Maranashaucha

The ritual impurity (ashaucha) caused
by death (marana). All bodily effluvia
(hair, spittle, pus, blood, etc.) are considered to be sources of impurity, but a
corpse is the most impure thing of all.
Any death immediately causes the most
violent impurity, affecting the entire
family. For the family’s safety, this impurity must be carefully contained and
managed through the funeral rites
(antyeshthi samskara). Here one sees
the significant ritual difference between
birth and death. Although birth also
brings impurity (sutakashaucha) on the
family, because of the bodily products
attending it, this impurity is considered
less violent, because the birth of a child
is an auspicious, life-affirming event.
Death, on the other hand, is seen as
bringing bad fortune, and thus the family must not only take care of this impurity, but must also get rid of the
inauspiciousness caused by the death.