Panchavidha Shaucham: 5 Sorts of Purity

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Pancha = 5

Vidha = varieties

Shaucham = cleanliness or purity

Notice – Shaucham has completely different meanings and needs to be contextually understood. It means cleanliness, purity, readability, honesty, transparency, chastity and plenty of extra.

Panchavidha Shaucham

5 sorts of Shaucham i.e. purity have been talked about. them even from the trendy day perspective, every one among them makes a lot sense. My admiration to the traditional individuals who have written these worthwhile quotes that are relevant in any century or period goes sky excessive. These 5 sorts of purity are very important for our bodily, psychological, emotional, sensual and social wellbeing.

Allow us to shortly see what these 5 sorts of shaucham are!

मनः शौचं कर्म शौचं कुलशौचं तथैव च।
शरीरशौचं वाक् शौचं, शौचं पञ्चविधं स्मृतम्॥(महाभारतम्)

1. Manah Shaucham – purity of thoughts

For having purity of thoughts, the sattvika high quality of the thoughts needs to be excessive whereas the opposite two qualities i.e. rajas and tamas, that are additionally thought-about as manasika doshas i.e. contaminants of the thoughts, needs to be in a state of steadiness. Manasika Shaucha would assist us be in concord with ourselves, set up psychological well being and peace and stop or treatment psychological illnesses.

Beneath talked about would contribute in direction of manasika shaucha –

–        following the ideas of sadvrutta, sadachara and achara rasayana on day by day foundation

–        considering, taking choices and appearing in accordance to the purushartha chatushtayas i.e. 4 objectives of 1’s life – dharma, artha, kama and moksha,

–        preserving away from the unhealthy and dangerous feelings – like lust, greed, anger, worry, jealousy, hatred and many others

–        indulgence in Yoga, meditation, charity, spiritual actions

–        all the time considering good and optimistic

2. Karma Shaucham – purity of motion (honesty in conduct, motion and habits)

Purity of motion is essential in a single’s life. All actions needs to be accomplished with pure intentions and with out hurting the others within the proceedings. Purity of actions would pertain to all three tiers of motion i.e. bodily, verbal and psychological. Our Karmas additionally needs to be targeted in direction of attaining Purusharthas. The ideas and actions talked about within the context of sadvrutta and achara rasayana additionally assist in reaching karma shaucham. If our actions are pure and clear, it will give us satisfaction and peace. We shall be mentally and emotionally glad and wholesome.

3. Kula Shaucham – purity or chastity of the household

A few of us are recognized and revered within the society based mostly on the identify and popularity our household carries. Some villages and cities are acknowledged on the idea of few households which had been and are well-known therein. It’s because the identify and fame of these households have robust foundations contributed by all the great works our ancestors have accomplished. The Kula Shaucham is a abstract of tons of of excellent deeds and it turns into the duty of every particular person of that household to hold the legacy forwards, to keep up the sanctity of the identify and popularity it has and likewise go on the identical duty to the following era. It’s also essential to maintain contributing the identical bundle of goodness in direction of society. It’ll bestow us with not solely a social standing but in addition love and affection from everybody round. This can contribute in direction of one’s psychological and emotional well being and one would really feel protected, beloved and guarded.

4. Sharira Shaucham – cleanliness / purity of physique

It’s the fundamental duty of every one among us to maintain our physique clear and pure of its impurities. Sharira Shaucham contains each exterior and inner cleaning. The regimens like oil tub / therapeutic massage, powder therapeutic massage, brushing of enamel, taking tub and many others talked about within the context of Dinacharya – day by day routine emphasizes the essential of cleaning, caring and pampering the physique on day by day foundation which might preserve us bodily lively and mentally wholesome other than rejuvenating, refreshing and rebooting the body-mind and senses on day by day foundation. Alternatively, the Panchakarma therapies will assist in cleaning the inside of the physique and expelling the morbid doshas, malas and toxins. These cleaning therapies may be taken by wholesome individuals additionally, as part of body-mind balancing and for rejuvenation, in fact with the consent of the doctor. In addition they expel the morbid doshas and treatment the physique of the ailments if any.

5. Vak Shaucham – purity of speech / truthfulness

Purity of speech is essential as a result of our speech tells the society how good or how unhealthy we’re. Monitoring on what, when and the way a lot we communicate, the events wherein we should always communicate and the place we should always not, all the pieces issues and these parameters assist folks to evaluate our character. Talking properly, sensibly, in a balanced and measured means, preserving our speech situational and contextual ensuring they don’t harm the emotions of others is right for every one among us. Purity of speech will not be simple and comes with fixed apply and software. It’ll deliver us respect and honor. This can contribute in direction of psychological and emotional well being. It’ll earn us good relationships, good standing within the society and fewer haters.

To sum up

The above mentioned 5 sorts of Shaucham contribute immensely in direction of bodily, psychological, religious, sensual and social well being and wellbeing. They’d additionally assist us to attain the purusharthas and open up the pathway for moksha – salvation.

Coming to the reference of this quote,

Whereas some have talked about it as a reference in Mahabharata, some opine that it’s from Bhagavadgita / Bhagavata. However there are combined opinions and I didn’t discover any clear opinion in regards to the reference of the quote on Pancha Vidha Shaucham.

There’s one web site the place I got here throughout the dialogue in regards to the reference of this quote and the quotes previous and succeeding this. It says that this verse will not be from Bhagavadgita however is taken from the Asvamedha Parva of the Southern Recension of the Mahabharata (Kumbakonam Version).

That is the closest reference I bought about this quote – ‘Ashvamedhika Parva, Adhyaya (chapter) 14-116-9’