Hunter's Funeral Pyre
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. (one would assume the corpse would also be salted for similar reasons).
The images here of a warrior's death also recalls 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.
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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 Dean Men Don't Wear Plaid When his wife Karen Singer comes back as a zombie, Bobby has to kill her - for the second time.d |