Bathing - Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra

It is said, ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness.’

The first Niyama in yoga is Saucha i.e. cleanliness. The Niyamas are the things you have to do for yourself. These are at the second step in the eight-fold path of yoga. The first step is what you should not do with others, which are the Yamas.

So the first Niyama i.e. Saucha talks of cleanliness at the internal, external and mental levels. These are the levels we have to clean ourselves at. We do get dirty knowingly or unknowingly. However, much as we may clean ourselves externally, if we have bad/dirty thoughts, their toxic effect will definitely influence the mind. If we clean ourselves only from the inside and not from the outside, that, too, is wrong.

Bathing is a simple and beautiful process. The Yoga Shastras have beautifully described this process. When the Sun rises the person should be at the river. There is flowing water which is warm. The water is warm because it has the warmth of the earth/ground. The person looks at the Sun, shows his gratitude to it, prays to it, and has pure thoughts in his mind. It is said that when the water comes into one’s hands it is as if the water is flowing from the feet of Lord Shiva. The water brings in the feeling of humility that we have not created water. It was always there and it is a natural strength which we need. So, with that water in our hands, we feel that we shall be cleansed and thank God for it.