Sutak
Every question on the site tagged Sutak, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
The period of ritual impurity observed by a family after a birth or death, during which regular worship is paused.
108 notes from our sourcesNotes from our sources
Sutak pauses regular worship, a permanent idol under about six inches replaces paper photos and is not moved or bathed daily, and havan may be substituted with extra chanting or donated materials.
Sutak pauses regular worship, permanent idols should be used instead of paper photos, the main idol should not exceed about 6 inches, the primary idol should not be moved or bathed daily after installation, pregnant women past three months should avoid the core worship area, and Havan can be substituted with extra chanting or donated materials.
What spiritual practices remain permitted during Sutak or before Varshiki rites?
During bereavement (Sutak) or before the annual death-anniversary rites (Varshiki), when major ritual Sadhanas are prohibited, one may light a lamp for Kshetrapala or recite chapters from the Bhagavad Gita or Devi Gita, which bestows merit and elevates the departed soul.
A Lakshmi mantra begun on Akshay Tritiya eases financial distress, ant-infested Prasad goes to the ants or a cow, and a pet's death carries one day of Sutak
The Lakshmi Mala Mantra or Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, started on Akshaya Tritiya, helps with financial distress; ant-infested Prasad should be left for the ants or given to cows; Yantras should be kept clean and periodically bathed; and a pet's death carries a one-day Sutak (three days for a cow).
What are the wearing and maintenance rules for the Tara Raksha Sutra?
Men and unmarried individuals wear it on the right wrist, married women on the left; it need not be removed during birth/death impurity, but if exposed should be cleaned with Gangajal, Panchagavya, or Panchamrita before being shown incense/lamp and re-worn.
What if havan is simply not possible for a whole year?
For someone unable to arrange a havan at home for a year but wanting to read Saptashati twice a month, the path itself may still be done on ashtami and chaturdashi. Only where a genuine sutak-patak affects the home temple would the path itself be discouraged; otherwise, in place of the havan one cannot manage, havan samagri may simply be donated to a temple.
No havan within a year of a death in the family
Asked whether a havan may be done when a year has not yet passed since a father-in-law's death, the speaker agrees it should not. He notes that some hold the arrival of a new samvat to end the period, but says one should follow whatever rule one's own family keeps.
What is the rule for spiritual practice during Sutak or Patak (birth or death impurity)?
Physical touch of idols, lighting lamps, and visiting temples are suspended during Sutak or Patak, but mental chanting (Manasik Japa) and mental remembrance of God remain permissible and carry no defect.
Why is tantra most effective during sutak-patak and family celebrations?
The speaker says that tantra done at a wedding, a birth or a death in the family is the kind people later discover only when they consult someone, though in principle Sutak-patak ought to make tantra less effective, not more. His explanation: at all these times the kul Pitr have arrived in the house; dev shaktis are present at a mangalik function but during sutak-patak they move away from the place and stay apart, so the pitrs alone stand in place of the devas and carry responsibility for everything, and pitrs can fairly easily be defiled through Kshudra Vidya. Envious people and tantra-minded practitioners know this and use it, and an envious person, he adds, never wishes you well and does not care by what means or how low the prayoga stoops.
No protective ghera or bandhan lasts forever: sutak breaks it and the enemy gets it cut
The speaker says that whatever protective ghera, Bandhan or the like any sadhak puts on you, however much effort he puts in, it stays for a limited time only. If you enter any Sutak, it breaks. And since the enemy is getting strong Abhichara done, he will cut your bandhans: he will look at which devata's vachan the bandhan was placed with, whether you have done tantra-mantra, which shakti is protecting you, and he will certainly get it cut.
If someone dies in a practitioner's hands while being helped during sadhana, does that make the sadhana Khandita (broken)?
No — a death occurring while a practitioner is actively trying to save that person's life during sadhana does not make the sadhana Khandita; if the deceased is family, standard Sutaka/Pataka mourning rules apply before resuming, and if an outsider, a simple purificatory bath is enough to resume.
What rules govern a mala received or worn from the Kumbh?
Wear it after bathing and it may be worn always; remove it at night where a Rudraksha risks being crushed, and re-wear after the morning bath. During menstruation only the Kamakhya mala is kept on; after Sutak the thread is changed and the mala passed through fire.
Purifying a mala with camphor fire after sutak-patak in the house
The speaker says Agni Dev has the boon that whatever he touches becomes pure. So when Sutak-patak has fallen on a house and the sadhak resumes sadhana, there is a provision to restore the purity of a thread-strung Mala by touching it to fire: light a Kapoor flame, meditate on Agni Dev, and pass the mala lightly through it — that mere touch purifies it.
What if sutak attaches to a thread worn from a 32-namavali sadhana?
For those who have previously done the sadhana of Bhagavati's 32 namavali and the rest: if any sutak or patak has attached, then change the thread and make it again. Or else you may do the paath again; there is no need to make an offering of it. Once it is worn on the body, when we do japa its energy will keep coming to us of itself; there is no need to have a separate offering made upon it.
Can Navratri and Ram Navami puja be done after a death in the family?
