History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.464
History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c72.464
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v5.c72.464
External purity of the body by various means (rinsing the mouth, bath & c.) has already been described in detail in H. of Dh. vol. II pp. 648–668. The ancient and medieval Indians insisted on a daily bath for all, recommended two baths a day in certain cases and three baths to a hermit and did not subscribe to the view of some of the early Christians. St. Agnes was canonized primarily for her refusal to bathe and St. Francis of Assisi considered dirt as one of the proper insignia of holy poverty.⁶⁹⁸