Adiyen’s husband’s sister passed away last week on Panchami tithi; she was a spinster. How many days I and my children should observe asaucam? Must we re-commence the light of Perumal lamp, Tiruvaradhanam, etc. only after asaucam ends? Adiyen’s husband had also passed away eleven months ago.

As per the books there are ten days of asaucam for gynatha-s upon a spinster’s demise. From what we heard elders have observed three-days asaucam for the demise of unmarried women. For a spinster’s demise, the brother needs to observe three days of asaucam and that applies to the wife as well.

A married son should observe three-days asaucam and a married daughter should observe one and a half days asaucam for their aunt, respectively. Asaucam is over by just taking a head bath for an unmarried daughter or son upon the demise of their aunt.