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ablution, in religion, a prescribed washing of part or all of the body or of possessions such as clothing or ceremonial objects with the intent of purification or dedication. Water, or water with salt or some other traditional ingredient, is most commonly used, but washing with blood is not uncommon in the history of religions, and urine of the sacred cow has been used in India.
The devout follower of Shinto, for example, rinses his hands and mouth with water before he approaches a shrine (haiden) and prepares to clap his hands to draw the attention of the divine (kami) to his devotions. The monk of the Theravada Buddhist tradition washes himself in the monastery pool as he prepares to honour in his meditations an enshrined relic or image of the Buddha. The upper-caste Hindu bathes ceremonially in water before performing his daily morning worship (pujd) in his home. Jewish law requires ritual immersion of their whole bodies by women, prior to marriage and after menstruation, as well as by new converts to Judaism.
Washing of the hands after rising in the morning and before meals that include bread are also examples of ablution in Judaism. The Roman Catholic priest (and priests of some Orthodox churches) celebrating the eucharistic liturgy prepares himself by ritual washing of his hands in the lavabo. Seven days after Baptism those newly baptized in Eastern Orthodox churches often go through a ceremony in which holy oil is washed from the forehead. Among some of the Brethren sects in rural United States ceremonial foot washing is performed on stated occasions. In Muslim piety it is required that the devout wash their hands, feet, and face before each of the five daily prayers; the use of sand is permitted where water is difficult or impossible of access.
