Several Hindu scriptures mention about the different types of bath a devotee can do daily. Bathing in the early morning is advised by most scriptures, especially by the Garuda Purana. It is believed in Hindu religion that bathing in the morning helps in removing all negative energies. It also prepares one to do duties with Shradha (concentration). Here is a look at the importance of religious bathing in Hinduism.
If a person is not keeping well then he is advised to take Kayik Snan – in this type of bathing one cleans the body with a wet cloth.
Different Types Of Bath In Hindu Religion
The general bath advised is Varun Snan – In this bath one bathes with water. The best form of taking bath in Hinduism is in a flowing river. Bath in ponds, lakes and sea is also considered meritorious.If a person is not keeping well then he is advised to take Kayik Snan – in this type of bathing one cleans the body with a wet cloth.
Yogic Snan or Atma Tirtha – In this type of Snan one purifies one’s body through Yoga. This is usually only possible for experienced yoga practitioners.
Brahma Snan – To bathe by sprinkling water using Durva Grass and chanting mantra associated with Snan.
Divya Snan – This is a very rare typing of bathing. One can only take this type of bath only when there is sunlight and rain. One has to bath in the rain that is falling when there is sunlight. This type of bath is also believed to help in removing skin diseases and it also has numerous other curative properties.
Agneya Snan – In this type of bath, a devotee cleans the body using ash. Such bathing is practiced by Shiva devotees like Aghoris.
Vayavya Snan – This is a very difficult way of bathing but is considered the best by the Garuda Purana. In this type of bath one has to rub one’s body with the mud found on the base of cow’s hooves. This mud is known as ‘Go Dhuli’ – ‘Go’ means cow and ‘Dhuli’ means dust.
Hindus also take bath in sacred water bodies like holy rivers, ponds, lakes and seas during special occasions like eclipse, makar sankranti, kumbh mela, purnima, amavasya, pushkaram and during other auspicious days in a Hindu calendar. All these various types of bath help in sin redemption and it also helps ancestors entry into the Pitru Loka.
Another important type of bath is the one taken in pushkarani, holy ponds, lakes, seas and rivers after the deity in a temple has taken bath. This usually after happens the temple festival. The utsava murti is taken in procession and it is dipped in the water body. Devotees take bath in the water after the rituals.
On certain rare occasions in a Hindu calendar it is believed that gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon take bath in certain water bodies, devotees take bath in these during the auspicious occasions.
Hindus also take bath in sacred water bodies like holy rivers, ponds, lakes and seas during special occasions like eclipse, makar sankranti, kumbh mela, purnima, amavasya, pushkaram and during other auspicious days in a Hindu calendar. All these various types of bath help in sin redemption and it also helps ancestors entry into the Pitru Loka.
Another important type of bath is the one taken in pushkarani, holy ponds, lakes, seas and rivers after the deity in a temple has taken bath. This usually after happens the temple festival. The utsava murti is taken in procession and it is dipped in the water body. Devotees take bath in the water after the rituals.
On certain rare occasions in a Hindu calendar it is believed that gods and goddesses in Hindu pantheon take bath in certain water bodies, devotees take bath in these during the auspicious occasions.