Asked by a listener whose relative died on a Navratri day in 2021 whether the Navratri and Ram Navami puja should be done or not, he says one should walk according to whatever the family directs, according to the elders of the house; or take counsel with the pandit ji of your own region. How near a relative they were — there are many things to be looked at — so take counsel once with a regional brahman who knows these subjects.
Can Navratri be done fully when a death in the family occurred less than a year ago?
Asked whether Navratri can be done completely when the mother-in-law's death took place in April 2022, the year is not complete and the father-in-law is not living, he says yes, it can be done. He also notes that for how to tell the negative effect of tantra in a house there are separate videos on the channel.
How long after a death in the family before sadhana may begin?
Asked how many days after the terahvin has ended one should begin some sadhana if a death has occurred in the family, the speaker answers: do it after a sava mahina. Do it only after forty-five days have passed — that is more excellent.
Can one join an anushthan after a death in the family?
Told that a listener's uncle passed away on the day of Dussehra, the speaker says: then you are in sutak now, are you not — how will you take part in the anushthan just now? Do not take part just now.
What should be done if Sutak falls during the sadhana?
Going is not forbidden and incurs no fault. But a Kavach or mala strung on thread must be removed beforehand, and the thread replaced on returning after bathing — whereas silver articles need only the bath.
Why does sutak make touching a vigraha forbidden, rather than the devata itself becoming untouchable?
Consider, he says, that nine or ten hours before an eclipse falls, sutak sets in — and in the time of sutak the touching of Shri vigrahas stays forbidden. In the time of sutak the devatas do not become untouchable; the sutak attaches in our body. We do not remain fit; this body of excrement and urine does not remain fit that we should touch a deva vigraha. It is for the sake of our own welfare, because that is a maha-urja endowed with countless tattvas, and if we touch in such a state, we will have the difficulty.
What may one do who cannot perform puja for a year?
Manoj ji, you can do the path of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and the path of the Shiv Gita, the speaker answers. If you cannot do puja for the year, then you may do path and the like — but do not light dhoop and deep, or do as the pandit ji has told you by vidhi-vidhan.
Trouble in the heart returned as soon as the pujan-path resumed after the sutak.
A listener says that during the sutak of a birth there was next to no difficulty, and as soon as he restarted the pujan-path the trouble in his heart began again in the same way. That is, in the sutak kaal there was no trouble — meaning your pitr are strong, the speaker answers. They are all right.
Many obstacles came in the middle and sutak broke the sadhana on the third day.
A listener reports that last time he did the Sankat Nashan Ganesh sadhana, a great many obstacles came in the middle, and on the third day the sadhana became khandit because of sutak.
What if sutak has fallen?
If sutak has fallen, do it after the sutak is complete — although, the speaker adds, it stays proper to do it only in Kartik.
Why must a piece of silver go into the material?
He says that whenever any material is used, a piece of silver should certainly be used in it — even a small quantity, though it should be as much as possible. Its effect is that whenever sutak-patak falls on the house, the keel you have fixed and the bandhan done through the kalash will not take sutak-patak and will not become impure.
What can be recited during sutak?
He says that in sutak one can do the manasik paath of kavach and stotra. Do the paath of the Gita and the like.
Will mantra japa produce siddhi on the eclipse day?
Asked whether there will be any siddhi of mantra japa on the day of the lunar eclipse on the fifth, he says that would be a grahan sadhana only — because sutak-patak is not attaching, sutak will not attach at all.
When can pujan resume after a death in the family?
He tells Avadhesh ji that if the thirteenth has been done then do pujan; but see whether the barkhi has been done or not, and what the rule on your side is up to the barkhi. There are a great many places where people keep pujan-paath and mangalik work all closed until the barkhi has happened. Look at that and take the decision.
When does the sutak begin, and until when should a vigraha not be touched?
As for the pujan that is to happen in the morning, the sutak is beginning from 8:20, the speaker says — so whatever pujan-path there is should be completed before 8:20. The touching of a deva vigraha should not happen after 8:20 on the 8th; you will touch again only after 6:20 in the evening, after your Purnima grahan has been completed.
On which day is the eclipse fast to be kept?
Asked what the fast is to be kept for, the speaker says the fast for the grahan, the grahan one, will be on the 8th.
What should be done for the mukti and shanti of a deceased relative?
Asked what to do for the mukti and shanti of an aunt who has passed away, the speaker says the vidhi vidhan that exists in the tradition should certainly be done, and along with that one should have the recitation of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita performed. And if one is not able to have it performed, then oneself recite the seventh adhyaya for the whole period, as long as the sutak-patak is in force.
Does the Kalika Yogini sadhana cut the tantra in the house, and what about varshiki?
Asked whether doing Kalika Yogini sadhana will cut the tantra vichar of the house, he says it absolutely will — but do not leave off doing Mahabhairav. Asked separately whether Hanuman ji's sadhana does not exist, he replies that of course it does, why would it not. And to Monika ji he says: if the annual pujan is done, only then should you do it; if the varshiki has not been done, if the barsi has not been done, then do not do seva-puja now, and do not take part in any anushthan.
Can an anushthan be done when there has been a death in the kul?
