The Rashtrakutas and their Times c20.71

c20.71

The Nibandha writers definitely lay down three baths for a Brahmana, the Smriti writers of our period hesitate between one and two. Sankha is satisfied with one bath only, but Daksha, Kātyāyana, and Vaiyāghrapāda advocate two, (50) the second one being at the mid-day. That the rule of the Smritis was actually followed in practice towards the end of the 13th century, (51) is proved by Marco Polo who testifies to the fact that the Hindus of Malabar, both males and females, used to take two baths a day. (51) The theory of three daily baths had begun to appear towards the end of our period, and had not yet become popular. Alberuni notes the theoretical rule that a Brahmana should take three baths a day, but adds that in practice, the evening prayers were recited without a previous bath. He observes:—‘Evidently the rule about the third bath is not as stringent as that relating to the first and second washings.’ (52)