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 is a tradition for fallen hunters. Salting and burning the corpse also has the practical outcome of ensuring the person does not return as a vengeful spirit or similar entity. 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.

Interestingly, on none of the many occasions when Sam and Dean die have they been cremated. When Sam is killed by Jake, Bobby suggests they burn his body, but Dean resists. Dean, after digging his way out of his grave after being raised from Hell, expresses surprise that he was buried and not cremated:

Bobby: These last months haven't been exactly easy, you know. For him or me. We had to bury you.
Dean: Why did you bury me, anyway?

Bobby: I wanted you salted and burned. Usual drill. But... Sam wouldn't have it.

• Jo and Ellen are given a symbolic pyre, when their photo is burned in Bobby's fireplace.

• Rufus Turner would have been accorded a pyre, but the Jewish tradition forbids cremation. Rufus was buried in an unmarked grave in a Jewish cemetery, rather than given a hunter's funeral pyre. At his funeral Bobby poured some of Rufus' favorite drink -- Johnny Walker Blue Label -- on the grave.

• Bobby Singer is salted and burned by Sam and Dean, although it is not shown. Later, as a ghost, Bobby understands that he is becoming a vengeful spirit, and asks Sam and Dean to burn his flask, his last link with the living world, in a second pyre.

• Annie Hawkins requests a hunter's funeral after she is killed by Whitman Van Ness, which Sam and Dean carry out.

• When Prometheus sacrifices himself to kill Zeus and spare his son Oliver of living with his curse, Dean gives him a funeral pyre in the forest attended by Hayley.

• After Gadreel murders Kevin Tran, Dean gives him a hunter's funeral.

• When Charlie Bradbury is murdered by Eldon Styne, she is given a hunter's funeral. We see for the first time, Sam and Dean cutting down trees and building the pyre as they reflect on their time together. Dean carries Charlie's body to the pyre. On the soundtrack, "Go Wherever You Wanna Go" by Patti Griffin plays.

• After the bisaan are killed, Jesse Cuevas finds the body of his brother who had been killed by them in 1989. Jesse gives his brother a hunter's funeral attended by his husband Cesar Cuevas and Sam and Dean.

• After the deaths of Castiel and Kelly Kline, the Winchesters and Jack give them a hunter's funeral.

• After the deaths of Maggie and five other Apocalypse World hunters at Michael's hands, the Winchesters are mentioned to have given them a hunter's funeral.

• After Jack's failed resurrection of Mary Winchester brings back her body, the Winchesters and Castiel give her a hunter's funeral.

• After the deaths of Jack Wilcox and his wife Dorothea, their bodies are "salted, burned and buried" by John Winchester and Mary Campbell.

Supernatural

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.	Appears in 3.01 The Magnificent Seven 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. Afterwards he gives her a funeral pyre.	Appears in 8.16 Remember the Titans After Prometheus sacrifices himself to kill Zeus and save his family, Dean gives him a hunter's funeral pyre.
Appears in 9.10 Road Trip Some time after his death, Dean gives Kevin Tran a hunter's funeral.	Appears in 10.22 The Prisoner In 10.21 Dark Dynasty, Eldon Styne kills Charlie Bradbury in his search for the Book of the Damned. Sam and Dean give her the hunter's funeral she is due.	Appears in 11.19 The Chitters Jesse Cuevas finds the body of his brother, who had been taken by a bisaan 27 years ago. After the hunt is finished, Jesse and his husband, Cesar Cuevas, make a funeral pyre for Matty.
Appears in 12.06 Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox Sheriff Jody Mills, Mary Winchester and Lorraine Fox stand in front of the funeral pyre for Asa Fox, Randy Bull and Elvis Katz the morning after exorcising the crossroads demon, Jael.	Appears in 12.20 Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes Max Banes uses magic to give his sister, Alicia, a hunter's funeral.	Appears in 13.01 Lost and Found Sam, Dean and Jack hold a hunter's funeral for Castiel and Kelly Kline.
Appears in 14.18 Absence Due to Mary being disintegrated, Sam and Dean take the empty shell that Jack created of Mary from the Magice Necromantiorum spell and give it a hunter's funeral, with Sam placing a photo of Mary on the fire.	Appears in 15.20 Carry On Sam and Miracle give Dean a hunter's funeral.

The Winchesters

Appears in 1.06 Art of Dying Following the death of a hunting acquaintance named Darla, Mary lays her to rest with a funeral pyre.