Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 16
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
आचडान्नैशिकी तथेति ट दशरात्रेण शुद्ध्यन्ति द्वादशाहेन भूमिपः वैश्याः पञ्चदशाहेन शूद्रा मासेन भार्गव
ācaḍānnaiśikī tatheti ṭa daśarātreṇa śuddhyanti dvādaśāhena bhūmipaḥ vaiśyāḥ pañcadaśāhena śūdrā māsena bhārgava
‘आचाड’ अन्नभक्षणामुळे व रात्रिकालीन (संपर्क/कर्म) यामुळे होणारे अशौचही तसेच समजावे. (ब्राह्मण) दहा रात्रींनी शुद्ध होतात; क्षत्रिय (राजे) बारा दिवसांनी; वैश्य पंधरा दिवसांनी; आणि शूद्र एका महिन्याने—हे भार्गव।
Lord Agni (narrating dharma rules in the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Fixing graded durations of purification (śuddhi) for different social classes after specified impurity causes (ācāḍa-food and naiśikī).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Varṇa-wise śuddhi durations for ācāḍa and naiśikī impurity","lookup_keywords":["ācāḍa","naiśikī","śuddhi","daśarātra","varṇa-bheda"],"quick_summary":"For the stated impurity, purification is in 10 nights (general), 12 days for kings/kṣatriyas, 15 days for vaiśyas, and 1 month for śūdras."}
Concept: Ritual purity is regulated by time and social duty; graded śuddhi periods maintain communal ritual order.
Application: Use the correct śuddhi duration before resuming worship, śrāddha participation, temple entry, or communal meals.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Shauca-vidhi (Ritual Purity and Impurity Rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher enumerates purification periods on a board: 10 nights, 12 days (king), 15 days (vaiśya), 1 month (śūdra), with ritual bathing vessels and a household setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, guru pointing to a palm-leaf chart listing days, figures in distinct attire for king, merchant, worker, ritual water pot and kuśa grass, didactic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-leaf accents on calendar motifs and ritual vessels, four figures representing varṇas around an ācārya, emphasis on symmetry and clarity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional diagram integrated into scene, labeled day-counts, soft colors, focus on pedagogy.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court scribe recording day-counts for purification, king present, merchants and attendants, fine detailing of textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: IAST ‘ācaḍānnaiśikī’ resolved as आचडात् + नैशिकी (reading uncertain due to textual corruption); दशरात्रेण (द्विगु); द्वादशाहेन (द्विगु); पञ्चदशाहेन (द्विगु)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 157 (Śauca-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana 157.15 (related āśauca timing logic)
FAQs
It specifies graded purification (śuddhi) time-periods—measured in nights/days/month—applied after certain impurities (including censured food and nocturnal-related impurity), differentiated by social status/varṇa.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma-legal material: concise, rule-like prescriptions for ritual purity (śauca), functioning like a digest of social-religious law and expiation practice.
Observing the stated purification period is presented as restoring ritual eligibility and reducing the karmic/ritual contamination (aśauca), enabling a person to resume worship, rites, and social-religious duties in a sanctioned manner.