He tells Snehal ji to first see what relation the person who died in the kul was to her, whether their barsi has been done, and what the custom of acceptance is in her kul. If you people have been relieved of the sutak and you have nothing to do with their annual rites, only then perform or have performed the anushthan; otherwise, if you have to observe a year's sutak now, or if the varshiki has not been done, then do not have it done at all.
How does sutak work in a very large joint family?
Asked by someone whose family is very large — about fifty, with a child being born in someone's house within seven generations all the time, so that the main household people observe a ten-day sutak and everyone else three days — he says yes, it does happen like that. In the seven-generation reckoning, only up to three generations is taken: that is, if it is you, then you will observe it up to your grandfather's brother; from the great-grandfather onward the rule becomes the three-day one.
What are the year-round rules for a Lakshmi kalash?
Their puja will not be done through the whole year, he says; you may do special archan on the day of Panchami and Purnima — as the archan of Mahalakshmi with the hundred and eight names with rose petals; that you can do. Dhoop and deep should be shown to them daily. And once in the year, on the day of Dhanteras, take out the whole material, give visarjan to the kachi samagri and put in new material, sprinkle Gangajal on the old material in that same manner, do everything, dhoop, deep, tilak and the rest, and place it back and do their pujan. That is the whole rule. In an impure state they are not to be touched; and if sutak-patak falls, nothing at all will change inside — nothing is to be changed in sutak-patak, it changes only once a year.
What should someone do who has mrityu sutak till Bhai Dooj?
Asked what to do on Narak Chaturdashi by a person who has mrityu sutak in the kutumb until Bhai Dooj, he says: right now do the path only and only of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, or of the Gita of your own ishta aradhya. Do the naam japa of Bhagavan mentally. Only this much should you do now in sutak, and nothing else.
Does sutak attach when a sister has a baby?
No, Amit ji, he says: she has had kanyadan done, the panigrahan sanskar happened; she has become the Lakshmi of their house, she has departed from your house. So when her child is born, or when a death happens at their house, its sutak does not attach at your place. But one condition should certainly be accepted, and it does happen: if a young woman is the only child of her parents, her marriage has taken place and she is in her sasural, then her husband bears her whole responsibility, and of his own in-laws too — then that whole rule will have to be observed by all the in-laws' side as well; the entire rule applies here too. Apart from this, if she has brothers and all, then this rule does not apply here.
Should the family celebrate Diwali when there has been a death?
Told of a death of a maternal uncle's son, on account of which the family is not keeping Diwali and not keeping the festival, he says: then leave it, do not take part in the anushthan this time. In such a way pujan too is happening for the maternal uncle's son, so do not stop the pujan of the devatas in Diwali; do not keep the festival. At least do the deepotsav in an ordinary way — kindle lamps at the chief places for the sake of the devatas. Do not burst crackers, do not decorate the house if it is very much a festival matter for you; but the pujan should not be abandoned, the pujan of Diwali too. Do the pujan of Diwali. The anushthan you may do in your own house. His own view is that this time you people should just leave it, if you are observing the rule to that extent.
When should the Purnima Arghya be given if an eclipse falls that night?
Give it by the afternoon. If it must be given at night and done properly, it can only be after the eclipse has concluded — it cannot be given during Sutak. Reciting from a book during the eclipse is entirely permitted.
Does the thread of a worn kavach need changing after an eclipse?
Yes — because Sutak applies during an eclipse, the thread of any Kavach being worn is changed the following day. A wooden Danda is reinstated with a milk Abhishek, the Dattatreya Mala mantra and Panchopachar or Dashopachar worship.
How is the Sankalp for mantra Siddhi taken during an eclipse — mentally or aloud?
Complete the Ganapati (Ganesha) pujan and the Sankalpa before Sutak begins, not after. Then in the evening recall it mentally as being under the previously uttered Sankalp. And take the Sankalp aloud — not mentally.
Do the mala and other items need purification and fire-contact after eclipse Sutak?
No. Fire-contact belongs to death and birth Sutak, not to eclipse Sutak. Sprinkle Gangajal, or plain water with a Tulsi leaf, and everything is purified — there is no provision for fire-contact in it.
What kavach or rudraksha should a post-mortem doctor wear?
The speaker says that for a family member who is a post-mortem doctor, the kavach of Bhairav ji, the kavach of Kaal Bhairav, should be made to be worn after having its japa properly performed by vidhi. Never have it worn in a thread — have it worn in the silver or gold that they wear, according to their means, so that there is no difficulty from sutak and the like wherever they may go.
What can be done for the protection of a pregnancy?
Three options, all consecrated by a Kavach you have accomplished — best of all the Kamakhya Kavach: a red thread with thirteen knots tied at the waist; a Gomti Chakra with red Gunja sealed in red cloth; or black papaya seeds gathered in Pushya Nakshatra and sealed in black.
Stopping all puja in the house while a woman is rajaswala is the opposite extreme.
In just the same way, he says, there are people who have made up an altogether different state for the rajaswala: that if you are rajaswala, there will be no puja in your house at all. Either stay on this side or on that, and do not stay with the root subject. One mother or one sister of that house has become rajaswala — one person, one woman. Her husband has not become rajaswala; why should he give up pujan and path, and the whole family shut down all worship as though sutak had attached?
