According to dharma-śāstras, sūtaka refers to the ritual impurity that occurs when someone dies in the family. Traditionally, the entire family that is within the sūtaka period decides to voluntarily quarantine itself for a few days, and thus they stop activities viz. visiting temples, performing sevā of deities etc. Hearing this, vaiṣṇavas too sometimes have queries regarding sūtaka. Here are some answers from our guru-paramparā:
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Pramāṇa 1:
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sūtakādau bhagavat-pūjā na kāryety āyātam, kintu yasya vaiṣṇavasya nitya-pūjā-niyamas tena tatrāpi pūjā kartavyā
Translation: In sūtaka etc., usually one does not perform deity worship. However, for an initiated vaiṣṇava who has a vow of nitya-vigraha-sevā (daily deity worship), this restriction is not applicable. Such vaiṣṇavas should continue to carry out deity worship even in sūtaka. — (Dig-darśinī Commentary on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 12.65 - 68)
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Pramāṇa 2
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pratiṣṭhitārcā na tyājyā
yāvaj-jīvaṁ samarcayet
varaṁ prāṇasya vā tyāgaḥ
śiraso vāpi karttanam
Translation: Service of a deity that has been installed should never be given up (by an initiated vaiṣṇava). One should continue to worship the deity as long as one lives. Rather than giving up such service, one should give up one's life, or cut one's head. — (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.266)
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Pramāṇa 3
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viṣṇu-parāyaṇair iti tad-doṣā nirastāḥ — "All faults pertaining to sūtaka are driven away in the case of those who are exclusively dedicated to Lord Viṣṇu." — (Dig-darśinī Commentary on Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 12.65 - 68)
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It is thus clear that the nitya-bhajana-kriyā (daily limbs of devotional service) viz. japa, vigraha-sevā etc. should continue unhindered for initiated vaiṣṇavas even during times of sūtaka, as confirmed by the previous authorities. One may optionally decide not to go to the temple *as a visitor* during such a period, but if one has a fixed sevā of the vigrahas at the temple, then one should go and perform such sevā. Those who are not initiated by a guru however should follow all restrictions, except for japa, kīrtana and one's personal smaraṇa. These activities should never be restricted, even if one is not initiated.
— (Compiled and Translated by Hari Pārṣada Dāsa. 06-Jan-2023)
