Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Aashoucha to be observed at the demise of a relative


The relatives on the father's side are classified into two groups, Sapindas and Samanodakas.

Sapindas - Seven generations including one's own, ie:- father, paternal grandfather, paternal great grandfather, son, grandson ( son's son), great grandsons (son's son's son).

Samanodakas - three generations above and below the above.

Sapindas - 10 days
Samanodakas ( upanayana done ) - 3 days

For the male

Maternal grandfather - 3 days
Maternal grandmother - 3 days
Mother's  brother - 3 days
Mother's brother's  wife - 3 days
Father-in-law - - 3 days
Mother-in-law - 3 days
Mother's sister - 3 days
Father's sister - 3 days
Sister's son ( upanayana done ) - 3 days
Daughter's son ( upanayana done ) - 3 days
Daughter ( married ) - 3 days
Sister ( married) - 3 days
Son given away in adoption - 3 days
Biological father or mother ( in case of adoption) - 3 days
Daughter of a sapinda above 7 years and before marriage - 3 days
Son of a sapinda above two and a half years and below 6 years - 3 days.
Son of a sapinda or samanodaka above seven years - 3 days

Son or daughter of father's sister - one and a half days
Son or daughter of mother's brother - one and a half days
Son or daughter of mother's sister - - one and a half days
Sister's daughter - one and a half days
Brother's daughter (married) - - one and a half days
Father's brother's daughter - one and a half days
Son's daughter - - one and a half days
Daughter's daughter - one and a half days
Daughter's son ( upanayana not done) - one and a half days
Sister's son (upanayana not done ) - one and a half days

Brother, sister or daughter of step mother (Sapatnee mata ) - one day
Son or daughter of the above three - one day
Wife's brother - one day
Mother's sister's daughter - one day
Father or mother of step mother - - one day
Daughter of sapinda or samanodaka between 2 and 6 years - one day
Brother from the previous gotra ( in case of adoption) - one day
In - laws if wife and son are not there - one day
Son of a sapinda or samanodaka from 6 months to 2 years - one day

Observed by the wife alone

Wife has to observe all ashoucha obseved by the husband. The following are to be observed by the wife alone.

Father or mother - 3 days
Brother ( upanayana done ) - 3 days
Brother's son ( upanayana done ) -  3 days
Sister's son ( upanayana done ) - 3 days
Step mother - 3 days

Father's brother - One and a half days
Mother's sister - One and a half days
Mother's brother - One and a half days
Father's sister - One and a half days
Daughter's of the above four - One and a half days
Father's father - - One and a half days
Father's mother - - One and a half days
Mother's father - One and a half days
Mother's mother - One and a half days
Sister - One and a half days
Sister's daughter - One and a half days

Step mother's Son, daughter, brother or sister - 1 day
Son of the above four ( upanayana done) or daughter ( unmarried) - 1 day
Step mother's father or mother - 1 day

This is as followed by Tamil smarta brahmins. For other communities it may differ.