How are siyar singhi and hattha jodi to be perfected and served?
If you obtain them, first check with the one giving them whether the right thing is reaching you, the speaker says. Since this is a living substance, a living thing, its seva-puja happens in a different manner, and he will make a separate video on it. One thing to keep particularly in mind: whenever sutak and the like attaches in the house, then just as sutak attaches to a living creature, in the same way sutak attaches to siyar singhi and hattha jodi too, so their pujan is done differently. Secondly, women should never touch them, because it is a thing that consumes sindoor, that consumes the saubhagya — sindoor is its food.
Which kavach is not made impure by sutak and patak?
The Kamakhya Kavach, the speaker says: in no condition and in no manner does its effect lessen in sutak and patak, nor does it become impure. But if any man or woman ever wears this kavach and establishes a relation with another man or another woman, then a very great dosha attaches. Apart from that, it never becomes impure.
What should those who work among birth and death wear?
In such a circumstance you should certainly wear a kamar band, he says; the waist should not be kept empty. For people who work at a place of birth and death, the waist and the wrist of the hand — not everyone can wear something on the wrist, but the waist should absolutely not remain empty — and at the neck there should be a good strong kavach, of metal, of gold or silver, so that impurity does not attach to it.
How should the trishul be treated during sutak and patak?
Since sutak and patak are a matter of the body, the speaker says, do not touch it during sutak and patak; after it has passed, have them bathed with gomutra and gangajal, have darshan of camphor and the like given, have them touched, and always keep doing dhoop dhuna there daily.
When must the thread of a Bagla-Pratyangira kavach be changed?
Answering a listener, he says the rule made for Bagla-Pratyangira is in the matter of suchita: for Bagla-Pratyangira, in any kavach, only in suchita — particularly if sutak has attached — you have to change the thread. Ordinarily they may be worn always in this way and there is no need to remove them.
Does sutak affect a bronze kada worn with a Mahabhairav mantra?
Asked about a bronze kada on which the Mahabhairav mantra was japped and worn, which was removed before mrit Sutak applied, he answers that no effect of sutak-patak will fall upon a bronze kada — stay free of anxiety. A kada of silver, bronze, brass or copper that you are wearing is pure as soon as you bathe.
It gives the common rules for ordinary householders, not for the Shakta and Kaul parampara
A video on Sutak-patak has been put out today, he says; everyone should listen to it, because this question comes again and again — what the rules will be for those who are jaswala, and what rules apply when someone's death or birth has occurred. He states the common rules there. Now nobody should comment that we are Shakta, we are Kaul, and that at the time of death and birth there is a vidhan of japa in the sutika griha itself: then that video is not for you, and you should certainly do japa according to your own parampara, in which there is no restriction. The rules discussed are those for ordinary grihasthas, so that no confusion remains and they can set their sadhana, asana and mala in order after sutak-patak.
Does a copper Kavach stop working after a year?
If you have not gone into a Sutak or Patak, there is nothing to be tense about. If you have gone into a Sutak or Patak, then in copper its work does stop.
No deity worship or festivals at home until the first Varshiki Shradh
The speaker says that when a family member dies, the rule for the following year is that no worship of the deities is done in the house until the same tithi and month return the next year and the first Varshiki Shradh is performed. He says no Navratri puja, no Shivratri, and no festival such as Diwali or Chhath is celebrated in that period. He adds that the topic came up because in Pitr Paksha many people wrote asking whether they may do anything for a relative who died only two or three months earlier, or must wait a year.
Finishing the Shradh rites in three or five days has no scriptural basis
The speaker says that whoever completes the post-death rites (Dash Gatra, Ekadashi, Malin Shodashi and the rest) within three or five days, and whoever performs them for him from whatever sect or community, is only writing that family's downfall. He says there is no Vedic, scriptural or Puranic rule anywhere that lets all the Shradh rites be finished in five days so that the family is freed from Sutak. People do it for business or service reasons, he says, and however rich they are it does not take long for their intellect to be corrupted and for them to end up on the road. He adds, sarcastically, that if they only believe in three or five days they might as well cremate the body, bathe the next day and skip the fake Pind Daan entirely.
Varshiki Shradh done right after the thirteenth day lifts the year-long worship stop
The speaker says that if Dash Gatra, Malin Shodashi and the rest are complete, Gauri-Ganapati pujan is done, and after the thirteenth day one waits a day and performs the Varshiki Shradh vidhi, then there is no reason to keep stopping deity worship for a year. He notes some scholars insist the full year must still be observed, but says keeping every rule for a whole year is not possible for many people today, and for a householder without a joint family or elders who can carry those rules, this much may be accepted according to desh, kaal and paristhiti. Once the varshiki is done, he says, the rule of a year of Sutak is over.
