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{{Short description|Cleanliness in Indic religions and yoga}}

'''''Shaucha''''' ({{Lang-sa|शौच|translit=Śauca}}) literally means purity, cleanliness and clearness.<ref>[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=saucha+&trans=Translate&direction=AU Saucha] Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany</ref> It refers to purity of mind, speech and body.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sharma |last2=Sharma |title=Indian Political Thought |year=2001 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers |isbn=978-8171566785 |pages=19}}</ref> ''Shaucha'' is one of the ''[[niyama]]s'' of [[Yoga]].<ref name=jw>{{Cite book |author=Patañjali |author-link=Patañjali |translator-last =Woods |translator-first=James Haughton |date=2003 |title=The yoga-system of Patañjali; or, The ancient Hindu doctrine of concentration of mind |url=https://archive.org/stream/yogasystemofpata00wooduoft#page/180/mode/2up |publisher=Courier Dover Publications |isbn=978-0-486-43200-7 |pages=181–182}}</ref> It is discussed in many ancient Indian texts such as the [[Mahabharata]] and [[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali|Patanjali's Yoga Sutras]]. It is a virtue in Hinduism and Jainism.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Paul S. |last=Reinsch |date=1911 |title=Energism in the Orient |journal=International Journal of Ethics |volume=21 |number=4 |pages=407–422|doi=10.1086/intejethi.21.4.2376566 |s2cid=144966077 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first=John |last=Taber |date=1991 |title=India and Europe: An Essay in Understanding by Wilhelm Halbfass |journal=Philosophy East and West |volume=41 |number=2 |pages=229–240|doi=10.2307/1399772 |jstor=1399772 }}</ref> In [[Hinduism]] purity is a part of worship, an attitude or purity of mind an important quality for salvation. Purity is a mind pure and free of evil thoughts and behaviors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Purity of Intellect |url=http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Ideals_and_Values/Purity_of_Intellect |website=www.hindupedia.com |access-date=27 June 2019}}</ref>

''Shaucha'' includes outer purity of body as well as inner purity of mind.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Markil |last2=Geithner |last3=Penhollow |date=2010 |title=Hatha Yoga: Benefits and principles for a more meaningful practice |journal=ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal |volume=14 |issue=5 |pages=19–24|doi=10.1249/FIT.0b013e3181ed5af2 |s2cid=78930751 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first=C. P. |last=Bhatta |date=2009 |title=Holistic Personality Development through Education - Ancient Indian Cultural Experiences |journal=Journal of Human Values |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=49–59|doi=10.1177/097168580901500104 |s2cid=145692374 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first=Sridevi |last=Seetharam |date=2013 |title=Dharma and medical ethics |journal=[[Indian Journal of Medical Ethics]] |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=226–231|pmid=24152344 }}</ref> The concept of ''shaucha'' is synonymous with ''[[Shuddhi (Hinduism)|shuddhi]]'' ({{lang|sa|शुद्धि}}).<ref>[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=zuddhi&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes&beginning=0 Shudhi] Sanskrit English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany</ref> LePage states that ''shaucha'' in yoga is on many levels, and deepens as an understanding and evolution of self increases.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=J. |last=LePage |date=1995 |title=Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as a Model for Psycho-Spiritual Evolution |journal=International Journal of Yoga Therapy |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=23–26|doi=10.17761/ijyt.6.1.d3j5663g6127rp0j |doi-access=free }}</ref>

''Shaucha'', or holistic purity of the body, is considered essential for health, happiness and general well-being. External purity is achieved through daily ablutions, while internal purity is cultivated through physical exercises, including [[asana]] (postures) and [[pranayama]] (breathing techniques). Along with daily ablutions to cleanse one's body, the concept of ''shaucha'' suggests clean surrounding, along with fresh and clean food to purify the body.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Christina |last=Brown |title=The Yoga Bible |date=29 May 2003 |isbn=978-1582972428 |pages=14–17|publisher=Penguin Publishing }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |first=Beryl |last=Birch |date=2010 |title=Beyond Power Yoga: 8 Levels of Practice for Body and Soul |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=978-0684855264 |pages=78–79}}</ref> Lack of ''shaucha'', such as letting toxins build in body are a source of impurity.<ref name=kvr>{{Cite book |first=K. V. |last=Raghupathi |title=Yoga for Peace |year=2007 |isbn=978-8170174837 |pages=60–61|publisher=Abhinav Publications }}</ref>

