Purity

Judaism

Purity (Heb., tohorah) involves the state of being ritually acceptable. According to Leviticus 11–17 and Numbers 19, the three major causes of ritual impurity are leprosy, sexual emissions, and contact with the dead. In the halakhah, the laws of ritual purity and impurity are laid out in twelve tractates of the Mishnah and the Tosefta. Human beings, utensils, and food can all become impure, and purification involves the performance of particular rituals, although many have fallen into disuse in modern times. See also MIKVEH; NIDDAH; TOHORAH.

Islam

See ABLUTION.

Hinduism

See ŚODHANA.

Zoroastrianism

Purity and pollution are central concerns in Zoroastrian thought and practice. In Zoroastrian theology (Bundahisn) Ahura Mazda is wholly good and all that leads to death and decay is the work of the evil Angra Mainyu. The ultimate pollution is a corpse, especially that of a righteous person, for their death represents a greater triumph for evil than that of a sinner. But anything leaving the body (urine, spittle, blood, cut hair, etc.) is also thought of as dead, and therefore polluting.

The purity laws affect most aspects of life for all Zoroastrians, from the obligation to clean the home; to observing laws which are nowadays seen as hygienic; to acts of worship (Atas); funerals (daxma); even to rules against intermarriage or in strict priestly homes against commensality with anyone who does not observe the purity laws, especially non-Zoroastrians (juddins).

There are various rites of purification. For minor pollutions, the padyab, washing and saying the kusti prayers (Naujote), is all that is necessary. On special occasions, for example before initiations or weddings, the Nahn is necessary. This begins with the Padyab-kusti; the symbolic eating of a pomegranate leaf and drinking of nirang to cleanse spiritually; the recital of the Patet, the prayer of repentance, and finally a bath.

538. Purity (See also Modesty.)

1. almond symbol of the Virgin Mary’s innocence. [O.T.: Numbers 17: 1–11; Art: Hall, 14]
2. crystal its transparency symbolizes pureness. [Folklore: Jobes, 391]
3. Galahad, Sir sole knight who could sit in siege perilous. [Br. Lit.: Le Morte d’Arthur; Idylls of the King ]
4. Ivory soap 99.44% pure. [Trademarks: Crowley Trade, 289]
5. Karamazov, Alyosha pure at heart, with compassion for his erring and tortured family. [Russ. Lit.: Dostoevsky The Brothers Karamazov ]
6. lily emblematic of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [Christian Symbol-ism: Appleton, 39]
7. long unbound hair custom for unmarried women, virgin saints, brides. [Art: Hall, 144]
8. sedge used as symbol of purity in da Vinci paintings. [Plant Symbolism: Embolden, 25]
9. snow “pure as the driven snow.” [Western Folklore: Misc.]
10. Star of Bethlehem indicates pureness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 183]
11. Virgin Mary immaculately conceived; mother of Jesus Christ. [N.T.: Matthew 1:18–25; 12:46–50; Luke 1:26–56; 11:27–28; John 2; 19:25–27]
12. water archetypal symbol. [Christian Symbolism: Appleton, 109]
13. water-lily symbol of innocence of heart; flower of July. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 178; Kunz, 329]
14. white symbol of virginity; in American flag, purity. [Color Symbolism: Leach, 242]

pu·ri·ty / ˈpyoŏritē/ • n. freedom from adulteration or contamination: the purity of our our drinking water. ∎  freedom from immorality, esp. of a sexual nature: white is meant to represent purity and innocence.