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Ritual purification

(Redirected fromRitually unclean)

Ritual purificationis aritualprescribed by a religion through which a person is considered to be freed ofuncleanliness,especially prior to the worship of adeity,andritual purityis a state of ritualcleanliness.Ritual purification may also apply to objects and places. Ritual uncleanliness is not identical with ordinary physical impurity, such as dirt stains; nevertheless,body fluidsare generally considered ritually unclean.

Taking the bride to thebath house,Shalom Koboshvili,1939.
MaleWuduFacility at University of Toronto's Multifaith Centre.

Most of these rituals existed long before thegerm theory of disease,and figure prominently from the earliest knownreligious systems of the Ancient Near East.Some writers connect the rituals totaboos.

Some have seen benefits of these practices as a point of health and preventing infections especially in areas where humans come in close contact with each other. While these practices came before the idea of the germ theory was public in areas that use daily cleaning, the destruction of infectious agents seems to be dramatic.[dubious–discuss][1]Others have described a 'dimension of purity' that is universal in religions that seeks to move humans away from disgust (at one extreme), to uplift them towards purity and divinity (at the other extreme), away from uncleanliness to purity, and away from deviant to moral behavior (within one's cultural context).[2]

Ancient Rome

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Theancient Romansperformed ablutions as part of theirreligious and daily practices,often using water to purify themselves before engaging in sacred rites.Macrobiusmentions the ritualistic use of ablutions in his workSaturnalia,highlighting their role in maintaining spiritual purity.[3]Similarly,Ovidreferences ablutions in hisFasti,describing their importance during religious festivals and ceremonies.[4]These practices underscored the significance of cleanliness and ritual purity inRoman culture.

Modern practitioners of the ancient Roman religion,such as those in the Pietas Comunità Gentile and Nova Roma community, continue to observe ablutions as part of their reconstructed rituals, emphasizing continuity with traditional Roman customs.[5] [6]

Baháʼí Faith

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In theBaháʼí Faith,ritual ablutions (the washing of the hands and face) should be done before the saying of theobligatory prayers,as well as prior to the recitation of theGreatest Name95 times.[7]Menstruating women are obliged to pray, but have the (voluntary) alternative of reciting a verse instead; if the latter choice is taken, ablutions are still required before the recital of the special verse.Bahá'u'lláh,the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, prescribed the ablutions in his book of laws, theKitáb-i-Aqdas.[7]

These ablutions have a significance beyond washing and should be performed even if one has bathed oneself immediately before reciting the obligatory prayer; fresh ablutions should also be performed for each devotion, unless they are being done at the same time. If no water (or clean water) is available or if an illness would be worsened by the use of water, one may instead repeat the verse"In the Name of God, the Most Pure, the Most Pure"five times before the prayer.[7]

Apart from this, Bahá'u'lláh abolished all forms of ritual impurity of people and things, following Báb who stressed the importance of cleanliness and spiritual purity.[8]

Buddhism

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Main article:Tsukubai
TsukubaiatRyōan-jitemple inKyoto.

InJapanese Buddhism,a basin called atsukubaiis provided atBuddhist templesfor ablutions. It is also used fortea ceremony.

This type of ritual cleansing is the custom for guests attending atea ceremony[9]or visiting the grounds of aBuddhisttemple.[10]The name originates from the verbtsukubaumeaning "to crouch"[11]or "to bow down", an act of humility.[10]Guests attending a tea ceremony crouch and wash their hands in atsukubaiset in thetea gardenbefore entering the tearoom.[11]

Tsukubaiare usually of stone, and are often provided with a smallladle,ready for use.[11]A supply of water may be provided via a bamboo pipe[11]called akakei.

The famoustsukubaishown here stands in the grounds of theRyōan-jitemple inKyoto,and was donated by the feudal lordTokugawa Mitsukuni.[12]Thekanjiwritten on the surface of the stone are without significance when read alone. If each is read in combination with khẩu (kuchi) - the shape of the central bowl - then the characters become ngô, duy, túc, tri which translates literally as "I only know plenty" ( ngô = ware = I, duy = tada = only, túc = taru = plenty, tri = shiru = know).[13]The underlying meaning, variously translated as "what one has is all one needs",[13]or "learn only to be content"[12]reflects the basic anti-materialistic teachings ofBuddhism.

