The word ‘bath’ is procedural. It generally suggests the acts of washing, rinsing, scrubbing, dipping into a water body, etc. Bathing daily cleans the body and rejuvenates the soul. Bathing in the morning is an external and somatic. It has been taken up since ages recognizing its sanitising effects
Sun bathing is the practice of lying down in the sun to soak in the sunshine, and is in trend in rest of the world. This seems to be evolved from the regular bathing that has been adopted since ancient times. The rationale for a regular shower is to keep the mind and body hale and hearty by deflecting most of the physical ailments, thus, attaining ‘Shudhavastha’ (state of purity) which consequently directs us to a state of spiritual and emotional well being.
What bathing normally does is it helps do away with the heat and fatigue resulting from the physical toils. Morning bathing helps to dispose off lethargy and sluggishness and turns you lively and bouncy. There are four classified ways of bathing, which are: Nitya Snaan Naimitik Snaan, Kamya Snaan, Gaud Snaan . Nitya snaan is our regular shower, with cold, warm or hot water depending on the seasons and temperature outside.
Naimitik baths are the bathings with a purpose. It is generally performed on occasions as ‘Shraadh’ (A Hindu religious rite for the deceased), ‘Tarpan’ (libations to the ancestors), or as a part of the Hindu funeral rites.”Kamya bath” are again done on purpose but it is motivated by a desire to get a wish fulfilled or on it’s fulfilment. The “Gaudsnaan” is bathing without water, either by swathing the body with ash or cinder, or simply laying down in the sun and soaking it ‘s light, and hence the name ‘Manas Snaan’ i.e. a shower that is not physical but psychosomatic.
Bathing with moderately cool water is generally vouched for and seems to be mostly fitting to all. After a shower, the mind and the body turn out to be highly energetic. Consequently, bathing after a meal is generally discouraged as it impedes digestive processes. By the same token, bathing with water that is too hot is forbidden.
Bathing in the latter half of the noon (third ‘Prahar’) and just before the sunrise is as it should be. Coinciding this are the practices of yoga, where the yogis bathe before sunrise and practise pranayama to keep their mind and body fit, healthy keeping the whole lot if ailments at bay.
