On an excavation of the Mohenjo-Daro and Dholavira, in modern day Pakistan, archeologist stumbled upon a civilization, thriving in the Indus Valley from 2500 BCE to 1500 BC. They named the civilization, Harappan. Though archeologists found little conclusive evidence of temples in the Harappan cities, the assumed advanced, ancient Sanatana Dharma (preferred term of people commonly referred to as Hindu, meaning “ageless way of moral order, duty, and natural law of cosmos.” (Fisher 61)) had plumbing and irrigation systems. Bathing rooms, wells, and built in latrines equipped houses, and brick drains carried away waste. However the most striking discovery was the “Great Bath,” a large lined tank, 39 feet long, 23 feet wide, and 8 feet deep. Today, this is assumed to be a ritualistic purification center for the people. From the time of the Harappans, up to today, purification is essential part of Sanatana Dharma life.
Purification is an essential part of worship. Before starting the puja, the honor, respect, or worship of a deity, the murti, a statue of the deity in the home, must be bathed in running water. However to show purity, the worshipper must sip a little water, three times. Washing the murti is important, because as a royal guest (the worshipper considers the murti a royal guest) after arriving from a long journey, wherever the god or goddess comes from, a bath is needed. The feet, face, and teeth receive special attention, considering the dustiness of Indian streets. Sometimes this washing is symbolic, a flower dipped gently in the water is lightly touched to the deity’s face. The act of bathing the deity both purifies and shows servitude. In another aspect of worship, worship at the temple, the worshiper must be pure to enter. That means the worshiper must remove their shoes, because “leather is a highly polluting material, as is the street dust attached to them” (Fowler 48). Worshipers also must not be menstruating or dalits, the untouchable caste. An...