Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 8
Śāva-āśauca and Sūtikā-śauca: Death/Childbirth Impurity, Preta-śuddhi, and Śrāddha Procedure
Chapter 157
स्त्रीणामकृतचूडानां विशुद्धिर् नैशिकी स्मृता तथा च कृतचुडानां त्र्यहाच्छुद्ध्यन्ति बान्धवाः
strīṇāmakṛtacūḍānāṃ viśuddhir naiśikī smṛtā tathā ca kṛtacuḍānāṃ tryahācchuddhyanti bāndhavāḥ
สำหรับสตรีที่ยังมิได้ทำพิธีจูฑา ความบริสุทธิ์ตามคัมภีร์สมฤติถือว่าสำเร็จในหนึ่งคืน; ส่วนสตรีที่ทำจูฑาแล้ว ญาติทั้งหลายย่อมบริสุทธิ์ในสามวัน
Lord Agni (narrating dharma rules to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Samskara","practical_application":"Determining śuddhi duration for women based on whether the cūḍā/caula saṃskāra has been performed, and the corresponding purification period for relatives.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Women’s śuddhi by cūḍā status: one-night vs three-day rule","lookup_keywords":["strī śuddhi","akṛta-cūḍā","kṛta-cūḍā","naiśikī","triyaha śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"If a woman has not undergone cūḍā, purification is after one night; if cūḍā has been performed, relatives attain purification after three days."}
Concept: Saṃskāra as a marker of ritual status affecting communal observance; purity rules are relational (extend to bāndhavas).
Application: Guides families in deciding when women and relatives may resume temple entry, cooking for rites, and social participation.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Ashauca-śuddhi (Impurity and Purification Rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two contrasted domestic vignettes: (1) a young girl without cūḍā where purification is marked by a single night; (2) a girl/woman after cūḍā with relatives observing three-day restraint, with ritual bathing and lamp-lighting at completion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, split-scene composition, stylized women figures, one-night lamp vigil in one panel, three-day family observance in another, ritual bath pot and white garments, calm solemnity.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold detailing on hair ornaments and ritual vessels, depiction of cūḍā-related hair arrangement, family grouped respectfully, emphasis on auspicious closure after prescribed days.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic labels ‘1 night’ and ‘3 days’, fine lines showing hair/tonsure marker, priest indicating rule to household women.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate zenana/domestic interior, attendants with water ewer, family elders counting days, subtle depiction of hair/tonsure status, refined textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्त्रीणामकृतचूडानां = स्त्रीणाम् + अकृतचूडानाम्; विशुद्धिर् नैशिकी = विशुद्धिः + नैशिकी (ः + न → र्); त्र्यहाच्छुद्ध्यन्ति = त्र्यहात् + शुद्ध्यन्ति (त् + श → च्छ)
Related Themes: Agni Purana: saṃskāra discussions (cūḍā/caula) and āśauca rules in chapter 157
FAQs
It specifies the duration of śuddhi (purificatory period) connected with a woman’s saṃskāra-status (whether the cūḍā rite has been performed), stating one-night purification for akṛta-cūḍā and three-day purification for kṛta-cūḍā, affecting the household/relatives.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana compiles practical dharma regulations—here, detailed aśauca/śuddhi time-counts tied to life-cycle rites—showing its breadth as a reference for ritual law and social-religious practice.
Observing the stated purification periods is treated as dharmic discipline that restores ritual eligibility (for worship, offerings, and domestic rites) and helps prevent the carryover of impurity, aligning conduct with prescribed saṃskāra-based order.