Early Varshiki plus a fake year of no worship to save money invites Pitru Dosha
The speaker describes a trick some households play: they do the Varshiki right after the thirteenth day and then announce that no puja will happen at home until next year, to save the 15-20 thousand of Navratri, the Shivratri and Diwali costs, and the year's ghee and oil. He says that same cleverness gets written back against them. Either do the monthly Shradh every month and leave the varshiki for after a full year, only then coming out of Sutak, or, if the varshiki is done early, resume deity worship. Deceiving the deities this way, he says, deceives your own life and your children; the lineage suffers later, an astrologer then finds Pitru Dosha in the horoscope, and people call it humbug instead of tracing it to their own act.
Worship still allowed in the year before Varshiki: mental puja, Surya arghya and shradh at a tirth
The speaker says that while worship is stopped for the year because the Varshiki has not been done, one cannot offer dhoop, deep or Naivedya, cannot bathe the deities, cannot do Havan or yajna, and cannot celebrate festivals in full. What one can do is Manasika Puja (mental worship), offer arghya to Surya, and, when visiting a tirth, skip darshan at the main shrine and instead perform the Shradh vidhi there for one's parents. He adds that where the varshiki has not been done this is generally forbidden, so one should follow the tradition of one's own region: do it if permitted there, otherwise do the tirth darshan itself for the sake of the ancestors.
Why does a new mother in janma sutak show signs of abhichar?
The speaker says an abhicharik state is possible, but that in ninety-nine per cent of cases what happens is that an abhichar already in place turns ugra at that time. The dosha of sthan-ullanghan attaches — she has gone to a hospital, and there are fifty kinds of subject at such a place. Pitrs already in difficulty can also give some trouble. But the greatest matter present in this, he says, is connected with Dakini dosha.
Which mantras should already be practised before attempting the utara?
Place a gota camphor on the coconut, one that will burn a while. You should already have practice of Batuk Bhairav's stotra and satnam, or of the Batuk Bhairav mantra you do; otherwise the Batuk Bhairav sabar given on the channel. The speaker says Bamanti Kalika should be made ready for emergencies but not recited daily, and the same for the Janjira. In sutak, he notes, the puja of many deities cannot be done.
Which mantra works during sutak, and how is the coconut empowered?
The speaker says Bamanti Kalika will work — the Bamanti Kalika mantra will run in sutak, and will run all the stronger. He notes this is a little off the householder subject but that a person should keep such things ready; if you have fear, do not do it. Then empower the coconut with those mantras according to your strength, only as long as the fire burns.
What must be done to a yantra or kavach after a sutak or patak?
Keep one thing in mind about that yantra, he says: whether it is a kavach, any kavach at all that you wear round your neck, or any yantra — after a sutak or patak has attached, have agni sparsh done without fail.
How long does a birth sutak last, and does it attach to the yantra?
Suppose a child is born in your house: the sutak of birth attaches, the shauch attaches. Until the chhathi is done, and in any case at least a paksha does not pass — ten days, twelve days, as it may be; ten days is taken as the norm — you will begin the pujan only after twelve or fifteen days. Sutak, he says, will not attach to the yantra and kavach as such; but since we are going to touch them, the purification here is really our own.
After a sutak every cloth and chandani in the puja sthan is washed or replaced and the place cleaned
The first task is that whatever cloths you have put on or spread beneath each deity of the puja place must all be changed. If they cannot be changed, then at the least they must be washed, dried and put on again. Even the chandani that is fixed above must be washed or replaced. If the puja place can be painted and mopped, that is very good; otherwise dust it and clean it.
The deities get a raw cow-milk abhishek, the photographs Gangajal, and everything a new or washed cloth
You must perform the abhishek of every deity with the raw milk of a cow. On the photographs, sprinkle Gangajal, wipe the images well and set them safe. All must be purified. When the bath of all at the pujan place is done, you will put a new cloth, or a washed cloth, on them all. Then come the malas, those for japa and those for wearing: the threads of the mala that is worn should be changed, though he says there is no difficulty if they are not.
Before the agni sparsh: new thread in every kavach, Bhimseni camphor, and a havan at the day's first pujan
Gather everything — all the malas, the yantras, the kavachas — dust them well, and at the least change the thread of every kavach. He allows that a mala that has to be strung is a problem, so that one may simply be given agni sparsh; but in the other kavachas, take out whatever thread you have and put in new thread. Then keep camphor in a vessel — Bhimseni camphor, pure camphor — and at the first pujan of that day do a havan without fail.
Is a patak treated differently from a sutak?
When a patak has fallen, when someone has died, then too after the purification the whole rule remains the same, except that at that time all the thread will certainly have to be changed. At that time take special care, he says, and try to change the thread of the japa mala too — that would be proper.
What must be offered on the yantras after a sutak or patak?
On every yantra, he says, you will recite the Tantrokta Devi Suktam and make an offering. Whenever a sutak or patak has fallen, then afterwards too, if possible, at least 27 paths of the Devi Suktam should certainly be recited and offered upon all the new yantras whose agni sparsh you have had done. It should be done on all the malas as well, and on all the kavachas.
Why the yantra's energy has to be restored after a sutak
Doing all these things, he says, keeps a sadhak's energy intact and prevents its decay — because in a sutak there is an arrival of a great many deities, upadevatas and nikrishta devatas, and an arrival of malefic powers. At that time it is the yantra's own energy that gives you protection. Once the sutak is over, when you do the abhishek and the samarpan with this much japa, the energy comes back into a fierce state and whatever you have done of one, two or three years of japa remains intact. There is no decay in any case, he says; what goes is the matter of dosha, and grace is obtained besides.
