Bathing

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Bathing

 

Bathing is an integral part of daily routine in every Indian's life. Special occasions call for holy dips in sacred rivers and lakes as enumerated by the scriptures. That a bath keeps us healthy through personal hygiene is a well known fact. But there are other aspects as well that are not well known. Polygraphic studies proved that water enhances electro-magnetic activity. In the context of this finding, the religious practices like

washing hands and feet before entering temples and taking bath everyday, worshipping with wet clothes and offering prayer standing in the middle of water chest-deep in rivers and tanks etc., seem to be more scientific than a mere act of cleanliness.

Human body is centre of electric currents and impulses. A continuous process of generation and consumption of electric energy takes place in the human body. Maharshi Vaatsyaayana has described the various power centres in human body. More energy is generated in our body whenever we are excited and battle various emotions as well as indulge in intense physical activity. However, at night when we retire until the next morning this generation and consumption level of power drops drastically. This is the reason why we feel so lethargic on waking up in the morning. We are neither active physically non mentally. Washing our face immediately clears the cobwebs of drowsiness. A bath certainly freshens up completely and puts us in our best shape. This happens due to the fact that water consumes the electricity in our body. This is known as Electro-magnetic activity. Physics describes this in detail. Therefore, taking bath has more to do with such scientific reasoning

than merely cleanliness.

The Scriptures define five kinds of bath.

 

Panchasnaanaani Vipraanaam Keertitaani Maharshibhihi

Aagneyam Vaarunam Braahmam Vaayavyam divyamevacha

( Source : Padmapuraana)

 

The application of vibhuti etc is aagneya; bathing with water is known as Vaarunam; Sprinkling water on the head chanting the following mantra is known as Braahmam

 

- Om aapohishtaamayo bhuvah | taana Oorjedadhaatana | Maheranaayachakshase | Yovassivatamorasah |

Tasyabhaajayatehanah | Usateerivamaatarah | Tasmaa aranga maamavah | Yasyakshyaaya jinvatha aapojanayathaachanah;

 

Applying or moving about in the dust from the hooves of cows at dusk is known as Vaayavya; a bath in a sudden shower even while the sun blazes away in known a divya.

 

The Padmapuraana glorifies the importance of morning bath as follows:

 

Praatah Snaanam mahaapunyam sarvapaapa pranaasanam |

Yah kuryaat satatam vipro vishnuloke maheeyate ||

 

A morning bath is very meritorious. All sins are destroyed due to this and the man given to practice of taking bath daily in the morning attains the holy abode of Lord Srimahaavishnu.

 

CIRCUMBULATION ( PRADAKSINAA)

 

One should perform pradakshina and salutations after worshipping the deity. The scriptures enjoin one circumbulation for Lord Vinaayaka, two for the Sun, three for Lord Shiva, four for Lord Vishnu and seven for the peepal tree.

 

While offering salutations one should recite the sloka - Aparaadha Sahasraani … seeking the pardon of the lord for all the sins committed consciously or unknowingly. This is an age-old Hindu tradition which can be likened to the not so ancient Christian practice of confession. The reason for cicumbulations before salutations is that the sudden activity of bending down, bowing etc may cause spasm and burden the heart. It is common knowledge that the blood supply need increases whenever a particular limb is used more. For example the legs while running; the arms while chopping wood. The heart pumps purified blood to various limbs through the aorta. Circumbulation is a kind of warm up enabling easy limb movement during the offering of salutations. We circumbulate from right to left. This eases the supply of purified blood as the aorta is situated to the right of the heart.

 

Salutations : A salutation involves eight parts of the body and the execution of at least three yogic exercises namely. The Shavaasana, bhujangaasana and the adhomukhasvaasaasana. All parts of the body relax in Shavaasana. The practice of bhujanagaasana removes back pain, constipation, thyroid deficiencies, anxiety and cheers up the person. All the abdominal organs gain good exercise due to the practice of adhomukhasvaasaasana. Hands and legs too are exercised well. Women are advised to offer salutations in marjaalaasana (cat position). This also tones up their reproductive organs. Such activities can well be called mild forms of physical exercise. We know that the body temperature increases due to physical exercise. Research suggests regular exercise can ward off infection by raising body temperature thus coping the germ fighting effects of fever. Our seers recognised this scientific truth long ago and incorporated a few forms of physical exercises in religious practices to make man more healthy.

 

Gange cha Yamunechaiva Godaavari Saraswati

Narmade Sindhu Kaaveri jalesmin sannidhimkuru

One must recite the above verse while taking bath. A bath should be neither taken with many clothes on nor completely nude. One should avoid bathing in small and unknown ponds and lakes. Taking bath in rivers is the best. It is, however, not advisable in rainy seasons, during the months of Sraavana and Bhaadrapada in the rivers as the water turns muddy and unhealthy. One should bathe facing the sun standing against the current of the stream in the rivers, in lakes and at home. A bath cleanses and invigorates the body. Taking a dip in the sea is highly beneficial as it contains iodine.

The scriptures proclaim that the early morning bath is the best. This enhances beauty, strength, lustre, hygiene, life, austerity, health and intelligence. Greed and nightmares are destroyed. The sun and the moon are instrumental in attaining the above mentioned ten benefits. Throughout the night the benign rays of the moon and stars fortify water, whereas, the sunrays, during the day make it potent. Innumerous germs and bacteria that settle down at night begin to come to surface as the sun goes up. It is, therefore, good to take bath early morning.

Snaanam pavitramaayushyam srama swedamataapaham

A bath makes the body from sweat, bad body odour, dispels tiredness and bestows good health, improves the longevity of life and purifies man. Hence, one should bathe everyday.

Vaata vyaadhim harati kurute sarvagaatreshu pushtim

Drishtim mandaamapi vitanute vainateyopamaamcha!

Nidraam soukhyam janayati, jaraam hanti, saktim vidhatte

Datte kaantim kanakasadrus’am, nityamabhyangayogaat!!

Oil-massage (Abhyanga snaanam) destroys the problems arising from wind, strengthens eyesight, induces sound sleep and bestows a golden lustre to the skin.

Tathaa s’areeramabhyangaat drudah satvak prajaayate!

Prasaanta maarutou baadhyam kles’aa vyaayaam sansaham!!

Oil-massage dispels fatigue, makes the body strong, smoothens the skin-texture, and invigorates the whole system, external as well as internal, entering through the pores.

An unmarried youth must bathe once a day. Others can take bath twice daily – ie., morning and afternoon. Taking bathe in a river, lake or sea during night is prohibited. However, safety is the main reason for this prohibition. But bathing during night at one’s own place is allowed for the married.

A dip in rivers on days such as Amaavaasya, festivals, when pushyami or one’s own birth star arises or during the Vyatipaata and Vaihdruti yoga is most beneficial. Especially, everyone should take regular morning bath during the month of Maagha.

Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays are good for head-bath. One should avoid the same on Tuesday, Thursday and Sundays. The Bhaavaprakaas’ika says that a bath with Aamla powder applied on head and body keeps baldness, whitening of hair at bay and enhances life span to a hundred years.

Avoiding soaps is best. Instead a bathing powder comprising of Bengal gram, Green gram and sheekakai powder should be used. One should, without fail, take oil-bath, at least once a week.