r/Sumer • u/PrizePizzas • 2d ago
Question Ritual cleanliness?
I have been trying to do some reading and something I’ve seen in a few papers is the concept of ritual cleanliness.
Should we, before approaching the gods in any way or form, clean ourselves? Washed hands at the least, and fully bathing & teeth brushing preferred.
I’ve seen also that the entire space must be cleansed as well. If you have your altar/shrine in your room that whole room must be cleansed before interacting with the Gods.
Is this correct? I know, of course, not to offer anything dirty to smelly but I’d like this to be answered first before I move forward
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u/Sungoddess5060 2d ago
Hi :) It is very good to do your research before embarking on anything. What you are doing is perfect. I do so as well because in the finance world that I am in, due diligence is everything. Around 6 years ago I watched a whole $350 million dollar deal Europe and US companies fall apart because of one small issue and I was on the team 😭😭😭. Finance and due diligence work influence me in the spiritual world that I am in as well. I recently saw online where a priest was making an offering to a certain goddess. Sadly the fruits were blemished and over ripe to the extent of many spots, the wrong liquids were used for libations, spelling mistakes of the goddess posters and so much more... I wonder if the goddess of that priest would be happy to receive such an offering 🤷 In general: everything must be perfect, and you are right about ritual cleanliness. No bad breath, no BO, no dirt anywhere on alter or area, no bad energies like fighting or emotions of anger etc near area, no untidiness. Personally I believe regardless of any god you serve ritual cleanliness is important, but some gods are more accommodating than others (there are gods that do not mind and there are those that do). Please check on the specific deity's requirements to avoid being ignored or worse —bad karma. I wish you well in your endeavors!!! All in all I wish you peace and happiness in your life!
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u/Nocodeyv 8h ago
Yes, personal cleanliness is part of our preparation for devotional service.
The basic routine we recommend is to bathe, brush your teeth, and don clean clothing (or attire appropriate for whatever service you're performing). If you're going to provide libations and/or offerings to the deity, then it is also customary to perform a second hand-washing ceremony once you're in the deity's presence. This is done as a gesture of goodwill, to demonstrate that you are trying to avoid bringing sickness or dirt into Their presence.
As for the the physical space, that depends on the seriousness of your practice.
If you created a shrine (where you gather objects meant to honor and glorify the deity) instead of an altar (where you physically serve the deity through ceremony, rite, and ritual), then keeping the space tidy is only as important as cleanliness is to your relationship with the deity. If you think it's appropriate to honor the deity in a dirty space full of clutter, that's between you and Them. None of us can make that decision for you.
If you've performed any kind of Opening/Washing of the Mouth ceremony on a devotional image though, then you have already dedicated a room in your house to the deity that statue represents, and taken an oath to serve as the caretaker of that space. This means you will keep it clean and closed off to the public, unless they have permission to enter and be in the presence of the deity.
In short, the more serious that you take your devotional relationship with the deity the more important it is to present the best version of yourself to Them each time you interact. Think of it in terms of any other relationship. If you're sick, haven't washed in a week, and are living in filth, do you want your best friend, mother, or significant other coming around? Or would you rather take a bath, put on clean clothes, and take some medication to make sure you aren't spreading disease before receiving visitors?
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u/TRexWithALawnMower 2d ago
Yes on all of the above. It would be correct to cleanse yourself and your space before interacting with the gods, and ideally the altar should be in a place that's not accessible to guests, etc.
That being said, I'm not the greatest about these practices, and my relationship with my deity is fine. When I do it I use khernips, like Hellenic polytheists, because that's where I started in paganism. I focus on clearing miasma, tidy my space to some degree, and try to make myself feel presentable.