Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 14
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
तथा संवत्सरे ऽतीते स्नात एव विशुद्ध्यति मातामहे तथातीते आचार्ये च तथा मृते
tathā saṃvatsare 'tīte snāta eva viśuddhyati mātāmahe tathātīte ācārye ca tathā mṛte
De même, lorsqu’une année s’est écoulée, on est purifié par le seul bain. La même règle s’applique, après l’écoulement d’une année, dans le cas du grand-père maternel, et pareillement lorsque le maître (ācārya) est mort.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Determining simplified purification when a long time has passed since a death (one year): bathing alone suffices; applies to maternal grandfather and teacher after a year.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Saṃvatsarātīta-śuddhi: purification by bath after one year (mātāmaha, ācārya)","lookup_keywords":["saṃvatsara atīta","snāna śuddhi","mātāmaha","ācārya mṛtyu","āśauca"],"quick_summary":"After a year has elapsed since the death, purification is obtained simply by bathing; the same simplification applies for the maternal grandfather and the teacher once a year has passed."}
Concept: Time attenuates ritual restriction; dharma balances remembrance of the dead with restoration of normal religious life through simple purification.
Application: If learning of a teacher’s or maternal grandfather’s death after a year, perform snāna as the requisite purification before resuming rites.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Śauca-vidhi (Rules of Purification and Impurity)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A person performing a purificatory bath after receiving old news of a death; symbolic markers of one year passing; respectful remembrance of maternal grandfather and teacher in the background (portrait-like presence or empty seat).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: riverbank snāna scene with stylized water patterns; a calendar wheel indicating one year; faint background motifs of a guru’s seat and maternal lineage elder; earthy palette, serene mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central figure at a water tank with gold-highlighted ripples; ornate frame showing ‘saṃvatsara’ as a circular medallion; small gilded icons of guru’s pādukā and maternal grandfather’s remembrance lamp.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined snāna depiction with clear ritual implements (water pot, towel), inset panel showing a year-cycle diagram; background shows empty ācārya āsana and elder’s seat, emphasizing remembrance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed riverside bathing with attendants and architecture; marginal motif of a year passing (seasonal border); subtle homage to teacher via empty cushion and books, and to maternal grandfather via family elder portrait."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: संवत्सरेऽतीते = संवत्सरे + अतीते; तथातीते = तथा + अतीते
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (graduated śauca rules)
FAQs
It specifies a śauca rule: after a full year has elapsed, purification is attained simply through snāna (ritual bathing), including for cases involving the maternal grandfather and the ācārya’s death.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical dharma norms—time-bound aśauca regulations and concise purification procedures—functioning like a compact manual of social-religious law.
It frames purification as both temporal and ritual: once the prescribed time has passed, a simple act (snāna) restores ritual fitness, allowing a return to vows, worship, and daily duties without lingering impurity.