Ashauca, Āśauca, Aśauca: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Ashauca means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms Āśauca and Aśauca can be transliterated into English as Asauca or Ashauca, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Ashaucha.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAśauca (अशौच) refers to “death or birth in the family”, during whose days a hot-water bath (Uṣṇavāri) is prohibited, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.13, while explaining the mode of worshipping Śiva:—“[...] hot water bath (uṣṇavāri-snāna) shall be avoided on sundays (ravidina), Śrāddha days, Saṅkrānti days, at the times of eclipse (grahaṇa), on days of Great Charity (mahādāna-dina) and fast (upavāsa-dina), in holy centres (tīrtha) and during the days of impurity due to death or birth in the family (aśauca). In the holy ponds and rivers one shall take bath facing the east with great devotion”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexĀśauca (आशौच).—For father's death 10 days for Brāhmaṇas, 12 days for Kṣatriyas, 15 days for Vaiśyas, and a month for the Śūdras.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 18. 1-3.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Manblunder: Garuda Purana series (dharmashastra)Aśauca (अशौच).—When a person dies, the maximum number of days of impurity to the deceased’s relative is ten and this period is called aśauca period. The aśauca period varies on the basis of one’s relationship with the deceased. Aśauca period is also applicable at the time of birth of a child. The only difference between these two aśaucas is for the birth number of daytime is calculated and for death, number of nighttime is calculated. During aśauca period, one should refrain from eating pungent food and should shelve all pleasures. Close relatives become purified on the offering of piṇḍa on the tenth day.
Source: Shodhganga: Devalasmrti reconstruction and critical studyĀśauca (आशौच) refers to one of the topics dealt with in the (reconstructed) Devalasmṛti, a lost text dealing with Dharmaśāstra authored by Devala—one of the most famous personalities in the ancient Sanskrit literature renowned as a Vedic Seer and a highly celebrated sage.—The original and complete text of Devalasmṛti, is no longer existing. About 2500 prose and verse quotations, of the reconstructed text were thus collected, from numerous printed and manuscript works on Dharmaśāstra. After minute and repeated study of topics, treated in the collected quotations, they were classified even into the following twenty-two different prakaraṇas (divisions) [e.g., the āśauca], of the three main adhyāyas (chapters).
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramĀśauca (आशौच) refers to an “impure state”, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess said to Śrīnātha (i.e., Bhairava): “[...] Entry should never be given to one who does not have the Command. He observes the (deceitful) vow of a cat, O god, (such is he) the lord of Umā. He is a fettered soul without authority. He is proud and lustful. I do not see his face and he returns to (his) previous impure state [i.e., āśauca]. (This) has been forbidden at (my) command. O god, the entry (of such a one) is useless”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Dhiti blog: The Navakalevara Ceremony at PuriAśauca (अशौच) refers to “(a state of) ritual impurity”.—[Cf. Śrī Jagannātha (a form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa)]—Brahmapadārtha refers to the “life-substance” or “soul” (of the image carved from wood).—As soon as the brahmapadārtha is taken out, the icon is considered “dead” for all intents and purposes. They are taken to a place known as Koili Baikuntha (kaivalyavaikuṇṭha), the graveyard where all the old deities are buried. The Daitās begin to weep, and mourn Jagannātha, whom they consider one of their clan. They remain in a state of aśauca (ritual impurity) for ten days henceforth (in observance of the typical mourning rites as prescribed by the dharmaśāstras). [...] During the aśauca period of the Daitās, no further rites take place on the new images, which are entrusted to temple servants called Datta Mahāpātras, said to be from the Kāyastha caste. [...]
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Academia.edu: The concept of Prāyaścitta in the Introductory Passages of the RatnakaraṇḍikāĀśauca (आशौच).— The social effects of impurity are extremely dire, entailing the loss of caste and the end of entitlement to basic needs, such as access to one’s social group, food, and socio-legal protection, resulting in the ‘social death’ of the individual.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsAśauca (अशौच) (Cf. Aśucitva) refers to the “impurity” (of the body) and represents one of the twelve themes of contemplation (bhāvanā), according to the Jain Yogaśāstra (vol. 2, p. 839).—Accordingly, “Equanimity is attained through the state of non-attachment. In order to attain that [state of non-attachment], one should cultivate the twelve themes of contemplation: on impermanence, helplessness, the cycle of transmigration, solitude, the distinction [of the Self and the body], the impurity (aśauca) [of the body], the influx of karmic matter, the stopping [of karmic influx], the elimination of karmic matter, the correctly expounded law, the universe, and the [difficulty of attaining] enlightenment”.
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection IAśauca (अशौच) or Aśucitva refers to “(reflection on the) impurity” and represents one of the twelve Bhāvanās (topics for meditation), according to a manuscript [Bāra bhāvanā] (dealing with the Ethics section of Jain Canonical literature) included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—There are traditionally 12 bhāvanās or topics for meditation (also known as anuprekṣā, see Tattvārthasūtra 9.7 as locus classicus). In the present manuscript [Bāra bhāvanā], only the first six are dealt with, each in a few stanzas, followed by a section-title: [e.g.,] 6. reflection on impurity (aśucitva, here aśauca, 12 stanzas, ends on 51v14). [...]
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryaśauca (अशौच).—n (S) Impurity &c. See āśauca.
