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

Pancha = 5

Vidha = varieties

Shaucham = cleanliness or purity

Observe – Shaucham has totally different meanings and ought 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. Taking a look at them even from the trendy day perspective, every certainly one of them makes a lot sense. My admiration to the traditional individuals who have written these beneficial 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)

1. 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-about as manasika doshas i.e. contaminants of the thoughts, ought to be in a state of stability. Manasika Shaucha would assist us be in concord with ourselves, set up psychological well being and peace and stop or treatment psychological illnesses.

Under talked about would contribute in direction of manasika shaucha –

–        following the ideas of sadvrutta, sadachara and achara rasayana on each 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,

–        holding away from the unhealthy and dangerous feelings – like lust, greed, anger, worry, jealousy, hatred and so forth

–        indulgence in Yoga, meditation, charity, spiritual actions

–        at all times considering good and optimistic

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

Purity of motion is essential in a single’s life. All actions ought to be carried out 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 centered in direction of attaining Purusharthas. The ideas 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 can be mentally and emotionally joyful and wholesome.

3. Kula Shaucham – purity or chastity of the household

A few of us are recognized and revered within the society primarily based on the title and repute our household carries. Some villages and cities are acknowledged on the premise of few households which had been and are well-known therein. It is because the title and fame of these households have robust foundations contributed by all the great works our ancestors have carried out. The Kula Shaucham is a abstract of lots of of fine deeds and it turns into the accountability of every particular person of that household to hold the legacy forwards, to take care of the sanctity of the title and repute it has and in addition cross on the identical accountability to the subsequent era. It is usually vital to maintain contributing the identical bundle of goodness in direction of society. It would bestow us with not solely a social standing but in addition love and affection from everybody round. This may contribute in direction of one’s psychological and emotional well being and one would really feel secure, beloved and guarded.

4. Sharira Shaucham – cleanliness / purity of physique

It’s the primary accountability of every certainly one of us to maintain our physique clear and pure of its impurities. Sharira Shaucham consists of each exterior and inside cleaning. The regimens like oil bathtub / therapeutic massage, powder therapeutic massage, brushing of tooth, taking bathtub and so forth talked about within the context of Dinacharya – each day routine emphasizes the vital of cleaning, caring and pampering the physique on each day foundation which might maintain us bodily energetic and mentally wholesome other than rejuvenating, refreshing and rebooting the body-mind and senses on each 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 could 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 converse, the events wherein we should always converse and the place we should always not, the whole lot issues and these parameters assist folks to guage our character. Talking effectively, sensibly, in a balanced and measured means, holding our speech situational and contextual ensuring they don’t harm the sentiments of others is good for every certainly one of us. Purity of speech just isn’t straightforward and comes with fixed apply and software. It would convey us respect and honor. This may contribute in 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 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 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 may be 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 just isn’t 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’