Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 22
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
एकाहतो ह्य् आविविहादूर्ध्वं हस्तोदकात् त्र्यहं पक्षिणी भ्रातृपुत्रस्य सपिण्डानां च सद्यतः
ekāhato hy āvivihādūrdhvaṃ hastodakāt tryahaṃ pakṣiṇī bhrātṛputrasya sapiṇḍānāṃ ca sadyataḥ
Pour ceux qui n’ont pas encore atteint l’état matrimonial (non mariés), l’impureté dure un jour ; pour ceux qui ont reçu l’eau depuis la main (hastodaka), elle dure trois jours. Pour la femme du foyer, pour le fils du frère et pour les parents sapinda, la purification est immédiate.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Applying differentiated āśauca durations (one day/three days/immediate) based on marital status and specific relations (household recipients of hand-libations, woman of household, brother’s son, sapinda).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Āśauca gradations: one-day, three-day, and immediate purification by status/relationship","lookup_keywords":["āśauca","ekāha","triyaha","hastodaka","bhrātṛputra sapinda"],"quick_summary":"Impurity is one day for those not yet in the married stage; three days for those connected through ‘hand-water’ (hastodaka) dependence/household offering relation; immediate purification applies for specified close relations such as a household woman, a brother’s son, and sapindas."}
Concept: Ritual impurity is not uniform; it is calibrated by social-ritual dependency and kinship proximity.
Application: Use these gradations to decide when daily worship, cooking for rites, and participation in saṃskāras may resume after a death-related impurity.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra (Ashauca & Shuddhi: impurity periods and purification rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest explains three tiers of impurity—one day, three days, immediate—using household figures: an unmarried youth, a dependent receiving water-offerings, a brother’s son, and sapinda kin; ritual vessels and a calendar board appear.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: teacher-priest with stylized calendar glyphs (1,3,0), grouped family figures representing relations; brass water vessel (hastodaka) prominent; clean, symbolic layout.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-ornamented instructional tableau with three labeled panels (ekāha, triyaha, sadyaḥ); priest and family in formal poses; shining vessels and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: schematic, classroom-like depiction—three columns with icons for status/relations; precise rendering of water libation gesture (hastodaka) and kinship grouping; clear didactic intent.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: scholar in a veranda explaining a rulebook; attendants and family members arranged by category; small cartouches marking 1 day/3 days/immediate; refined detail and muted tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Bilawal","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ह्य् = हि (before vowel); आविविहादूर्ध्वम् = आ-विवाहात् + ऊर्ध्वम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158 (continuation of āśauca rules)
FAQs
It gives a dharma-shastra style rule for calculating ashauca (ritual impurity) durations based on social status/relationship—unmarried persons, household dependents (hastodaka), women, nephews, and sapinda kin.
Alongside theology and ritual, the Agni Purana also preserves practical legal-religious norms—kinship categories (sapinda), household ritual relations (hastodaka), and precise impurity/purification timelines—showing its coverage of applied dharma.
By prescribing correct impurity periods and when purification is immediate, it safeguards the validity of daily rites (snāna, japa, homa, śrāddha) and helps avoid ritual fault (doṣa), supporting orderly dharmic conduct.