What has to be done after a mala or Kavach is worn through birth or death Sutak?
A thread is changed; a copper Kavach is immersed; a silver one on a thread needs only the thread changed. The japa Mala and Gomukhi are washed, bathed in Panchagavya or panchamrita and Gangajal, scented, and then passed rapidly through camphor flame three or five times.
Closing rulings on the raisins used for counting, undistributed pomegranate, Havan during Sutak, and honey in the Khappar.
The 108 raisins kept for counting may certainly be eaten. Pomegranate that cannot be given out is immersed in the Ganga, another river or a clean lake. No Havan is performed during Sutak — let it pass, and it happens only after its conclusion and the purification. Honey is given in the Khappar, in a silver vessel.
Should someone under Sutak keep the Navratri fast?
Where a Sutak has attached, there is no need to keep the fast. Follow the rule of the Sutak.
Does sutak apply to a distant branch of the family living away?
A listener asks whether pujan and path stop for thirteen days when sutak-patak has fallen in the family of his grandfather's other brother, four generations back, since they live outside and there is no coming and going. The speaker says that if there is no coming and going and no eating and drinking together, then so far as sutak is concerned there is no thirteen-day sutak — but a niyam should be made: at least the niyam of the first day, and all the niyam of the last day, the thirteenth day on which the dashkatar happens, should be made by you people too, if it is within your knowledge.
When sutak attaches to a mantra, how a mantra is made tyaajya and how it is again accepted are intricate, separate vidhans not meant for everybody
At what time sutak attaches to a mantra and at what time it does not, in which mantra it does not attach, and for all these vidhans how a mantra is then made tyaajya and how it is again accepted, which mantra is to be left — all these subjects, the speaker says, are very intricate and separate, and they are not for everybody. In his view, those who are not in a diksha parampara and are trying to gather this on a public platform have no concern with the subject at all. Go and take the information from those who are discussing it at length, and then carry out its practical vidhan; we neither discuss it nor ever wish to tell it, because a thing being shown practically is not for everyone and we cannot do the work of throwing you into a pit.
Can a new vrat be taken within a year of a death in the family?
A listener whose husband's grandfather died less than a year ago has already taken a sankalp of eleven vrats of Ma Lakshmi in the Shukla Paksha of every month and has completed three. The speaker says that when there was doubt, at that very time she should at least have asked whatever learned person or pandit ji was near — some purohit will be there in a nearby temple and would have told her; it is a very ordinary matter that no new vrat is to be done within the year. An old vrat that you have been doing — Pradosh, Ashtami, Ekadashi — will not stop, that will continue. It is simply that nobody is to do a new one. And now, he says, we will not get it stopped by saying so either: ask your own purohit ji about that.
What may a sadhika do during her period?
The speaker says that when a stri sadhika is in her period, at that time she will not perform any of this pujan. Some other member of the family will do it. If nobody else does it, then until she has washed her hair and become fully pure on the fifth day, she will not touch — she may certainly do pranam mentally, and no dosh will attach. If she washes her hair on the fourth day, then having washed the hair and become pure on the fourth day, the adhikar of pujan is not obtained on that day: on that day she becomes pure only for her husband, she may do seva for his sake or may touch him, but only on the fifth day is she authorised for dev pujan. Those who do not wish to accept this subject, for whom this is superstition and whatever else is running nowadays, may take their enjoyment — the subject was not for them. It is not my work to stop anyone, he says; we have spoken the actual subject, if you do not want to accept it then do not accept it.
Sutak rules on a solar eclipse day: the puja room stays shut, only japa is done
The speaker says this eclipse has six hours of Sutak before it and six hours after, so on that day there is no need to do puja-path or dhoop-deep in the puja room; it is not to be done, and the whole shutter of the puja room is kept closed. In the Grahan kaal the pujan and bhog of the devatas are not done; only japa is done. Outside the puja room, at most, dhoop is not lit; only a lamp may be lit. That alone is done that day, and the bowl with the mala is afterwards kept in the puja room.
Can puja and paath be resumed during sutak and patak?
A listener says both sutak and patak have attached in his household — twenty-one days have passed for the sutak and eighteen days for the patak — and asks whether he may study the Shiv Puran in Shravan and restart puja and japa from Guru Purnima. The speaker says that if sutak and patak have attached and are not complete, then puja paath, dhoop, deep and the touching of the Shri vigrahas should be kept entirely prohibited; they should not be done.
What may be recited during sutak and patak?
What paath can be done? On reciting the Shiv Mahapuran the speaker says he will not speak with full certainty, but you may recite the Shiv Gita in this state. If you wish to recite the whole Shiv Mahapuran too, then you may, having become pure, without lighting dhoop or deep, keeping it on good cloth and on a good asana. But dhoop, deep and all of that are not to be done, and it is not to be done in the puja room or at the place of worship.
What happens to a festival where a death occurred on that day?
