Sutak After Death: Why Doesn’t a Dead Person’s Family Cook?

A family goes through a very tough time when one of their family members passes away. We observe sutak after death and do not cook food the day one dies. We follow some rituals after cremating the deceased. Do you know why sutak is followed after death? Let us understand this in detail.

What is Sutak After Death?

Sutak is the period we observe as a state of impurity at a family’s birth and death. We say it is an inauspicious time. We call the Sutak time Patak after death. Our family members and relatives follow the rituals for twelve to fourteen days.

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Garuda Purana Rules and Restrictions

These are the rules and restrictions followed in the Sutak period:

• After death, we should observe the Sutak for twelve days and call a priest to narrate the Garuda Purana in Sutak.
• We should not worship, recite sacred books, or eat non-veg or spicy foods.
• A person should not visit any temple or a holy place in this inauspicious time.
• We should not give or take gifts or attend any public function during this period.

What Foods Should We Avoid in the Sutak Period?

We follow the Sutak/Patak after the death of a family member. A person should should not eat spicy, non-veg foods. We should avoid some foods if we are observing Patak. We should eat boiled satwik food in sutak. These foods calm our body and soul after the loss of a family member. They are light and easily digestible. For these 12 days, we should consume saindhava lavana ( Himalayan rock salt). It is free of preservatives and chemicals.

Sutak After Death: Why We Should Avoid Turmeric?

In Hinduism, the turmeric is the Mangala Dravya. We use turmeric on holy occasions, pujas, marriage rituals, etc. We should avoid it for the first twelve days of mourning. It would be best not to use any auspicious thing in the unfavourable sutak after death.

Why We Don’t Eat Non-Veg in Sutak After Death?

Non-veg foods are tamasic and bring negative energies if a person dies. These can affect us if we eat non-veg in the sutak period. This is why we cook satwik food to calm ourselves. These foods bring mental peace and positivity into their homes.

The Rituals After Death in Hinduism

The family members follow certain rituals after the cremation of the deceased. We should perform these rituals in the sutak after death. Below are the rituals we follow after one’s death :

• The family members should not travel to other places and must stay home.
• We should not attend any religious functions and celebrations.
• We should not eat spicy and non-vegetarian food.
• You should not eat sweets in this period.
• We should not worship any deity in sutak.
• We should not read holy texts and books.
• People give a basket of fruits to the deceased’s family members to express sympathy.

Sutak After Death: Do’s and Dont’s

Some do’s and don’ts need to be followed in Sutak after death. These are the following :

• We should not cook food the entire day if one passes away.
• You should not wear new clothes in sutak.
• People should not buy new garments for 12-14 days.
• We should eat only simple foods in this inauspicious 14 days.
• You should wear white clothes in Sutak and avoid black coloured clothes.
• A person should avoid consuming alcoholic drinks.
• We should not wash our hair for 12 days. It should be done after the sutak period is over.
• It would be best if you postpone auspicious events this time.
• The clothes of the deceased need to be disposed of in the holy rivers after the person passes away.

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The Scientific Reasons for Observing Sutak After Death

There are some scientific reasons for observing sutak. Here we know about them:

• There are scientific reasons for observing sutak after death. Patak should be followed after one’s death. The reasons for death can be accident, disease, normal death, etc.
• The dead person’s body can carry harmful germs and infections. After cremating the deceased, your body becomes prone to diseases and germs. This is why you should bathe and wear proper clothes.
• We observe the sutak for not coming into contact with any person after cremating the dead. This is to prevent the spread of infections.
• We can complete the Patak/sutak by bathing if any family member has lost his life in a foreign land.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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