Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे द्रव्यशुद्धिर्नाम षट्पञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ सप्तपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः शावाशौचादिः पुष्कर उवाच प्रेतशुद्धिं प्रवक्ष्यामि सूतिकाशुध्हिमेव च दशाहं शावमाशौचं सपिण्देषु विधीयते
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe dravyaśuddhirnāma ṣaṭpañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha saptapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ śāvāśaucādiḥ puṣkara uvāca pretaśuddhiṃ pravakṣyāmi sūtikāśudhhimeva ca daśāhaṃ śāvamāśaucaṃ sapiṇdeṣu vidhīyate
かくして『アグニ・マハープラーナ』において、「物品の浄化」と名づけられた第156章は終わる。いま第157章「屍に由来する不浄等」が始まる。プシュカラは言った。「私はプレータ（亡者）に関わる浄化の作法と、また産褥に関わる浄化とを説こう。サピンダの親族の間では、死による不浄（śāva-āśauca）は十日間と定められる。」
Puṣkara
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Determining the duration of aśauca (death impurity) for sapinda relatives and introducing preta/sūtikā purification observances.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śāva-aśauca (ten-day impurity) for sapindas; introduction to preta- and sūtikā-śuddhi","lookup_keywords":["śāva-aśauca","sapinda","preta-śuddhi","sūtikā-śuddhi","daśāha"],"quick_summary":"For sapinda kin, death impurity is observed for ten days; the chapter frames rules for purification after death (preta) and after childbirth (sūtikā)."}
Concept: Social-ritual order around liminal events (death/childbirth) through time-bound observances of aśauca and śuddhi.
Application: Households suspend certain rites/temple participation during the prescribed period and perform the concluding śuddhi acts at completion.
Khanda Section: Dharma-śāstra / Śauca-vidhi (Ritual Purity and Impurity Regulations)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-sage (Puṣkara) instructs listeners about ten-day death impurity for sapinda relatives; a household in mourning observes restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sage seated on a low seat teaching, listeners with folded hands, subdued palette, mourning household in background with simple white cloth, ritual vessels kept aside, solemn serenity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold accents on the sage’s seat and palm-leaf manuscript, family in mourning at side, symbolic ten-day tally marks, temple doorway in background indicating temporary abstention","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: sage pointing to a scroll listing daśāha, sapinda, preta-śuddhi, sūtikā-śuddhi; clean lines, calm interior setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar addressing a small assembly, detailed textiles, a mourning family seated apart, subtle depiction of ritual suspension, refined architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; आग्नेये महापुराणे (locatives); द्रव्यशुद्धिर्नाम = द्रव्यशुद्धिः + नाम; 'ध्यायः = अध्यायः (avagraha after -o); शावमाशौचं = शावम् + आशौचम्; सूतिकाशुध्हिमेव = सूतिका-शुद्धिम् + एव (spelling normalized to शुद्धिम्).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (Śāvāśauca-ādi); Agni Purana 156 (Dravyaśuddhi) as preparatory śauca context
FAQs
It states the āśauca rule for sapinda relatives: death-impurity (śāva-āśauca) is prescribed for ten days, and introduces the coming instructions on preta-śuddhi and sūtikā-śuddhi.
By treating Dharma-śāstra style regulations—death impurity, postpartum impurity, and purification procedures—it shows the Agni Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into practical religious law and household ritual governance.
Observing the prescribed āśauca period is framed as maintaining ritual order (śauca) after death, supporting proper rites for the departed and restoring eligibility for worship and sacred acts in a dharmic manner.