History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c34.65

v2.c34.65

Danta-dhāvana comes after śauca and ācamana and before snāna (bath). Vide Yāj. I. 98 and Dakṣa II. 6. The practice of daily danta-dhāvana has existed in India from the most ancient times. The Tai. S.¹⁵⁴² (II. 5. 1. 7) when enumerating the actions which a *rajasvalā* (a woman in her monthly period) was to avoid mentions *dantadhāvana* among them and remarks that if she indulges in it during that period, she gives birth to a son whose teeth are naturally black. Dantadhāvana is an independent act by itself performed for rendering the body (here the mouth) clean and it is not an aṅga (a subordinate constituent part) of bath or morning prayer.¹⁵⁴³ Āp. Dh. S. I. 2. 8. 5 forbids¹⁵⁴⁴ one who has returned from his teacher's home after finishing his studies to engage in the sight of his teacher in such acts of pleasure as cleansing the teeth, shampooing the body and combing the hair and also forbids the study of the Veda while such actions are going on (*ibid.* I. 3. 11. 10-12).¹⁵⁴⁵ The brahmacārin was not to engage in the leisurely actions of brushing the teeth (but was to rinse his mouth) according to Gaut. II. 19 and Vas. Dh. S. VII. 15.