Christianity

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Main article:Ablution in Christianity
See also:Hygiene in Christianity
Lavaboin thePoblet MonasteryinSpain.

TheBiblehas many rituals of purification relating tomenstruation,childbirth,sexual relations,nocturnal emission,unusual bodily fluids,skin disease,death,andanimal sacrifices.Oriental Orthodox Churchessuch as theCoptic Orthodox,Ethiopian Orthodox,Eritrean Orthodox,places a heavier emphasis on Old Testament teachings, and its followers adhere to certain practices such as observing days of ritual purification.[14][15]Before praying, theywash their hands and facein order to be clean before and present their best to God.[16][17]

TheEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Churchprescribes several kinds ofhand washingfor example after leaving the latrine, lavatory or bathhouse, or before prayer, or after eating a meal.[18]The women in theEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Churchare prohibited from entering the church temple duringmenses;and the men do not enter a church the day after they have had intercourse with their wives.[19]

Baptismalceremony onEasterSunday.

Baptism,as a form of ritual purification, occurs in several religions related to Judaism, and most prominently inChristianity;Christianity also has other forms of ritual purification. Many Christian churches practice a ceremony of theWashing of Feet,[20]following the example of Jesus in the Gospel.[21]Some interpret this as anordinancewhich the church is obliged to keep as a commandment, see alsoBiblical law in Christianity.[20]Others interpret it as an example that all should follow. Most denominations that practice the rite will perform it onMaundy Thursday.Often in these services, thebishopwill wash the feet of the clergy, and inmonasteriestheAbbotwill wash the feet of the brethren.

Many ancient churches were built with a large fountain in the courtyard. It was the tradition for Christians to wash before entering the church for worship.[22]This usage is also legislated in theRule of St. Benedict,as a result of which, many medievalmonasterieswere built with communal lavers for themonksornunsto wash up before theDaily Office.Catholic religious orders of theAugustinians' andBenedictines' rules contained ritual purification,[23]and inspired byBenedict of Nursiaencouragement for the practice of therapeutic bathing;Benedictinemonks played a role in the development and promotion ofspas.[24]

The principle of washing the hands before celebrating the holy Liturgy began as a practical precaution of cleanness, which was also interpreted symbolically.[25]"In the third century there are traces of a custom of washing the hands as a preparation for prayer on the part of all Christians, and from the fourth century onwards it appears to have been usual for the ministers at theHoly Massordivine liturgyceremonially to wash their hands before the more solemn part of the service as a symbol of inward purity. "[26]

Bishop Sebouh Chouldjian of theArmenian Apostolic Churchwashing the feetof children.

Traditionally, Christianity adhered to the biblical regulation requiring the purification of women after childbirth; this practice, was adapted into a special ritual known as thechurching of women,for which there exists liturgy in theChurch of England'sBook of Common Prayer,but its use is now rare inWestern Christianity.The churching of women is still performed in a number ofEastern Christianchurches (Eastern Orthodox,Oriental OrthodoxandEastern Catholicchurches).

Acantharusis a fountain used byChristiansfor ablution before entering achurch.[27][28][29]These ablutions involve the washing of the hands, face, and feet.[29]The cantharus is traditionally located in theexonarthexof the church.[28][30]The water emitted by a cantharus is to be running water.[31]The practice of ablutions before prayer and worship in Christianitysymbolizes"separation from sins of the spirit and surrender to the Lord."[30]Eusebiusrecorded this practice of canthari located in the courtyards of churches, for the faithful to wash themselves before entering a Christian house of worship.[29]The practice has its origins Jewish practice of performing ablutions before entering into the presence of God (cf.Exodus 30:17–21).[28][27]Thoughcantharusare not as prevalent anymore inWestern Christianity,they are found inEastern ChristianandOriental Christianchurches.[27]However, in theLatin liturgical ritesof theCatholic Church,worshippers sprinkle themselves withholy waterbefore entering the nave of the Church or approaching thealtar.[citation needed]

