The state of ritual impurity caused by a birth or a death in the family (death-impurity is also called sutaka). It spreads to the close kin, who are suspended from puja and temple entry for a set period after the antyeshti, classically ten to thirteen days, after which purificatory rites restore normal religious life.

Where this term appears

• Why do Hindus cremate their dead? Essentials →

  …, and even the fact of a death in the family, produces a state called ashaucha (or sutaka ), a pollution that spreads to the close kin and suspends them from worship and ordinary religious life for a period, cl…

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