Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
Pancha = 5
Vidha = varieties
Shaucham = cleanliness or purity
Be aware – Shaucham has totally different meanings and ought to be contextually understood. It means cleanliness, purity, readability, honesty, transparency, chastity and lots of extra.
Panchavidha Shaucham
5 sorts of Shaucham i.e. purity have been talked about. them even from the fashionable day perspective, every considered one of them makes a lot sense. My admiration to the traditional individuals who have written these precious 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 rapidly see what these 5 sorts of shaucham are!
मनः शौचं कर्म शौचं कुलशौचं तथैव च।
शरीरशौचं वाक् शौचं, शौचं पञ्चविधं स्मृतम्॥(महाभारतम्)
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Manah Shaucham – purity of thoughts
For having purity of thoughts, the sattvika high quality of the thoughts ought to be excessive whereas the opposite two qualities i.e. rajas and tamas, that are additionally thought of as manasika doshas i.e. contaminants of the thoughts, ought 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 forestall or remedy psychological illnesses.
Under talked about would contribute in the direction of manasika shaucha –
– following the rules of sadvrutta, sadachara and achara rasayana on every day foundation
– pondering, taking selections and performing in accordance to the purushartha chatushtayas i.e. 4 objectives of 1’s life – dharma, artha, kama and moksha,
– conserving away from the dangerous and dangerous feelings – like lust, greed, anger, concern, jealousy, hatred and many others
– indulgence in Yoga, meditation, charity, spiritual actions
– at all times pondering good and constructive
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Karma Shaucham – purity of motion (honesty in conduct, motion and habits)
Purity of motion is essential in a single’s life. All actions ought to be achieved 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 ought to be targeted in the direction of attaining Purusharthas. The rules and actions talked about within the context of sadvrutta and achara rasayana additionally assist in attaining karma shaucham. If our actions are pure and clear, it could give us satisfaction and peace. We shall be mentally and emotionally pleased and wholesome.
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Kula Shaucham – purity or chastity of the household
A few of us are recognized and revered within the society primarily based on the identify and repute our household carries. Some villages and cities are acknowledged on the idea of few households which have been and are well-known therein. It is because the identify and fame of these households have robust foundations contributed by all the nice works our ancestors have achieved. The Kula Shaucham is a abstract of lots of of excellent deeds and it turns into the accountability of every particular person of that household to hold the legacy forwards, to keep up the sanctity of the identify and repute it has and likewise go on the identical accountability to the subsequent era. Additionally it is necessary to maintain contributing the identical bundle of goodness in the direction of society. It would bestow us with not solely a social standing but additionally love and affection from everybody round. This may contribute in the direction of one’s psychological and emotional well being and one would really feel protected, cherished and guarded.
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Sharira Shaucham – cleanliness / purity of physique
It’s the fundamental accountability of every considered one of us to maintain our physique clear and pure of its impurities. Sharira Shaucham consists of each exterior and inner cleaning. The regimens like oil bathtub / therapeutic massage, powder therapeutic massage, brushing of enamel, taking bathtub and many others talked about within the context of Dinacharya – every day routine emphasizes the necessary of cleaning, caring and pampering the physique on every day foundation which might maintain us bodily energetic and mentally wholesome other than rejuvenating, refreshing and rebooting the body-mind and senses on every 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 will be taken by wholesome individuals additionally, as part of body-mind balancing and for rejuvenation, in fact with the consent of the doctor. Additionally they expel the morbid doshas and remedy the physique of the ailments if any.
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Vak Shaucham – purity of speech / truthfulness
Purity of speech is essential as a result of our speech tells the society how good or how dangerous we’re. Monitoring on what, when and the way a lot we communicate, the events wherein we must always communicate and the place we must always not, all the pieces issues and these parameters assist folks to evaluate our character. Talking effectively, sensibly, in a balanced and measured means, conserving our speech situational and contextual ensuring they don’t harm the sentiments of others is good for every considered one of us. Purity of speech is just not straightforward and comes with fixed follow and utility. It would carry us respect and honor. This may contribute in the direction of psychological and emotional well being. It would earn us good relationships, good standing within the society and fewer haters.
To sum up
The above stated 5 sorts of Shaucham contribute immensely in the direction of bodily, psychological, religious, sensual and social well being and wellbeing. They’d additionally assist us to realize 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 website 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 is just not from Bhagavadgita however is taken from the Asvamedha Parva of the Southern Recension of the Mahabharata (Kumbakonam Version).
That is the closest reference I received about this quote – ‘Ashvamedhika Parva, Adhyaya (chapter) 14-116-9’