InReformed Christianity,ritual purityis achieved through the Confession of Sins, Assurance of Forgiveness, andSanctification.Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers offer their whole being and labor as a 'living sacrifice'; and cleanliness becomes a way of life (See Romans 12:1, and John 13:5-10 (the Washing of the Feet)). Prior to praying thecanonical hoursatseven fixed prayer times,Oriental Orthodox Christianswash their hands, face and feet (cf.Agpeya,Shehimo).[32][16][33]

Theuse of waterin manyChristian countriesis due in part to the Biblical toilet etiquette which encourages washing after all instances of defecation.[34]Thebidetis common in predominantlyCatholic countrieswhere water is considered essential foranal cleansing,[35][36]and in some traditionallyOrthodoxandLutherancountries such asGreeceandFinlandrespectively, wherebidet showersare common.[37]

Hinduism

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Devotees taking holy bath during festival ofGanga DashaharaatHar Ki Pauri,Haridwar

Various traditions withinHinduismfollow different standards of ritual purity and purification. Within each tradition the more orthodox groups follow stricter rules, but the strictest rules are generally prescribed forBrahmins,especially those engaged in the temple worship.

An important part of ritual purification in Hinduism is the bathing of the entire body, particularly in rivers considered holy such as theGanges.It is considered auspicious to perform this method of purification before festivals after a death, in order to maintain purity.

Punyahavachanam is a ritual meant to purify one's self and one's home, usually performed before important occasions, like weddings. During the ceremony, mantras are chanted and then consecrated water is sprinkled over all of the participants and the items used.

In the ritual known asabhisheka(Sanskrit, "sprinkling; ablution" ), the deity'smurtior image is ritually bathed with water, curd, milk, honey, ghee, cane sugar, rosewater, etc. Abhisheka is also a special form ofpujaprescribed byAgamicinjunction. The act is also performed in the inauguration of religious and political monarchs and for other special blessings. The murtis of deities must not be touched without cleansing the hands, and one is not supposed to enter a temple without a bath.[citation needed]

Sūtakaare theHindurules of impurity to be followed after the birth of a child (vṛddhi sūtaka).[38]Sūtaka involves the practice of keeping socially isolated from relatives and community by abstention of mealtaking with family, engaging in customary religious activities, and leaving the home. A mother must practice sūtaka for 10 to 30 days, depending upon hervarna,while the father may become purified immediately after the birth of his child by ritual purification (ritual bathing).[39]

There are various kinds of purificatory rituals associated withdeath ceremonies.After visiting a house where a death has recently occurred, Hindus are expected to take baths.

Women take a head bath after completing their four-daymenstrual period.

Indigenous American religions

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El Infiernito( "The LittleHell") Ruins of an ancientMuiscashrine,place of purification rituals

In the traditions of manyIndigenous peoples of the Americas,one of the forms of ritual purification is the ablutionary use of asauna,known as asweatlodge,as preparation for a variety of other ceremonies. The burning ofsmudge sticksis also believed by some indigenous groups to cleanse an area of any evil presence. Some groups like the southeastern tribe, theCherokee,practiced and, to a lesser degree, still practicegoing to water,performed only in moving bodies of water such as rivers or streams. Going to water was practiced by some villages daily (around sunrise) while others would go to water primarily for special occasions, including but not limited tonaming ceremonies,holidays,andball games.[40]Many anthropologists that studied with the Cherokees like James Adair tried to connect these groups to theLost Tribes of Israelbased on religious practices including going to water,[41]but this form ofhistoriographyis mostly Christian "wish fulfillment" rather than respectable anthropology.

Yuquot Whalers' ShrineonVancouver Islandwas used by chiefs to prepare ritually forwhaling.

Islam

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Main articles:Muslim hygienical jurisprudenceandRitual purity in Islam
People washing before prayer atBadshahi MosqueinLahore,Pakistan.