''Shaucha'' goes beyond purity of body, and includes purity of speech and mind. Anger, hate, prejudice, greed, lust, pride, fear, negative thoughts are a source of impurity of mind.<ref name=kvr/><ref>{{Cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Kadetsky |date=2008 |title=Modeling School |journal=The Antioch Review |volume=66 |number=2 |pages=254–268}}</ref> The impurities of the intellect are cleansed through the process of self-examination, or knowledge of self (''Adhyatma-Vidya'').<ref>[http://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/print.php?itemid=1558 Hinduism's Restraints and Observances] Hinduism Today, K.N. Aiyar (July/August/September 2007)</ref> The mind is purified through [[mindfulness]] and [[meditation]] on one's intent, feelings, actions and its causes.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Judith |last=Lasater |url=http://www.yogajournal.com/article/philosophy/cultivate-your-connections/ |title=Cultivate your connections |website=Yoga Journal |date=28 August 2007}}</ref>

Teachers of the Vedanta path of yoga prepare to have holy thoughts and for performing holy actions. Students and the young help teachers prepare for worship, building self-control and selflessness. This is to offer a true gift - to offer something without expecting anything in return.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Annapurna |last=Sarada |title=Sowing Seeds for an Age of Light |magazine=Nectar |issue=24 |date=21 February 2009 |publisher=Sarada Ramakrishna Vivekananda Associations; SRV associations |pages=54–55 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qO_7AwAAQBAJ&q=holy+thoughts&pg=PA54 |access-date=28 June 2019}}</ref> Sarada Devi said "pure mind begets ecstatic love (''prema-bhakti'')".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vedanta Society of New York |title=Sayings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi |url=http://www.vedantany.org/saying-holy-mother-sarada-devi/ |website=vedantany.org |access-date=28 June 2019 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710173809/http://www.vedantany.org/saying-holy-mother-sarada-devi |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Literature==
{{Hinduism}}
''Shaucha'' is included as one of five ''[[niyamas]]'' in Yoga, that is activity that is recommended for spiritual development of an individual. Verse II.32 of Yogasutra lists the five ''niyamas''.<ref>Original Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|शौच संतोष तपः स्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः}} Translation: Saucha (purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapah (meditation), Svādhyāya (continuous learning), and Isvarapranidhana (contemplation of one's origins, God, Self) are the niyamas; {{Cite book |first=Michele |last=Desmarais |date=2008 |title=Changing Minds: Mind, Consciousness And Identity In Patanjali's Yoga-Sutra |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-8120833364 |pages=125–134}}</ref> In verse II.40, Patanjali describes outer purity, while verse II.41 discusses inner purity,<ref name=jw/> as follows:

{{quote|
{{lang|sa|सत्त्वशुद्धिसौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शन योग्यत्वानि च}}<ref>[http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_sa/yogasuutra_sa.html Patanjali's Yogasutra] Sanskrit Document, Book 2, Verse 41</ref>
<poem>
Through cleanliness and purity of body and mind (Shaucha, Shudhi)
comes a purification of the essence (sattva),
a goodness and gladness of feeling,
a sense of focus with intentness, the mastery and union of the senses,
and a fitness, preparation and capability for self-realization.
</poem>
|Patanjali|''Yogasutras'' II.41<ref name=jw/>}}

''Shaucha'' is one of the ten ''[[yamas]]'' listed by [[Shandilya Upanishad|Śāṇḍilya Upanishad]],<ref>KN Aiyar (1914), Thirty Minor Upanishads, Kessinger Publishing, {{ISBN|978-1164026419}}, Chapter 22, pages 173-176</ref> as well as by Svātmārāma.<ref name=svatmaram>{{cite book|title=The Hatha Yoga Pradipika|author=Svātmārāma|author2=Pancham Sinh |publisher = Forgotten Books|edition= 5|year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sBFttVx6ukC|isbn= 9781605066370|page=14|quote=<br>Quote - अथ यम-नियमाः<br> अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं बरह्यछर्यम कश्हमा धृतिः <br> दयार्जवं मिताहारः शौछम छैव यमा दश}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Lorenzen|first1=David|title=The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhas|date=1972|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0520018426|pages=[https://archive.org/details/kapalikaskalamuk0000lore/page/186 186–190]|url=https://archive.org/details/kapalikaskalamuk0000lore/page/186}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Merging with Śiva: Hinduism's contemporary metaphysics |last= Subramuniya |publisher= Himalayan Academy Publications|year= 2003|isbn= 9780945497998 |page=155 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JupkNVxfwHgC |access-date=6 April 2009}}</ref> It is one of the virtuous restraints (yamas) taught in ancient Indian texts. The other nine [[yamas]] are [[Ahiṃsā]] ({{lang|sa|अहिंसा}}): Nonviolence, [[Satya]] ({{lang|sa|सत्य}}): truthfulness, [[Asteya]] ({{lang|sa|अस्तेय}}): not stealing, [[Brahmacharya]] ({{lang|sa|ब्रह्मचर्य}}): celibacy chastity and fidelity,<ref>{{Cite book |first=Louise |last=Taylor |date=2001 |title=The Woman's Book of Yoga: A Journal for Body and Mind |isbn=978-0804818292 |page=3|publisher=Charles E. Tuttle Company }}</ref> [[Forgiveness#Hinduism|Kṣamā]] ({{lang|sa|क्षमा}}): forgiveness,<ref name=ss>{{Cite book |first=Stuart |last=Sovatsky |date=1998 |title=Words from the Soul: Time East/West Spirituality and Psychotherapeutic Narrative |publisher=State University of New York |isbn=978-0791439494 |page=21}}</ref> [[Dhrti|Dhṛti]] ({{lang|sa|धृति}}): fortitude, [[Compassion#Hinduism|Dayā]] ({{lang|sa|दया}}): compassion,<ref name=ss/> [[Ārjava]] ({{lang|sa|आर्जव}}): sincerity and non-hypocrisy,<ref>{{Cite book |first=J. |last=Sinha |url={{Google books|VCwmmWXJBqEC|Indian Psychology|page=142|plainurl=y}} |title=Indian Psychology |volume=2 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidas |oclc=1211693 |page=142}}</ref> and [[Mitahara]] ({{lang|sa|मितहार}}): moderate diet.

