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.	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