Ariṣṭāni: Signs That Death Is Near
An ariṣṭa is a sign or omen. Ariṣṭāni (“the omens”) is the name of Chapter 19 of the Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, which sets out in order the signs that show how much time a person has left to live. These signs range from small changes in what one can see, such as not being able to see certain stars, and strange things about one’s shadow, to more striking signs such as crows or other creatures coming near one’s body.
The purpose of this knowledge is not gloomy. It is meant to free a person. One who knows the signs has the chance to do prāyaścitta (rites of atonement), deepen their yoga practice, make arrangements for their family, and prepare to die with full awareness.
Where the Teaching Appears
The section on ariṣṭas is in the Upodghāta Pāda of the Vāyu Purāṇa, right after the long chapters on Pāśupata Yoga (the yoga taught by Śiva as Paśupati). This placing is on purpose. One who practises Pāśupata Yoga and watches for the ariṣṭas can use the time that is left to gain liberation. The ṛṣis ask for this knowledge so that the seeker is never taken by surprise by death.
Signs of Sight: Not Seeing Holy Lights
A person nearing death may suddenly lose the ability to see certain holy or shining things that they could always see before:
- Arundhatī: the star Arundhatī, beside one of the seven stars of the Saptarṣi (the seven ṛṣis, the Big Dipper). It is shown to the bride during the vivāha (wedding) as a sign of pativratā (faithfulness to one’s husband). Not being able to see Arundhatī is a strong omen.
- Dhruva: the Pole Star, which can normally always be seen. Not being able to see Dhruva is an omen.
- The sun without its rays: seeing the sun as if it had lost its tejas (radiance), looking pale, without rays, or ringed by a dark halo.
These changes in sight show that the subtle body’s power to perceive divine light is fading.
How Much Time Each Sign Gives
The Purāṇa gives a graded list of signs and how much life each one leaves:
| Sign | Life remaining |
|---|---|
| Not seeing the moon or Dhruva clearly | Twelve months |
| Seeing fire as if it had no flame | Nine months |
| Hearing one’s own echo in an unusual way | Six months |
| Seeing one’s body with no shadow at midday | Three months |
| A crow or similar bird landing on one’s head | Six months |
| Dogs howling toward one for no reason | Three months |
| Seeing a double image of oneself | One month |
| Unnatural paleness of the fingernails | Fifteen days |
| Being completely unable to smell flowers | One week |
Signs in the Shadow
In the Purāṇas, the chāyā (shadow) is closely linked with the prāṇa (life-breath) and the subtle body. So changes in the shadow are important signs:
- A shadow that looks headless at noon
- A shadow that looks broken, incomplete or doubled
- Not being able to see one’s own shadow even in bright sunlight
- A shadow that appears in unusual colours, such as dark blue or red
These signs point to a disturbance in the prāṇa-śarīra, the body of life-breath.
Signs from Animals and Crows
Some ways that animals behave toward a particular person are important:
- A crow landing on the head: six months of life remaining. The crow is linked with Yama (the deva of death) and is thought to pass through the veil between the living and the dead.
- Dogs howling toward a person or staring at them for no reason
- Vultures or owls circling one’s house for no clear reason
- Cows, horses or elephants avoiding a person they used to come to easily
The Purāṇa notes that these signs apply only to the person they are aimed at. They are not general omens for everyone around.
The Right Response to the Signs
The Purāṇa is clear that the reason to know the ariṣṭas is not to cause fear. It is so that the sādhaka (spiritual practitioner) can prepare:
- Deepen prāṇāyāma (breath control) and dhyāna (meditation): the time left cannot be replaced, so use it for Pāśupata Yoga.
- Perform prāyaścitta: clear any karmic debts that remain through the right rites of atonement.
- Dāna (giving) and tīrtha (pilgrimage): give gifts of food, cows, land and gold, and go on pilgrimage to holy tīrthas.
- Make arrangements for living family members: see that they are properly provided for.
- Recite Rudra mantras and Oṃ: the Vāyu Purāṇa links the section on ariṣṭas directly with the yoga chapters before it. The sādhaka who has been practising yoga is best placed to die with full awareness.
In Other Texts
Teaching about the signs of death (ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) appears in several Purāṇas. The Vāyu Purāṇa is especially detailed in saying how much time each sign gives. Similar teachings appear in:
- Śakuna Śāstra, the general science of omens, from the Agni Purāṇa
- Teachings on Preta Loka, which describe what happens after death
- The yogī’s preparation for death in Pāśupata Yoga
Sources
- Vāyu Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 19