Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 41
Srāvādya-śauca
Impurity due to bodily discharge and allied causes
त्रिरात्रं तत्र शाशौचं द्वितीये चास्थिसञ्चयं तृतीये तूदकं कार्यं चतुर्थे श्राद्धमाचरेत्
trirātraṃ tatra śāśaucaṃ dvitīye cāsthisañcayaṃ tṛtīye tūdakaṃ kāryaṃ caturthe śrāddhamācaret
于彼处（死后/火葬后），仪式性不净期（āśauca）为三夜。第二日当收集遗骨（asthi-sañcaya）。第三日当行供水之仪（udaka-kriyā）。第四日当修行施食祭祖之礼（śrāddha）。
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical for Agni Purana narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Scheduling and performing post-cremation observances: āśauca duration, bone-collection, water-rite, and śrāddha on specified days.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Antyeṣṭi sequence: āśauca, asthi-sañcaya, udaka-kriyā, and caturtha-śrāddha","lookup_keywords":["antyeṣṭi","āśauca","asthi-sañcaya","udaka-kriyā","caturtha-śrāddha"],"quick_summary":"After cremation, observe three nights of impurity; collect bones on day two, perform the water-rite on day three, and conduct śrāddha on day four—providing a practical ritual calendar."}
Concept: Ritual order (krama) stabilizes grief and social-religious continuity; śrāddha and udaka maintain pitṛ-connection.
Application: A step-by-step checklist for families/priestly officiants to avoid omissions in early post-cremation days.
Khanda Section: Antyeshti-vidhi (Funeral rites and post-cremation purification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: Ritual site (Śmaśāna/Ghāṭa)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A four-day ritual sequence: mourners observing impurity, collecting bones from the cooled pyre, offering water at a riverbank, and performing the fourth-day śrāddha with piṇḍa and offerings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural in four registers, stylized mourners in white, ash-covered pyre site for asthi-sañcaya, river ghat for udaka, final panel with śrāddha offerings, traditional flat perspective, solemn calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central śrāddha scene with gold-highlighted vessels and banana-leaf offerings, side vignettes of bone collection and water libation, rich borders, devotional domestic setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional storyboard with clear day labels (2nd, 3rd, 4th) implied by composition, fine detailing of ritual implements (kuśa, kalaśa, piṇḍa), gentle palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed cremation-ground and river ghat architecture, family group with priest, careful depiction of ritual utensils, narrative progression across the page"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: cāsthisañcayaṃ = ca + asthi-sañcayam; tūdakaṃ = tu + udakam; śrāddhamācaret = śrāddham + ācaret.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 158.42 (āśauca variations/eligibility)
FAQs
It gives a timed sequence of post-cremation rites: three-night āśauca, bone-collection on day two, water-libation rite on day three, and śrāddha on day four.
By codifying practical dharma-ritual procedure (antyeṣṭi and post-death observances) with a clear day-by-day schedule, it functions like a ritual manual alongside the Purana’s many other technical subjects.
Following the prescribed āśauca and subsequent rites is held to purify the family and to support the departed’s transition, with śrāddha serving as a merit-bearing offering directed to the ancestor line (pitṛs).