Islamicritual purification is particularly centred on the preparation forsalah,ritual prayer; theoretically ritual purification would remain valid throughout the day, but is treated as invalid on the occurrence of certain acts, flatulence, sleep, contact with the opposite sex (depending on which school of thought), unconsciousness, and the emission of blood, semen, orvomit.Some schools of thought mandate that ritual purity is necessary for holding theQuran.

Ritual purification takes the form of ablution,wuduandghusl,depending on the circumstance; the greater form is obligatory by a woman after she ceases menstruation, on a corpse that did not die during battle, and after sexual activity, and is optionally used on other occasions, for example just prior to Friday prayers or enteringihram.

An alternativetayammum( "dry ablution" ), involving clean sand or earth, is used if clean water is not available or if an illness would be worsened by the use of water; this form is invalidated in the same circumstances as the other forms, and also whenever water becomes available and safe to use.

Thefardor "obligatory activities" of the lesser form include beginning with the intention to purify oneself, washing of the face, arms, head, and feet. while somemustahabb"recommended activities" also exist such asbasmalarecitation, oral hygiene, washing the mouth, nose at the beginning, washing of arms to the elbows and washing of the ears at the end; additionally recitation of theShahada.The greater form (ghusl) is completed by first performing wudu and then ensuring that the entire body is washed. Some minor details of Islamic ritual purification may vary between differentmadhhabs"schools of thought".

Judaism

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Pool of a medieval mikvah inSpeyer,dating to 1128
Cup used for ritual Jewish handwashing
Main article:Ritual washing in Judaism
See also:Handwashing in Judaism

TheHebrew Biblementions a number of situations when ritual purification is required, including following menstruation (niddah),childbirth,sexual relations,nocturnal emission,unusual bodily fluids,skin disease,death(corpse uncleanness), and certainanimal sacrifices.Generally, the ritual in these circumstances consists of immersing the whole body in a special bath (amikveh). In addition, theoral lawspecifies other situations when ritual purification is required, such as after performingexcretory functions,meals,andwaking.In these circumstances, typically, only the hands are washed.

These regulations were variously observed by theIsraelites.Purification was required so ritually impure individuals would not defile theTabernacleand receive thekarethor execution.[42]Nowadays, in the absence of theTemple in Jerusalem,many of the Torah's laws about purification have no practical implication and are no longer observed. However, purification from theniddahstatus is still observed by contemporaryOrthodox Jewsand (with some modifications and additional leniencies) someConservative Jews,as its practical implications are highly relevant: a woman who is impure with this status is forbidden to have sexual contact with her husband.

Corpse uncleanness,or coming into contact with acorpse,is considered the ultimate impurity. It cannot be purified through immersion in amikvehalone, but also requires sprinkling with the ashes of thered heifer.[43]Since the red heifer no longer exists, this form of impurity cannot be removed. Currently, all individuals are assumed to possess the impurity of death.[44]This has a few practical implications: it prohibits Jews from entering the site of theTemple in Jerusalemand prohibits eating certain foods (such asterumah) which may only be eaten when pure.

Mandaeism

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Main article:Mandaeism § Worship and rituals
See also:Masbuta,Tamasha (ablution),andRishama (ablution)
Mandaean priests performingtamashain preparation for themasbutaduring the 2015Parwanayafestival inAhvaz,Iran.

One of the most important ceremonies in Mandaean worship isbaptism(masbuta). Unlike Christianity, baptism is not a one-off event but is performed every Sunday, the Mandaean holy day, as a purification ritual. Baptism usually involves full immersion in flowing water, and all rivers considered fit for baptism are calledyardnafor theJordan River.After emerging from the water, the worshipper is anointed with holysesame oil(misha) and partakes in a communion ofsacramental bread(pihta) and water. Other rituals for purification include therishamaand thetamashawhich, unlikemasbuta,can be performed without a priest.[45]Therishama(signing) is performed before prayers and involves washing the face and limbs while reciting specific prayers. It is performed daily, before sunrise, with hair covered and after evacuation of bowels or before religious ceremonies[46](seewudu). Thetamashais a triple immersion in the river without a priest being required to do it. Women perform it after menstruation or childbirth, men and women after sexual activity or nocturnal emission, touching a corpse or any other type of defilement[46](seetevilah). Ritual purification also applies to fruits, vegetables, pots, pans, utensils, animals for consumption and ceremonial garments (rasta).[46]Purification for a dying person is also performed. It includes bathing, which involves a threefold sprinkling of river water over the person from head to feet.[46]