--- OR ---
āśauca (आशौच).—n (S) Impurity contracted in consequence of a death or birth in one's family or tribe; or from having carried a corpse; or during an eclipse &c. Alone, the word has generally the sense of mṛtāśauca Impurity on account of a death: in comp. The sense of the leading member. Ex. jananāśauca, grahaṇāśauca, nirharaṇāśauca, jātāśauca, pratāśauca, śāvāśauca, sparśāśauca, sx{093c}trāvāśauca, pātāśauca ānugamanāśauca, darśanāśauca &c. 2 fig. Filthiness, slovenliness, disorderliness of person.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishaśauca (अशौच).—n Impurity. See āśauca.
--- OR ---
āśauca (आशौच).—n Impurity contracted in conse- quence of a death or birth in one's family. Filthiness, slovenliness.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAśauca (अशौच).—
1) Impurity, dirtiness, foulness; Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.195.
2) Legal impurity or contamination; defilement caused either by child-birth (called jananāśauca) or by the death of some relation (called mṛtāśauca); it lasts for 1 days; during the मृताशौच (mṛtāśauca) a person defiled by it is not to touch anybody else, or to eat with others in the 'same row or to do any sacred action; अहोरात्रमुपासी- रन्नशौचं बान्धवैः सह (ahorātramupāsī- rannaśaucaṃ bāndhavaiḥ saha) Manusmṛti 11.183.
Derivable forms: aśaucam (अशौचम्).
--- OR ---
Āśauca (आशौच).—[aśucerbhāvaḥ aṇ; P.VII.3.3] Impurity, see अशौचम् (aśaucam); दशाहं शावमाशौचं सपिण्डेषु विधीयते (daśāhaṃ śāvamāśaucaṃ sapiṇḍeṣu vidhīyate) Manusmṛti 5.59,61, 62,74,8; Y.3.18.
-nirṇayaḥ Name of a work.
Derivable forms: āśaucam (आशौचम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAśauca (अशौच).—n.
(-caṃ) 1. Foulness, impurity. 2. Legal impurity, contamination, defilement contracted by the death of a relation, the commission of prohibited acts, &c. E. a neg. śauca purification.
--- OR ---
Āśauca (आशौच).—n.
(-caṃ) Impurity. E. aśuci impure, añ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀśauca (आशौच).—i. e. a-śuci + a, n. Impurity, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 5, 59.
--- OR ---
Aśauca (अशौच).—n. 1. impurity. [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 183. 2. perfidy, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 21, 9.
Aśauca is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a and śauca (शौच).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAśauca (अशौच).—[neuter] impurity.
--- OR ---
Āśauca (आशौच).—[neuter] impurity ([ritual or religion]).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Aśauca (अशौच) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—See Āśauca.
2) Āśauca (आशौच):—[dharma] B. 3, 72.
—by Veṅkaṭeśa. Burnell. 139^a.
1) Aśauca (अशौच):—[=a-śauca] [from a-śuci] a n. (= āśauca q.v., [Pāṇini 7-3, 30]) impurity, contamination, defilement (contracted by the death of a relation, or by the commission of prohibited acts, etc.), [Manu-smṛti xi, 183]
2) [v.s. ...] uncleanness, [Pañcatantra; Vetāla-pañcaviṃśatikā]
3) [=a-śauca] b See a-śuci.
4) Āśauca (आशौच):—n. ([from] a-śuci, [Pāṇini 7-3, 30]), impurity, [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aśauca (अशौच):—[a-śauca] (caṃ) 1. n. Impurity.
2) Āśauca (आशौच):—[ā-śauca] (caṃ) 1. n. Impurity.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Aśauca (अशौच) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Asoya.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAśauca (ಅಶೌಚ):—
1) [noun] dirt; filth; garbage.
2) [noun] ceremonial defilement; impurity caused by either a birth or death in the family.
--- OR ---
Āśauca (ಆಶೌಚ):—
1) [noun] lack of sanitariness.
2) [noun] ceremonial defilement.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+14): Ashaucacandrika, Ashaucadarsha, Ashaucadashaka, Ashaucadashakavritti, Ashaucadidhiti, Ashaucadinirnaya, Ashaucadipika, Ashaucakanda, Ashaucakarika, Ashaucamala, Ashaucamanjari, Ashaucanirnaya, Ashaucanirnayasamgraha, Ashaucanirnayatika, Ashaucanta, Ashaucaparicheda, Ashaucaprakarana, Ashaucaprakasha, Ashaucasamgraha, Ashaucasamgrahatrimshacchloki.
Full-text (+34): Sutyashauca, Mritashauca, Pretashauca, Kalashauca, Ashaucanirnaya, Ashaucamanjari, Ashaucavidhi, Ashaucakarika, Ashaucanta, Ashaucaprakasha, Ashaucasamkara, Ashaucadipika, Ashaucasamgraha, Pakshini, Ashaucin, Ashaucacandrika, Ashaucaprakarana, Smrityarthasara, Ashauci, Acavucam.
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Ashauca, A-śauca, A-sauca, Ā-śauca, A-shauca, Āśauca, Aśauca, Asauca; (plurals include: Ashaucas, śaucas, saucas, shaucas, Āśaucas, Aśaucas, Asaucas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Devala-smriti (critical study) (by Mukund Lalji Wadekar)
8.1. The rules regarding Sravasauca < [Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti]
Chapter 5 - Outline of the Devala-Smriti
Chapter 8 - Devala-Smriti (a summary of the reconstructed text)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 5.61 < [Section VIII - Sapiṇḍa: relationship as bearing on ‘Impurity’]
Vratas depicted in the Gangajala (study) (by Maitreyee Goswami)
Part 3.3 - Summary of the Aśauca-prakaraṇa < [Chapter 2]
Part 1 - Gaṅgājala—its genre < [Chapter 2]
Markandeya Purana (Study) (by Chandamita Bhattacharya)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Related products
