Hunter's Funeral Pyre
Pyre
A structure, usually a mound of wood, that is used for burning a body as part of a funeral rite. The body is placed upon the pyre and the pyre is then set on fire. In a Viking Funeral the pyre was built on a ship, which was then sent out to sea as it burned.
– Pad of Definitions (2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown), Official Website
A funeral pyre is a traditional form of cremation in some cultures, particularly in the Hindu religion Source. The pyre is usually a raised wooden platform on which the corpse, either in a coffin or wrapped in a shroud, is placed for cremation.
In Supernatural, the funeral pyre appears to be a tradition for fallen hunters. It also has the practical element of burning the corpse, thus ensuring the person does not return as a Vengeful Spirit or similar entity. One would assume the corpse is salted for similar reasons. Dean, in returning from the grave in 4.01 Lazarus Rising, expresses surprise that he was buried, not cremated:
Bobby: These last months haven't been exactly easy, you know. For him or me. We had to bury you.
Bobby: I wanted you salted and burned. Usual drill. But... Sam wouldn't have it.
Dean: Why did you bury me, anyway?
The images here of a warrior's death also recall the famous scene of the funeral pyre of Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi.
Appears in 2.02 Everybody Loves a Clown Following John's death, after making a deal for Dean's life with Azazel, Dean and Sam burn him on a pyre. |
Following the battle with the Seven Deadly Sins, Sam burns the bodies of the demons that Ruby killed. The camera cuts to Tamara burning Isaac on a pyre. |
Appears in 4.19 Jump The Shark Sam and Dean give their half-brother Adam Milligan a hunter's funeral following his death at the hands of Ghouls |
Appears in 5.10 Abandon All Hope There are no bodies to burn following Jo and Ellen's sacrifice to stop the Hellhound, so Sam, Dean and Bobby give them a hunter's farewell by burning the photo of them |
Appears in 5.15 Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid When his wife Karen Singer comes back as a zombie, Bobby has to kill her - for the second time. |