Shinto

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A mother and daughter purify themselves before entering a Shinto shrine
Main articles:HaraeandChōzuya

Ritual cleanliness is a central part ofShintolife.[47]In Shinto, a common form of ritual purification ismisogi,[48][49]which involves natural running water, and especially waterfalls. Rather than being entirely naked, men usually wearJapanese loinclothsand women wearkimono,both additionally wearingheadbands.[48][49]

Western esotericism

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Main articles:Western esotericismandBanishing

Inceremonial magic,'banishing' refers to one or more rituals intended to remove non-physical influences ranging from spirits to negative influences.[50]Although banishing rituals are often used as components of more complex ceremonies, they can also be performed by themselves. Banishing can be viewed as one of severaltechniques of magic,closely related to ritual purification and a typical prerequisite forconsecrationandinvocation.

In theHermetic Order of the Golden Dawn,theLesser Ritual of the Pentagram(banishing: LBRP; invoking: LIRP) must be learned by theNeophyte[broken anchor]before moving on to the next grade (Zelator[broken anchor]).[51][52]For actual workingsAleister Crowleyrecommends a short, general banishing, with a comment that "in more elaborate ceremonies it is usual to banish everything by name."[50]InLiber Aleph vel CXI,Crowley recommended that a banishing ritual be done at least once daily byThelemites.[53]

