History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.320

v5.c72.320

It would be better to state here certain general rules once for all. When any text employs the word day (*ahah*) or night (*rātri*) in prescribing the duration of āśauca what is meant is *ahorātra* (both day⁶²² and night). When counting the days of āśauca one has to begin from the day of the cremation, if the deceased was an *āhitāgni*, but from the day of death in the case of one not an *āhitāgni*⁶²³ (Āśauca-daśaka verse 4, Kūrma, Uttarārdha 23. 52). Birth and death are causes of āśauca only when they are known to the person who is to be affected by it and not by the mere fact of the birth or death. This follows from certain passages of Pāraskara gr. III. 10 and Manu V. 75-76 and the Brahmapurāṇa. Pāraskara (III. 10) provides:⁵²⁴ 'if one who had gone abroad dies, (his relatives) should on hearing (of his death) sit down and offer him water and should remain untouchable for the days that remain out of the proper period (viz. 10, 12, 15, 30 days); if the prescribed period (of āśauca) has expired they should observe āśauca for one night or three nights.' Manu (V. 75-76) is to the same effect. The Brahmapurāṇa states: 'if a donor makes a gift and the acceptor accepts it when both are not aware of there being a birth or death in their family, no blame attaches.'