Cleansing rituals within world religions

Introduction

Water is necessary for life. Many religions require believers to cleanse themselves either prior to prayer or as a significant ritual at least once in their lives.

Washing as preparation for prayer

It is obligatory for all Muslims to wash before praying, a ritual ablution is called Wudu. They are required to begin by washing their hands up to the wrist three times, starting with the right hand; wash their mouth three times; wash their nostrils, inhaling and exhaling three times; wash their face three times (forehead to chin, right ear to left). Then they wash their arms up to the elbow three times. To wash their head they must wipe the head with wet hands starting from forehead to back of the head; repeat from back of the head to forehead; rub outside of the ears with wet fingers, inside with wet thumbs simultaneously. They wash their feet up to the ankles three times starting with the right. The water must be pure and clean: if there is no water they are permitted to use sand. The aim of the purification ritual is to remind the Muslim that prayer is the purification of the soul, as water is of the body.

Buddhists perform the Bathing of the Buddha ritual to celebrate the birth of Buddha and for participants to pray for peace and inner harmony. Hindus believe that rivers are a symbol of the god who gives life. They believe that bathing in a holy river is important because it cleanses them of any evil that they might have performed.

Some suggested rituals are listed below: