How many days of Sutak or Ashaucha to observe after the demise of a relative?
This question comes up every time there is a death in the family.
Here is a comprehensive list of the periods of mourning after the death of a relative.
Brahmacharis (unmarried men) do not have to observe Sutak.
The list is subdivided into two parts-
- Sutak is equally applicable to husband and wife when there is death in the husband's family.
- Sutak to be observed by the wife alone when there is a death in her parental family.

Common for husband and wife
- Maternal grandfather- Three days
- Maternal grandmother- Three days
- Mother's brother- Three days
- Mother's brother's wife- Three days
- Father-in-law- Three days
- Mother-in-law- Three days
- Mother's sister- Three days
- Father's sister- Three days
- Sister's son ( upanayana done )- Three days
- Daughter's son ( upanayana done )- Three days
- Daughter ( married )- Three days
- Sister ( married)- Three days
- Son given away in adoption- Three days
- Biological father or mother ( in case of adoption)- Three days
- Daughter of a sapinda above seven years and before marriage- Three days
- Son of a sapinda above two and a half years and below six years- Three days.
- Son of a sapinda or samanodaka above seven years- Three days
- Son or daughter of father's sister- One and a half days
- Son or daughter of mother's brother- One and a half days
- Son or daughter of mother's sister- One and a half days
- Sister's daughter- One and a half days
- Brother's daughter (married)- One and a half days
- Father's brother's daughter- One and a half days
- Son's daughter- One and a half days
- Daughter's daughter- One and a half days
- Daughter's son ( upanayana not done)- One and a half days
- Sister's son (upanayana not done )- One and a half days
- Brother, sister, or daughter of stepmother (Sapatnee mata )- One day
- Son or daughter of the above three- One day
- Wife's brother- One day
- Mother's sister's daughter- One day
- Father or mother of stepmother- One day
- Daughter of sapinda or samanodaka between two and six years- One day
- Brother from the previous gotra ( in case of adoption)- One day
- In-laws if wife and son are not there- One day
- Son of a sapinda or samanodaka from six months to two years- One day
*Sapindas - Seven generations including One's own, ie:- father, paternal grandfather, paternal great grandfather, son, grandson ( son's son), great-grandsons (son's son's son).
*Samanodakas - three generations above and below the above.
Observed by the wife alone
These are for death in her parental family. The husband doesn't have to observe these.
- Brother ( upanayanam done )- Three days
- Brother's son ( upanayana done )- Three days
- Sister's son ( upanayana done )- Three days
- Stepmother- Three days
- Father's brother- One and a half days
- Mother's sister- One and a half days
- Mother's brother- One and a half days
- Father's sister- One and a half days
- Daughters of the above four- One and a half days
- Father's father- One and a half days
- Father's mother- One and a half days
- Mother's father- One and a half days
- Mother's mother- One and a half days
- Sister- One and a half days
- Sister's daughter- One and a half days
- Step mother's Son, daughter, brother, or sister - One day
- Son of the above four ( upanayana done) or daughter ( unmarried) - One day
- Step mother's father or mother- One day