Ashauca, Āśauca, Aśauca: 20 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
See also
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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 Translation

Aśauca (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 Index

Āśauca (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.

context information

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.

context information

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: Manthanabhairavatantram

Āśauca (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”.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Academia.edu: The concept of Prāyaścitta in the Introductory Passages of the Ratnakaraṇḍikā

Āśauca (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 Reflections

Aśauca (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 I

Aśauca (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). [...]

context information

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 Dictionary

aśauca (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-English

aśauca (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.

context information

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 dictionary

Aśauca (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).

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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 Dictionary

Aśauca (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.

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Āśauca (आशौच).—n.

(-caṃ) Impurity. E. aśuci impure, añ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Āśauca (आशौच).—i. e. a-śuci + a, n. Impurity, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 5, 59.

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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 Dictionary

Aśauca (अशौच).—[neuter] impurity.

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Āśauca (आशौच).—[neuter] impurity ([ritual or religion]).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Aśauca (अशौच) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—See Āśauca.

2) Āśauca (आशौच):—[dharma] B. 3, 72.
—by Veṅkaṭeśa. Burnell. 139^a.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

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 Dictionary

1) 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]

Ashauca in German

context information

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 corpus

Aśauca (ಅಶೌಚ):—

1) [noun] dirt; filth; garbage.

2) [noun] ceremonial defilement; impurity caused by either a birth or death in the family.

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Āśauca (ಆಶೌಚ):—

1) [noun] lack of sanitariness.

2) [noun] ceremonial defilement.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 15 books and stories containing Ashauca, Āśauca, Aśauca, Asauca, A-shauca, A-śauca, A-sauca, Ā-śauca; (plurals include: Ashaucas, Āśaucas, Aśaucas, Asaucas, shaucas, śaucas, saucas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 5.61 < [Section VIII - Sapiṇḍa: relationship as bearing on ‘Impurity’]

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Division of Varṇa (a): The Brāhmaṇas < [Chapter 2]

Common Beliefs < [Chapter 2]

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Part 6 - Content of Dharmaśāstras < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]

Part 8 - Nibandhas (digests) < [Chapter 5 - The Dharmaśāstra Literature]

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Adhyāya I, Khaṇḍa 25

Adhyāya II, Khaṇḍa 12

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Prapāṭhaka II, Kāṇḍikā 7