Scripturally it is three years — where a death occurs during a festival period, that festival is not observed for three years and may be observed from the fourth. The local custom of waiting until someone is born on that day is a separate convention; ask your own priest which applies.
How is a rudraksha mala purified after sutak or patak?
When sutak or patak falls, the speaker says, change the thread of any kavach. A full rudraksha mala — 109, 108, 107, 54 beads, whatever — does not have to be restrung bead by bead. Once the sutak-patak is complete and the shuddhikaran and household pujan are done, wait a day or so more, wash the mala well in raw cow's milk, give it abhishek while reciting something of Bhagavan Shiva or the Tantrokta Devi Sukta, then light camphor and pass the mala swiftly through the flame. Agni sparsh purifies it; it is not to be burnt. Cutting the mala and restringing it, he says, should never be done.
What should be done with the kavach in sutak and patak?
At the time of sutak and patak the thread is to be changed, he says. If you have worn it in metal, in gold or in silver, then you can keep wearing it — there is no difficulty; you can wear it as you would a limb. If there is no purity in food, if there are difficulties of any kind in achar, vichar and vyavahar, if you have to go outside, if there are many kinds of dosha, then a little attention has to be given to these things. But if you do dharma-related work, then there is no matter of difficulty.
Should sutak be observed for a divorced cousin living in the same village?
Asked whether the sutak-patak of an uncle's divorced daughter, who had been living in her maike — that is, in the questioner's own village — for ten years should be observed or not, he says: absolutely it should be observed. If her death has occurred here, and she used to live in this very place, then her sutak will be observed with the whole subject, with the full niti and niyam. And for her sake it is you people yourselves who should do everything, for her gati.
How long is the sutak for the death of a cow?
On the matter of the questioner's cow, he says: observe a sutak of five days first. Count five days from the day on which the death occurred. He adds that a video will be made on sutak and patak.
What is the rule for a shivling at home during sutak?
To Bhajan ji he says: whether it is a Narmadeshwar or any shivling at home, it is not to be touched, but a lota of water is to be kept daily in such a vessel that they can be bathed daily. Only the bath is to be given; there is no need to touch the shivling. The shivling will remain at home even in the sutak period, and the rule of sutak applies to it: no shringar is to be done, no flowers or anything to be offered, but a silver bilva leaf and so on should be kept upon the shivling, and at the least Gangajal should be poured on them daily — even if you pour only five drops. Their daily bath should certainly be given.
What may be done during sutak kaal?
On the point that during Sutak kaal there is only manasik japa, the speaker says yes — japa of the twelve names of Bhagavan Datta may be done. And, he adds, it would be good for you to recite the seventh adhyaya of the Gita.
When does a mala actually have to be re-consecrated?
Where a Sutak has attached and six or seven months, an Ayana, have passed — you did japa through the Uttarayana and have now come into the Dakshinayana. Not immediately, and not at a change of season. Those who do japa of Shatkarma mantras must do all of it; for Vedic and Maha mantras the mala only grows more consecrated.
A death has occurred in the extended family — should the household puja stop?
Motivation With Bhakti ji writes that her grandmother's brother-in-law has died, so puja-paath at home is stopped, and that she had made it a rule to give water to Surya Dev but the household people are forbidding it. Follow the rule that belongs to sutak-patak, he answers; the rule of sutak-patak should run in your house.
Should the arghya to Surya Dev be stopped in sutak?
If you are being forbidden to give water to Surya Dev, then they are saying rightly, he answers. You will be giving water with Gayatri — then from where will you give water now, or by which mantra will you give water at all? And for the pitrs too: if the people of your house and family say that even water cannot be given to the pitrs now, then you should indeed not give it. Make pranam mentally to Surya Dev daily.
Can an anushthan be done when an aunt died a month ago?
If in the following moment the varshiki has been completed, and the matter of sutak does not apply in your household, then it can absolutely be done, the speaker says. If the varshiki has not been done and you had to observe the full thirteen days of sutak, then take the full information about the further matter according to your own custom, there, and only then decide whether it can be done or not.
When can the Sankat Nashan be begun after a death in the family?
Let the sava mahina of sutak be completed, the speaker says; after that you can do it.
Can the vrat and full pujan be kept when the varshi has not been done?
You may keep only the vrat, the speaker says; as for the full matter of pujan and paath — with Ekadashi and the like, even when the varshi has not been done, Ekadashi cannot be given up. If you keep the vrat of a tithi then you cannot abandon it; that you may do.
How does sutak at a birth belong to tantra?
When we take birth, sutak kaal falls first of all. If a child is born in a mool nakshatra — there are four or five nakshatras of the mool — then on the twenty-seventh day, what is called satiisa in common speech, when that nakshatra comes round again, the pujan of that nakshatra is done and only from there is the sutak kaal held to be concluded. That too, he says, is a subject of tantra.
The earth's own rajaswala parva, like the newborn's face before the shashthi, was meant to be kept secret
When this earth observes the Ambubachi parva, in which it is said that Jagadamba — the earth being a form of Bhagavati Jagadamba — becomes directly rajaswala, that too is a form of tantra. But all these things were kept secret, and today that secrecy is being broken: people now make videos of a child actually being born, and forget the shashthi, before which in some regions it is current that even the father should not look at the face.
