SHAUCHA
(Purity, Cleanliness)
Every human being is basically the Jeevatma
(Soul), enveloped by the Panchakosas.
Here we are trying to explain how each Kosa sends ripples in the environment
and affects others. We are leaving to the readers to decide themselves
what level of 'Shaucha' each one of them has to maintain throughout their
life span.
Again, we will explain the effects of Annamaya Kosa and Pranamaya Kosa
in some detail. The effects of other three Kosas are similar.
The Annamaya Kosa is composed of solids, liquids and gases, and infinitesimal
particles of these are constantly passing off from the body. Apart from
the obvious daily losses sustained by the body in the excrements and sweat,
there is this ceaseless emission of minute particles, alike in night and
day, whether the body is awake or asleep. The body is like a fountain, throwing
off a constant spray. Every physical object is in this condition - stones,
trees, animals, men; all are ceaselessly throwing off these tiny and invisible
particles. Simultaneously, they all ceaselessly receive the rain of particles
thrown off by others, which fills the air in which they live, and which
they breathe in with every breath. A continual interchange is thus going
on between all physical bodies; no one can approach another without being
sprinkled by the other, and sprinkling him in turn, with particles from
their respective bodies. Everything a man goes near receives some particles
from his body; every object he touches retains a minute portion of
his body on its surface; his clothes, his house, his furniture, all receive
from him this rain of particles, and rain particles from themselves on him
in turn.
The Pranamaya Kosa, composed of the physical ethers and animated by the
life energies, affects all around it, and is affected by all around it, not
by emitting or receiving particles, but by sending out, and being played upon
by, vibrations, which cause waves, currents in the etheric matter. The life
waves, magnetism waves, go out from each man as ceaselessly as the fine rain
of particles from his Annamaya Kosa. And similar waves from others play upon
him, as ceaselessly as the fine rain of particles from others falls on him.
Thus every man is being affected by others, and is affecting them, in the
physical world, in these two ways : by a rain of particles given off from
the Annamaya kosa, and by waves given off from the Pranamaya kosa.
The object of the rules of 'Shaucha' is to make this inevitable influence
of one person on another a source of health instead of a source of disease,
and also to preserve and strengthen the bodily and mental health of the
performer. The Annamaya Kosa is to be kept scrupulously clean, so that it
may send off a rain of health on everyone and everything that is near it.
The Pranamaya Kosa is to be reached by the mantra-produced vibrations in
the etheric matter which permeates the things used in the ceremonies- as
etheric matter permeates everything- so that these vibrations may act beneficially
on it and may cleanse and purify it.
The rules affecting bodily cleanliness are definite and strict. On rising,
the calls of nature are first to be attended to, plenty of water being used
for cleaning purposes, and then the mouth and teeth are to be washed, and
a bath taken. A man is to be careful that no unclean matters remain near
his dwelling. Much disease is caused by the neglect of the rules of sanitation.
It is part of the duty of a good citizen to see that rivers in the neighbourhood
of cities are not poisoned, nor filth allowed to accumulate to the injury
of the public health.
A man must wash, in some cases bathe the whole body, before taking part
in any religious ceremony, and sip water with appropriate mantras. He must
wash before and after meals. That is why you see the following frequently
in any religious ceremony : Achamya (Sipping water), Apa Upasprusya (Washing
hands), Snanam (Bath). But no body can be truly pure unless the mind and
heart be pure. The body is purified by water, the mind by Truth, the soul
by knowledge and austerity, the reason by wisdom.
Besides the impurities due to obvious causes, the birth or death of 'Sapindas',
or of relatives not 'sapindas', causes impure magnetic currents in the Pranamaya
Kosa and therefore sullies the Annamaya Kosa. During the period of impurity,
sacrificial oblations, recitation of mantras and some other religious duties
have to be given up.
Infectious diseases of all kinds run riot where the rules of individual
purity are disregarded, and where houses, clothes and articles in daily use
are not scrupulously cleaned. Modern science is re-establishing, with infinite
labour and pains, the facts on which these ancient rules were based, and
a clear understanding of the reason for their imposition will render obedience
to them willing and cheerful.
For more details, please read the book "Sanatana Dharma" by Annie Besant
and Bhagavan Das.
