History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.299

v5.c72.299

Another example of the dependence of the days of impurity on the caste of the deceased and of varying dicta thereon may be cited. Manu V. 83, Dakṣa VI. 7, Yāj III. 22, Atri (verse 85), Saṅkha (15. 2–3), Matsyapurāṇa (18. 2–3), Brahmapurāṇa 220. 63, Viṣṇu Dh. S 22. 1–4, all lay down periods of 10 days, 12 days, 15 days and a month for impurity among brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras respectively. Yāj. III. 22 makes the virtuous śūdra observe impurity only for 15 days as a concession. Gaut. (15. 1–4) prescribes 10, 11, 12 days (or half month) and a month respectively for the four varṇas, while Vas. (4. 27–30) gives the periods of 10, 15, 20 and one month for the four varṇas. Prof. D. R. Bhandarkar, in his article on Nāgara brāhmaṇas and Kāyasthas of Bengal, protests that the Kāyasthas of Bengal (owing to social tyranny) still observe āśauca for one month as if they are ordinary śūdras (I. A. for 1932 at p. 71). On the other hand, Aṅgiras (quoted by the Mit. on Yāj. III. 22) states that Śātātapa declared that all varṇas become purified after ten days whether the impurity is due to birth or death.⁶⁰⁹ Parāśara (III. 9) quoted by the Mit. on Yāj. III. 18 provides that a sapiṇḍa who is 4th in descent from the common ancestor of the deceased and himself becomes pure after ten days, one who is 5th after 6 days, one who is 6th in descent after four days and one who is 7th after one day. The Mit. says that this should be discarded as it is in conflict with many other smṛtis and is disapproved of by people.⁶¹⁰ Some of the rules mentioned by Vijñāneśvara (about 1100 A. D ) themselves underwent changes in 500 years as noted by the Nirṇayasindhu (composed in 1612 A. D.⁶¹¹).