decades. Options:
- The India-based pandit leads shraddha remotely by video; a DFW pandit leads the in-person antyesti
- The India-based pandit performs shraddha in India at the family's home temple on the deceased's behalf
- A family representative travels to India for the shraddha (common when asthi-visarjan is planned in India)
Non-Brahmin pandit options
Some traditions allow non-Brahmin pandits or community priests. ISKCON priests, for example, are often non-Brahmin by caste but fully trained in the tradition. Arya Samaj priests also perform antyesti in a distinct tradition. Discuss with your family elders and community.
When family plays the pandit role
In some emergencies or when no pandit is available, a senior family member may lead the rites. This is traditionally acceptable for antyesti (though less common for the full shraddha sequence). If you are in this position, we can provide reference texts for the mantras; you lead from family knowledge.