InWiccaand various forms ofneopaganism,banishing is performed beforecasting a circlein order to purify the area where the ritual or magick is about to take place. In his books on nocturnal witchcraft, for example, Konstantinos recommends performing banishings regularly, in order to keep the magical workspace free of negativity, and to become proficient in banishing before attempting acts that are much more spiritually taxing on the body, such as magicalspellworking.[54]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^"Nitten Soji and the prevention of infections" Classical fighting arts vol 2 #18
  2. ^Haidt, Johnathan (12 February 2010).The Happiness Hypothesis.Basic Books.
  3. ^Macrobius,Saturnalia,III.2.6.
  4. ^Ovid,Fasti,IV.7.78.
  5. ^Nova Roma."Ritual Purification".Nova Roma.Retrieved9 December2024.
  6. ^Barbera, Giuseppe (2021).Pietas: An Introduction to Roman Traditionalism.Rome: Mythology Corner.ISBN9780981759616.
  7. ^abcSmith, Peter (2000)."ablutions".A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith.Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp.21–22.ISBN1-85168-184-1.
  8. ^Smith, Peter (2000)."purity".A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith.Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 281–282.ISBN1-85168-184-1.
  9. ^Must See in Kyoto.Kyoto: Japan Travel Bureau, Inc. 1991. p. 107.ISBN4-533-00528-4.
  10. ^abEinarsen, John (2004).Zen and Kyoto.Kyoto: Uniplan Co, Inc. p. 133.ISBN4-89704-202-X.
  11. ^abcdSetsuko, Kojima; Crane, Gene A (1991).Dictionary of Japanese Culture(1st American ed.). Union City, CA: Heian. pp. 369–70.ISBN0893463361.OCLC23738000.
  12. ^abEinarsen, John (2004).Zen and Kyoto.Kyoto: Uniplan Co, Inc. pp. 90–91.ISBN4-89704-202-X.
  13. ^ab"Tsukubai and Zenibachi, the Japanese Water Basins".Archived fromthe originalon 1 April 2019.Retrieved3 March2016.
  14. ^Ian Bradley(2 November 2012).Water: A Spiritual History.Bloomsbury Publishing.ISBN978-1-4411-6767-5.
  15. ^H. Bulzacchelli, Richard (2006).Judged by the Law of Freedom: A History of the Faith-works Controversy, and a Resolution in the Thought of St. Thomas Aquinas.University Press of America.p. 19.ISBN9780761835011.The Ethiopian and Coptic Churches distinguishes between clean and unclean meats, observes days of ritual purification, and keeps a kind of dual Sabbath on both Saturday and Sunday.
  16. ^abMary Cecil, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney(1906).A Sketch of Egyptian History from the Earliest Times to the Present Day.Methuen. p. 399.Prayers 7 times a day are enjoined, and the most strict among the Copts recite one of more of the Psalms of David each time they pray. They always wash their hands and faces before devotions, and turn to the East.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^Dawood, Bishoy (8 December 2013)."Stand, Bow, Prostrate: The Prayerful Body of Coptic Christianity".The Clarion Review. Archived fromthe originalon 10 August 2020.Retrieved6 August2020.Standing facing the East is the most frequent prayer position.... This is further emphasized in the fact that Copts pray facing the East, waiting for the return of Jesus in glory; his return as the enthroned Pantocrator is portrayed in the iconography that is placed before the worshippers.
  18. ^"Is THE CHURCH OF ETHIOPIA A JUDAIC CHURCH?"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved15 January2016.
  19. ^The Liturgy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
  20. ^abPeter C. Bower (January 2003).The Companion to the Book of Common Worship.Geneva Press.ISBN9780664502324.Retrieved11 April2009.Maundy Thursday (orle mandé;Thursday of theMandatum,Latin, commandment). The name is taken from the first few words sung at the ceremony of the washing of the feet, "I give you a new commandment" (John 13:34); also from the commandment of Christ that we should imitate His loving humility in the washing of the feet (John 13:14–17). The termmandatum(maundy), therefore, was applied to the rite of foot-washing on this day.
  21. ^John 13:1–17
  22. ^The Holy Rule of St. Benedict
  23. ^Hembry, Phyllis (1990).The English Spa, 1560-1815: A Social History.Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press.ISBN9780838633915.
  24. ^Bradley, Ian (2012).Water: A Spiritual History.Bloomsbury Publishing.ISBN9781441167675.
  25. ^Fortescue, Adrian. "Lavabo." The Catholic EncyclopediaVol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 12 July 2017
  26. ^Report of the Royal Commission on Ecclesiastical Discipline(Church of England) 1906
  27. ^abcIan Bradley(2 November 2012).Water: A Spiritual History.Bloomsbury Publishing.ISBN978-1-4411-6767-5.It was probably out of the Jewish rite that the practice developed among early Christians, especially in the east, of washing their hands and feet before going into church. Early Christian basilicas had a fountain for ablutions, known as cantharus or phiala, and usually placed in the centre of the atrium. They are still found in some Eastern Orthodox churches, notably at the monastery of Laura at Mount Athos, where the phiala is an imposing structure in front of the entrance covered by a dome resting on eight pillars. In several Orthodox churches today worshippers take off heir shoes and wash their feet before entering the church just as Muslims do before going into a mosque.
  28. ^abcSoloviĭ, Meletiĭ M. (1970).Eastern Liturgical Theology: General Introduction.Ukrainian Catholic Religion and Culture Society of Etobicoke (Toronto) and Ukrainian Catholic Youth of Canada. p. 68.In the Book of Exodus (30, 18-20) Aaron and his sons were required to wash before approaching the altar. Here water is used as a symbol of purification and expiation. But water is also the most common and most indispensable drink.... So much was the practice a part of the life of the early Church, that in the period after Constantine the "cantharus", or water fountain, became a standard fixture in the courtyard before the basilica to permit the faithful to purify themselves before entering the presence of God.
  29. ^abcBingham, Joseph (1840).The antiquities of the Christian Church.W. Straker. p. 396.In the middle of which stood a Fountain for washing as they entered into the Church, called Cantharus and Phiala in some authors. It is further to be noted, that in the middle of the atrium, there was commonly a fountain, or a cistern of water, for people to wash their hands and face, before they went into the church.
  30. ^abFerguson, Everett (8 October 2013).Encyclopedia of Early Christianity: Second Edition.Routledge. p. 6.ISBN978-1-136-61158-2.
  31. ^Lowrie, Walter (1901).Christian Art and Archæology: Being a Handbook to the Monuments of the Early Church.Macmillan Publishers.p. 179.In the middle of this court there was as a rule a fountain of running water (thecantharus) for the symbolical purification of those who ere about to enter the church.
  32. ^Smith, Bertha H. (1909). "The Bath as a Religious Rite among Mohammedans".Modern Sanitation.7(1). Standard Sanitary Mfg. Co.The Copts, descendants of these ancient Egyptians, although Christians, have the custom of washing their hands and faces before prayer, and some also wash their feet.
  33. ^Tadros, Emile (2015).Reconstruction the Origins of the Coptic Church through its Liturgy.McMaster Divinity College.p. 16.The Coptic Church observes strict practices concerning circumcision, rituals surrounding menstruation, weekly two-days fasting, 40 ablution, and many other rituals.
  34. ^E. Clark, Mary (2006).Contemporary Biology: Concepts and Implications.University of Michigan Press.ISBN9780721625973.
  35. ^E. Clark, Mary (2006).Contemporary Biology: Concepts and Implications.University of Michigan Press. p. 613.ISBN9780721625973.Douching is commonly practiced in Catholic countries. The bidet... is still commonly found in France and other Catholic countries.
  36. ^Made in Naples. Come Napoli ha civilizzato l'Europa (e come continua a farlo)[Made in Naples. How Naples civilised Europe (And still does it)] (in Italian). Addictions-Magenes Editoriale. 2013.ISBN978-8866490395.
  37. ^"Bidets in Finland"
  38. ^Turner, R. L. (1999).A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages.Motilal Banarsidass Publisher. p. 781.ISBN978-81-208-1665-7.
  39. ^Textbook of the 'University of Spirituality', Volume 61,Death and Post-Death Rites,by Parātpar Guru (Dr) Athavale and H.H. (Mrs.) Anjalihttp://sanatanshop.com/shop/en/booklets/383-death-and-post-death-rites.html
  40. ^The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokee by James Mooney 1891
  41. ^The History of The American Indians by James Adair 1775
  42. ^Leviticus 15:31;Numbers 19:20
  43. ^Rowman, Altamira (2004).The Inclusive Hebrew Scriptures: The Torah.Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. p. 241.ISBN0-9644279-6-6.Retrieved11 April2015.
  44. ^Rutta, Matt (30 March 2008)."Shemini/Parah (The smell of burning death)".Rabbinic Rambling.Retrieved6 May2009.
  45. ^Drower, Ethel Stefana. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press, 1937
  46. ^abcdMandaean Awareness and Guidance Board (28 May 2014)."Mandaean Beliefs & Mandaean Practices".Mandaean Associations Union.Retrieved13 November2021.
  47. ^Ono, Sakyo.Shinto: The Kami Way.Pp 51–52, 108. Tuttle Publishing. 2004.ISBN0-8048-3557-8
  48. ^abBocking 1997,p. 93;Cali & Dougill 2013,p. 20.
  49. ^abNelson 1996,p. 101;Bocking 1997,p. 45;Cali & Dougill 2013,p. 21.
  50. ^abCrowley, Aleister.Magick in Theory and Practice.pp. 103–6.
  51. ^The Golden Dawn by I. Regardie
  52. ^"Golden Dawn Neophyte Knowledge Lecture".Archived fromthe originalon 17 November 2002.Retrieved7 May2011.
  53. ^Crowley, Aleister.Liber Aleph vel CXI.A.:.A.:.
  54. ^Konstantinos.Nocturnal Witchcraft: Magick After Dark.St. Paul, Minn:Llewellyn Publications, 2002.

Sources

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