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After someone's death, what is the reason for not going to temple
In Jain dharma, there is no scriptural rule that you “must not go to temple” after someone’s death. This is mostly a family / community tradition, not an order from Agams.
People usually avoid going to the temple for some days after a close relative’s death because of these reasons:
- State of mind (shok / grief)
- Pooja, darshan and prarthana should be done with shant (peaceful) mind. - Just after a death, the mind is full of grief, attachment, crying, arrangements etc., so elders say: “First calm down, finish necessary kriyā, then do mandir darshan peacefully.”
- Time for responsibilities and rituals
- Immediately after death there are many practical duties: informing relatives, body-related kriyā, cremation, gathering, etc. - To keep focus on these responsibilities, families avoid outside programs, including temple visits, for a short period.
- Social / family custom (maryādā)
- In many Jain families, 3 days, 8 days, or 13 days are kept as a mourning period where they don’t go to: - temple, - weddings, - celebrations, etc. - This is mainly out of respect for the deceased and the sorrowing family, not because the person is “impure.”
- Jain view on “impurity”
- Jain philosophy clearly says real aśuddhi (impurity) is kashāy – anger, pride, deceit, greed – and hiṁsā. - The physical event of death does not “pollute” the soul or the temple. - So, avoiding temple is not because you are religiously dirty, but to: - give space to grief, - maintain social decorum, - regain inner peace.
- When can you go again?
- From a Jain shāstriya (scriptural) point of view, once: - main death rites are done, and - your mind is relatively settled, you may visit the temple and do prarthanā for your own samyak dṛshti and shanti. - Many Jain gurus even say: if going to temple, listening to pravachan, or doing samayik helps you accept the reality and reduce attachment, it is good, not wrong.
So, the real reason for “not going to temple” after someone’s death is emotional and social, not dharmic impurity. Jain dharma always gives priority to inner purity, non‑violence, and right attitude, not outer bans.
