Story of Sadācāra

(Good conduct).

General information.

Each country has good customary practices of its own. A man with good habits or behaviour is considered as having conquered the two worlds. The sound 'Sat' denotes 'Sādhus.' Sādhus are those who are without any bad conduct or behaviour. The habits and practices of the Sādhus are called Sadācāra. The Saptarṣis, (the seven hermits), the Prajāpatis (Lords of all creatures) and Manus (the fathers of men), were persons who were careful to keep up the good practices. Once the hermit Aurva advised Sagara, what the good usages of the people of Bhārata ought to be. The laws of good conduct according to hermit Aurva are given below:

The passing of excrement and urine.

Every one should wake up in the Brāhmamuhūrta (Two hours before dawn). After having risen, he should go to the southwest corner of the village or house at a distance of an arrow-shot for stooling and passing urine; should not pour the water used for washing the face and the legs, in the courtyard; should not pass urine in one’s own shadow, or in the shade of a tree, or facing cow, the Sun, fire, wind, teacher and Brahmin. Ploughed fields, fields where grains are ready for harvest, cattleshed, crowd, path, lakes or rivers and their banks, are places, forbidden for stooling or passing urine. When there is no danger, a wise man should pass urine, facing the north in the day and facing south at night. When passing excrement the ground should be covered with grass and his head should be covered with cloth. Should not sit long or talk much when stooling.

The conduct of ablution after answering the calls of nature and rinsing the mouth after meals.

Soil such as taken from white ant-hill, ground thrown up by moles or rats, soil at the bottom of water, remainder of soil used by another, soil taken from the wall, soil gathered by worms and flies, ploughed soil etc. should not be used for ablution. By using soil, do the cleansing of the urethra once, the anus thrice, the left hand ten times, and both the hands together, seven times. After this use pure water (in which there is no mud or foam and which has no foul smell) and rinse the mouth. Take soil again and wash the legs with it. Rinse the mouth thrice and wipe the face twice. Then holding water in the hand, touch the apertures in the head such as eye, etc. the crest of the head, both upper arms, navel and heart. With this rinsing take bath. After bath, with the help of a mirror, tie the hair, anoint the eyes with collyrium, and wear flower garlands etc. carefully. Bathing should be done in river, rivulet, lake, jungle-stream, mountain or holy bath (tīrtha), or draw water from the well and bathe there or carry well-water home and bathe there. After the bath put on clean dress. Then take some water in the hand, offer it as oblation to gods, sages, and the manes with care. Throw water thrice for the blessing of the gods and hermits and to Prajāpati once, as ordained. In the same way, to the manes and the great ancestors also give oblation of water thrice.

After so much is done do the customary sacrificial offerings, prayer etc. to Devī. Then invite guests to the house and welcome them. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 3, Chapter 11).