Maranashaucha is a term used to describe death-induced ritual
impurity (ashaucha) (marana).
Hair, spittle, pus, blood, and other biological effluvia are
all considered causes of impurity, but a corpse is the most unclean of them.
Any death triggers the most virulent impurity, which affects
the whole family.
This irrationality must be carefully restrained and managed
via the funeral ceremonies for the sake of the family's safety (antyeshthi
samskara).
The substantial ceremonial difference between birth and
death may be seen here.
Although birth introduces impurity (sutakashaucha) to the
family due to the body products associated with it, this impurity is seen as
less violent since the birth of a child is an auspicious and life-affirming
occurrence.
Death, on the other hand, is said to bring ill luck, so the
family must not only deal with the impurity, but also with the
inauspiciousness brought on by the death.
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