The Epic [[Mahabharata]] mentions the virtue of purity (''shaucha'') in numerous books. For example, in Book 14 Chapter 38, it lists ''shaucha'' as a high quality found in the liberated, happy and [[dharma|dharmic]] person,

{{poemquote|
{{lang|sa|निर्ममॊ निरहंकारॊ निराशीः सर्वतः समः । अकाम हत इत्य एष सतां धर्मः सनातनः ॥
विश्रम्भॊ हरीस तितिक्षा च तयागः '''शौचम''' अतन्द्रिता । आनृशंस्यम असंमॊहॊ दया भूतेष्व अपैशुनम ॥
हर्षस तुष्टिर विस्मयश च विनयः साधुवृत्तता । शान्ति कर्म विशुद्धिश च शुभा बुद्धिर विमॊचनम ॥
उपेक्षा बरह्मचर्यं च परित्यागश च सर्वशः । निर्ममत्वम अनाशीस्त्वम अपरिक्रीत धर्मता ॥}}

(He is) free from possessiveness, free from egoism, free from pessimism, looks on all with an equal eye, free from craving. (In him) is seen confidence, endurance, renunciation, purity, absence of laziness, absence of cruelty, absence of delusion, compassion for all creatures, absence of the disposition to slander others or to exult at gains; (he is) satisfied, humble, emancipated, indifferent, peaceful, unaffected by ups and downs, pursuer of Brahma, and exhibits purity in all acts aiming for tranquillity, understanding and the right.|[[Ashvamedhika Parva]]|The Mahabharata, 14.38.5-8<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/mbs/mbs14038.htm The Mahabharata in Sanskrit] Book 14, Chapter 38; For translation: [https://archive.org/stream/mahabharataofkri09royp#page/n3/mode/2up Ashvamedhika Parva] The Mahabharata, Translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli, Published by P.C. Roy (1893)</ref>}}

[[Bhagavad Gita]] describes purity at three levels in Book 17, verses 14-16, namely body, speech and thoughts.<ref name=gf/> Purity of body comes from cleanliness of body as well as from what one eats and drinks. Purity of speech comes from being truthful and through use of words that are not injurious, hurtful or distressing to others or self. Purity of thoughts comes from reflection, peace of mind, silence, calmness, gentleness and purity of being.<ref name=gf>{{Cite book |first=Gavin |last=Flood |date=2005 |title=The Ascetic Self: Subjectivity, Memory and Tradition |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0521604017 |pages=77–93}}</ref>

Purity of mind, speech and body has been one of the important virtues in Indian philosophy.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=S. |last=Radhakrishnan |date=1922 |title=The Hindu Dharma |journal=International Journal of Ethics |volume=33 |number=1 |pages=1–22|doi=10.1086/intejethi.33.1.2377174 |s2cid=144844920 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ahiṃsā]]
*[[Satya]]
*[[Asteya]]
*[[Brahmacharya]]
*[[Forgiveness#Hinduism|Kṣamā (forgiveness)]]
*[[Dhrti|Dhṛti]]
*[[Dhyana in Hinduism]]
*[[Compassion#Hinduism|Dayā (compassion)]]
*[[Mitahara]]
*[[Ārjava]]
*[[Akrodha]], Absence of anger
*[[Dāna|Dāna (charity)]]
*[[Sattva]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Virtues}}
{{Yoga}}

[[Category:Yoga concepts]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Jain ethics]]
[[Category:Relational ethics]]
[[Category:Hindu ethics]]

Shaucha - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article