Pt Sri Pranesh Achar (Ananda Rangan)
General
According to general practice, the period of ashoucha for a person begins from the time they receive the news of the death, not from the actual day of death.
For example, if a person passes away and the relatives come to know about it only on the eighth day, then ashoucha should be observed for three days—the eighth, ninth, and tenth days.
In some cases, there may be festivals or important ceremonies taking place in a household. In such situations, the principle followed is: “Speak the truth, but speak it pleasantly.” This means the truth should not be conveyed in a way that causes unnecessary distress. Therefore, if there is an auspicious function in the house, the news of the death is usually not shared immediately, so that the occasion is not disturbed.
After all the auspicious ceremonies are completed, the information is conveyed—typically on the night before the final purification day (the day on which they bathe and become pure). From that point, ashoucha is observed.
If the person comes to know of the death after all rites are already over, then the prescribed number of days of ashoucha must still be observed. Even if ten days have already passed, it is customary to observe ashoucha again for the number of days that would have applied had the news been known earlier.
