Gayatri Mahima

[Guest guest]

Q.8. Is taking a bath essential prior to Jap? What should one wear during the

Jap?

 

Ans. It is more appropriate to sit in front of an altar after taking bath,

wearing clean clothes and perform worship in the morning with due salutations

and reverence. It keeps the mind happily steady and helps in its concentration.

But when duty hours are odd, a person is sick or where it is not possible to

arrange for water, one can perform mental Jap without the help of Mala.

Scriptures recommend cleanliness of body and clothes as a pre-requisite for any

religious practice or worship. Since a routine of wearing freshly-washed clothes

during each session of Upasana, is to be maintained, one is advised to be clad

only in a two-piece garment, one each for covering the upper and lower parts of

the body e.g. Dhoti - Dupatta. However, for protection against cold an

additional under-garment can be worn. Though the pundits prescribe cleanliness

of body and clothes, it is not considered mandatory for all occasions.

Situations may arise when the worshipper finds it difficult to adhere to this

rule strictly. Under such circumstances, one should not discontinue the routine

of worship. Otherwise, the aspirant is totally deprived of even the partial

benefit. Besides cleanliness, the objective of these preparatory rituals is to

help the worshipper in getting rid of lethargy. A sick or weak person may wash

his arms, feet and face, or if possible wipe the body with a wet cloth.

 

Woolen or silken clothes do not absorb dirt and perspiration to the extent

cotton wears do. Nevertheless, these too require cleaning at certain intervals.

Since, now-a-days silk is obtained by boiling live silk worms, silk wears are no

longer considered appropriate for a spiritual practice. These are not

recommended for Upasana. The same holds true for animal hides. The ancient sages

used hides of animals who died a natural death. This is no longer true. Animals

are being killed for their hides. Now-a-days a variety of other floor-spreads

(woolens, synthetics) are available ,which may be used; and cleaned by washing

or through exposure to sun from time to time.