Hygiene of the body and personal grooming

(i) Body massage: Massaging the body with oil is advised on many counts: it imparts strength to the body, makes the skin smooth, prevents vāta related diseases as well as physical exhaustion.^[1] It also delays the onset of aging.^[2] Unction cures heaviness, drowsiness and itching, and eliminates body odour, dirt and unpleasantness arising from sweating.^[3] The body becomes resistant to pain and exertion (kleśa-vyāyām-saṃsaham).^[4] Roughness of the feet, difficulty in movement, dryness, fatigue and numbness are removed, while the feet become stronger and steadier. Foot massage is also helpful to the vision, and in prevention of sciatica, cracked heels, constriction of the vessels and ligaments of the feet.^[5]

Massage with medicated pastes (udvartana),^[6] rubbing with dry powder (udgharṣaṇa)^[7] and gentle massage with dry powder (utsādana)^[8] are also effective in firming the skin and curing skin problems. Utsādana is particularly beneficial for women as it enhances beauty, suppleness and brings cleanliness, and is the only instance of any hygiene measure being recommended for them. Massaging was quite customary for it was a profession for both men and women. In the play, Mṛcchakaṭika, a male masseur came to Pāṭaliputra from Ujjayini while there is reference to a female one from Kerala in the Harṣacarita.^[9]

(ii) Bathing is of primary importance for physical hygiene. The body is cleansed by water.^[10] Caraka describes a bath as purifying (pavitra [pavitraṃ]), productive of sexual vigour (vṛṣya [vṛṣyaṃ]), vivifying (āyuṣya [āyuṣyaṃ]), strength-giving and an aid par excellence for the enhancement of ojas.^[11]

(iii) Care of hair and nails: Trimming of hair, beard and moustache and pairing of nails are essential aspects of grooming. They not only add to cleanliness and beauty but are also invigorating, sexually stimulating and enhancers of longevity.^[12]

(iv) Clothing and accessories: Outward appearance is no less important than cleanliness as we notice that the authors advise the use of clean apparel, use of fragrance and ornaments for more or less similar reasons. Clean attire,^[13] fragrances^[14] and ornaments^[15] are enhancers of physical charm (kāmyaṃ [kāmyaṃ]), longevity (āyuṣya [āyuṣyaṃ]) and cheerfulness (praharṣana [praharṣanam]/ saumanasya/harṣana [harṣanaṃ]), and avert misfortune (alakṣmīghna [alakṣmīghnaṃ]/ maṅgalya [maṅgalyaṃ]). Change of clothes after bath is essential.^[16] Clean attire also augments reputation, grace, attractiveness and imparts the competence to participate in social gatherings.^[17] Perfumes and garlands are said to stimulate the libido and nourish the body.^[18] Ornaments remove calamity or evil (vyayasana-sudanam) and are conducive to ojas.^[19]

Other essential accessories of daily use are footwear, the umbrella and the walking stick, which are beneficial in many ways. The skin of the feet and eyesight are protected by footwear; it removes dangers for the feet (like stones, snakes, etc.), is good for happiness, strength and energy, and is a sexual stimulant.^[20] The umbrella is a protective covering for rain, locusts, and the natural elements, like the sun, wind, dust, etc.^[21] Consequently, it is an aid in averting diseases. The walking stick gives support, prevents falls, wards off trouble makers, promotes longevity and removes fear (of animals, etc.).^[22]

Keeping the feet and excretory orifices clean is important as it promotes intelligence, brings about purity and longevity, eliminates inauspiciousness, and the bad effects of the age of kali (alakṣmī-kali-nāśanam).^[23] The essentiality of hygiene is brought out by this sūtra. One is also advised to avoid places with dirty clothes, bones, thorns, impure hair, chaff, garbage, ash, fragments of earthen vessels, places of bath and sacrifice.^[24] The association of sanitation with purity and longevity is emphasised repeatedly.

Therefore, cleanliness is identified as

• purifying
• strength giving
• eliminative of inauspiciousness
• vitalizing
• enhancer of physical charm
• pleasing
• enhancer of longevity.

Other than personal hygiene, there is concern with public sanitation as well for urinating or defecating in public places as near settled communities, cremation grounds, crossings, ponds, paths or roads and open grounds is prohibited in the texts,^[25] and at the time of taking food.^[26] Hygiene is of utmost importance for infants as the grahas are said to afflict them when the mother and the wet-nurse do not follow the code of conduct, auspicious rituals but where cleanliness is not observed.^[27]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5. 85-86.

[2]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.89.

[3]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.93.

[4]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.86.

[5]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.90-92.

[6]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.51/2-52/1.

[7]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.53.

[8]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.53.

[9]:

P.V. Sharma, Indian Medicine in the Classical Age, p.44.

[10]:

Manusmṛti V.109.

[11]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.94.

[12]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.99.

[13]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.95.

[14]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5. 96.

[15]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.97.

[16]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 8.19.

[17]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.95.

[18]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5. 96.

[19]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.97.

[20]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.100.

[21]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.101.

[22]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.102.

[23]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.98.

[24]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 8.18.

[25]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.93.

[26]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 8.21.

[27]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Uttaratantra 27.6.