Talk:Sadyah-śauca

By Swami Harshananda

sadyah-śauca (‘purification on the same day’)

The smṛtis and dharmaśāstras (secondary scriptures dealing with the general code of conduct including daily routine) prescribe aśauca or ceremonial impurity that accrues to a person due to birth or death or other occurrences in a family. This is of ten kinds.

Though such an impurity may extend from three to ten days, there are exceptions wherein the aśauca may be ended just by sunset or sunrise or even by a bath. Such a purification is called sadyah-sauca, the word ‘sadyah’ meaning ‘the same day’.

Sadyah-śauca is permitted in the following cases: priests chosen for a sacrifice; one who has taken dīkṣā (initiation) for a Vedic sacrifice; those who are engaged in giving gifts especially at charity houses; craftsmen engaged in important

work that cannot be stopped; during social

disturbances or natural calamities and so on.

There is no aśauca for the ascetics at all times.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

OLD CONTENT

sadyah-śauca (‘purification on the same day’) The smṛtis and dharmaśāstras (secondary scriptures dealing with the general code of conduct including daily routine) prescribe aśauca or ceremonial impurity that accrues to a person due to birth or death or other occurrences in a family. This is of ten kinds. Though such an impurity may extend from three to ten days, there are excep¬tions wherein the aśauca may be ended just by sunset or sunrise or even by a bath. Such a purification is called sadyah- sauca, the word ‘sadyah’ meaning ‘the same day’. Sadyah-śauca is permitted in the following cases: priests chosen for a sacrifice; one who has taken dīkṣā (initia¬tion) for a Vedic sacrifice; those who are engaged in giving gifts especially at charity houses; craftsmen engaged in important work tbat cannot be stopped; during social disturbances or natural calamities and so on. There is no aśauca for the ascetics at all times.