What dosha was said to attach to a father who looked at his newborn's face?
Nobody today considers what harms can come of the act. In the older stories, he says, one used to hear that as soon as the father looked at the son's face such-and-such a dosha attached to him — someone went blind, someone got trouble in the body, his sight fell upon him and difficulties came into the body, skin disease and the like appeared.
Does Lakshmi increase in the house after an elder passes away?
In exactly the same way, the speaker says, when some elder attains death, after their going there is a considerable increase of Lakshmi in the house — those who are satpurush. And very often it happens that after certain deaths accidents begin to increase in the house and there is a very great loss of Lakshmi in particular. In this too there is tantra somewhere.
Until when should a newborn's face not be publicised?
Until the shashthi is done, and until all the initial karmas are done, the face should not be highlighted everywhere; many kinds of suffering can come to the child. In particular it is six days in one place, twelve days in another, thirteen days in another, and if the nakshatra falls in the mool and so on, twenty-seven days. In tantra this has importance.
Can the Kavach, stotra or raksha mantra be done during sutak and patak?
Asked by a listener whether the Kavach stotra and the raksha mantra can be done in sutak and patak, the speaker answers that at that time it should not be done. In the period of sutak and patak one should only do mansik naam japa, or recite the Gita of one's aradhya, or recite the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.
Is Ashlesha a mool nakshatra, and does nakshatra shanti matter after 28?
Ashlesha nakshatra too is held to be a mool nakshatra, he confirms. And after the age of 28 years has been completed, nakshatra shanti, mangalik shanti and the like have no special effect remaining; even so, if one wishes to have it done for the peace of one's own heart, one may have it done.
What if someone performs abhichar on us during sutak or patak?
It is a very good question, he says, and a separate video on it has been made and awaits editing; still he gives a small answer. The very first thing: in ninety-five percent of cases abhichar karma does not run in the sutak and patak period. Ninety-five percent of it cannot be done. As for the five percent that does happen, how much brain has been applied behind it he will discuss separately.
What can be done if sutak and patak were not observed properly earlier?
A listener says that in the initial period he could not observe the sutak-patak observances and now wishes to complete them in the same manner, and asks whether he should just do panchang sevan. Yes, absolutely do it, the speaker says; do panchang sevan itself — you are quite a good sadhak.
When exactly is the Rudragana sadhana to be done?
Vishal ji, the sadhana of Bhagavan Rudragana has been told; it is a one-day sadhana, the speaker says — when there is a lunar eclipse and yet there is not one, that is, when a lunar eclipse has occurred somewhere in the world but in the place where you are living no sutak kaal has attached. And if sutak or patak falls during Navratri, then sadhana should not be done.
Why is a newborn not touched before the chhathi?
Because sutak is in force, he says; that is why there is a prohibition on touching the child before the chhathi has taken place.
Who may do japa in a house under Sutak?
That subject — japa in a Sutak house, or at the place where a death occurred — is for Shaktas who hold that full kind of Deeksha, or for those who do japa of the Vaishya mantra. It is not for ordinary people. Householders who have received an ordinary Deeksha do not sit and do japa in a Sutak house.
Special case: observing the sutak of a death in the household that did the abhichar
When a death occurred in the perpetrators' house after the partition, the speaker says the family did not want to observe its Sutak — they no longer ate or drank together. He told them to observe it anyway: 'sutak has fallen, observe it.' Though the perpetrators would not observe it, the two households were closely related, face to face, so the family too was to keep the sutak.
Can pashu seva for the pitrs be done during sutak?
Absolutely, the speaker says: in sutak, pashu seva is done in any case. Every day the portion goes out for the cow, the crow and the dog.
What should be done for mala and mantra shuddhi after two death sutaks?
You can do it even now, the speaker says. When the shraddh paksha has passed, then on the day of Navratri's Pratipada — but again, if there is a thread in the mala then you must string it or have it strung yourself and then do the whole vidhi vidhan. It ought to have been done at that very time; if you have not done it, then at least have the japa mala shown fire. Wash the gomukhi, and having done the abhishek of the mala with gomutra, gangajal, panchagavya, panchamrit and so on, and then abhishek again with pure water, wipe it well and dry it; then with auspicious mantras, having given the ahuti of ghee upon cow-dung kandas and kindled Agni Dev, pass the mala through it — let it touch the fire.
Which mantras need shuddhi after a sutak, and which do not?
Asked how to purify the Sabar mantra of Ma Jalesa and the Kaal Bhairav Ashtak in sutak, the speaker answers: no — there is no need to purify a stotra or a kavach. It is the dikshit mantra, especially the one called the kula mantra, that needs purifying: the paramparagat gurus give the kula mantra, that is, the mantra which has been coming down in their kula from before. Second, the ishta mantra whose nitya japa you are doing. A stotra, a stuti, a kavach, a mala mantra — if you are doing a mala mantra a great deal — the Saptakshari, the Sahasrakshari and the rest, these do not need purifying.
May japa be done during sutak at Holi?
No — do not do japa during sutak at Holi.
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