Types of body purification processes / practices

What is body cleansing process?

Human beings are strange. One takes care of every external utility to make one’s life comfortable except one’s own body. One drives the car to the garage for servicing. There one can see the service personnel checking parts of the car, change the filters, pour fresh engine and break oil, and finally suggest the date for the next servicing. You repair/repaint your dwelling at periodical intervals. You mow the grass in the lawn quite often. You complain to the town authorities if the roads are not maintained and if the sewage system is not working properly. But does one make systematic and disciplined thinking about various parts of the body and how they need to be taken care off? If so, what is the cleansing process? Brush the teeth, stand below the showers, and comb the hair are not the be-all and the end-all of the cleansing processes. Each part of the body has a specified function and its cleansing process/maintenance needs to be determined accordingly.

Serving food in the proper utensils is also part of the cleansing process. Our forefathers and astute grandmothers have transmitted certain traditional procedures and their approach has been scientific. Only we need to study and appreciate its correctness. Modern scientific research is corroborating their systems and beliefs. For example, silver spoon and bowls have been traditionally used in India for feeding the baby. The reason being silver is an anti-dote to the growth and survival of all harmful germs.  However, ensure the purity of the silver!

Cleansing Yoga Practices

Cleansing Yoga Practices are meant to bring about the balance of mind, body and soul. At this stage, a declarative statement that is applicable to every department of yoga, each asana needs to be made. In Yoga, no compartmentalized thinking is applicable. No piece-meal remedies are suggested. Every action is part of the unified whole and it contributes to the health/growth of the human being. The final goal is to achieve Enlightenment. Cleansing processes are meant to detoxify the body and the mind, and when this is done, soul-related issues are automatically taken care of. No procedure exists for cleansing the soul. Soul is ever pure and shining! Only it remains coated with negativities, physical as well as mind-related and when their cleansing is done, the divine door to the Kingdom of Light opens automatically.

Some of the important cleansing practices are:

• Dhauti (1), –wash of the stomach, the feeding canal, the intestine, the gall bladder canal, and the rectum
• Netra Dhauti—cleansing of the eyes
• Jihwamul Dhauti—cleansing of the tongue
• Karna Randhir Dhauti—cleansing of the ears
• Kapal Randhr  Dhauti—rubbing the mid-top of the skull
• Hridaya Dhauti—purification of the heart by meditation
• Kunjal Jala Dhauti/Gajkarni Varisar Dhauti—Drink and vomit water through the mouth
• Vastar Dhauti—a piece of fine cloth is used
• Vayu Dhuti—this is also known as Plavani Pranayam
• Baghi Dhauti— vomits the indigestible food stuff
• Varisar Dhauti—Take water in quantity with brief intervals

General benefits of the cleansing processes

Each of the above cleansing procedure is done as per the prescribed technique and it needs to be studied in detail, before initiating it. The general benefits are, with the elimination of toxins, immunity of the body mechanism improves. The flushing out exercise makes the body parts active. The natural massaging effect during the cleansing postures has beneficial effect on blood circulation. With the better assimilation of nutrients, working of the organs becomes more efficient.