Every human being is basically the Jeevatma
(Soul), enveloped by the Panchakosas. Here we are trying to explain
how each Kosa sends ripples in the environment and affects others. We are
leaving to the readers to decide themselves what level of 'Shaucha'
each one of them has to maintain throughout their life span.
Again, we
will explain the effects of Annamaya Kosa and Pranamaya Kosa in some detail. The
effects of other three Kosas are similar.
The Annamaya Kosa is composed
of solids, liquids and gases, and infinitesimal particles of these are
constantly passing off from the body. Apart from the obvious daily losses
sustained by the body in the excrements and sweat, there is this ceaseless
emission of minute particles, alike in night and day, whether the body is awake
or asleep. The body is like a fountain, throwing off a constant spray. Every
physical object is in this condition - stones, trees, animals, men; all are
ceaselessly throwing off these tiny and invisible particles. Simultaneously,
they all ceaselessly receive the rain of particles thrown off by others, which
fills the air in which they live, and which they breathe in with every breath. A
continual interchange is thus going on between all physical bodies; no one can
approach another without being sprinkled by the other, and sprinkling him in
turn, with particles from their respective bodies. Everything a man goes near
receives some particles from his body; every object he touches retains a
minute portion of his body on its surface; his clothes, his house, his
furniture, all receive from him this rain of particles, and rain particles from
themselves on him in turn.
The Pranamaya Kosa, composed of the physical
ethers and animated by the life energies, affects all around it, and is affected
by all around it, not by emitting or receiving particles, but by sending out,
and being played upon by, vibrations, which cause waves, currents in the etheric
matter. The life waves, magnetism waves, go out from each man as ceaselessly as
the fine rain of particles from his Annamaya Kosa. And similar waves from others
play upon him, as ceaselessly as the fine rain of particles from others falls on
him.
Thus every man is being affected by others, and is affecting them,
in the physical world, in these two ways : by a rain of particles given off from
the Annamaya kosa, and by waves given off from the Pranamaya kosa.
The
object of the rules of 'Shaucha' is to make this inevitable influence of one
person on another a source of health instead of a source of disease, and also to
preserve and strengthen the bodily and mental health of the performer. The
Annamaya Kosa is to be kept scrupulously clean, so that it may send off a rain
of health on everyone and everything that is near it. The Pranamaya Kosa is to
be reached by the mantra-produced vibrations in the etheric matter which
permeates the things used in the ceremonies- as etheric matter permeates
everything- so that these vibrations may act beneficially on it and may cleanse
and purify it.
The rules affecting bodily cleanliness are definite and
strict. On rising, the calls of nature are first to be attended to, plenty of
water being used for cleaning purposes, and then the mouth and teeth are to be
washed, and a bath taken. A man is to be careful that no unclean matters remain
near his dwelling. Much disease is caused by the neglect of the rules of
sanitation. It is part of the duty of a good citizen to see that rivers in the
neighbourhood of cities are not poisoned, nor filth allowed to accumulate to the
injury of the public health.
A man must wash, in some cases bathe the
whole body, before taking part in any religious ceremony, and sip water with
appropriate mantras. He must wash before and after meals. That is why you see
the following frequently in any religious ceremony : Achamya (Sipping water),
Apa Upasprusya (Washing hands), Snanam (Bath). But no body can be truly pure
unless the mind and heart be pure. The body is purified by water, the mind by
Truth, the soul by knowledge and austerity, the reason by wisdom.
Besides
the impurities due to obvious causes, the birth or death of 'Sapindas', or of
relatives not 'sapindas', causes impure magnetic currents in the Pranamaya Kosa
and therefore sullies the Annamaya Kosa. During the period of impurity,
sacrificial oblations, recitation of mantras and some other religious duties
have to be given up.
Infectious diseases of all kinds run riot where the
rules of individual purity are disregarded, and where houses, clothes and
articles in daily use are not scrupulously cleaned. Modern science is
re-establishing, with infinite labour and pains, the facts on which these
ancient rules were based, and a clear understanding of the reason for their
imposition will render obedience to them willing and cheerful.
For more
details, please read the book "Sanatana Dharma" by Annie Besant and Bhagavan
Das.
