Dhauti is an important part of the Shatkarma. This is aimed to clean the digestive tract completely. Dhauti also affects the respiratory tract, external ears and eyes. There are four types of Dhauti according to Gheranda Samhita: Antar Dhauti, Danta Dhauti, Hrid Dhauti and Moola Shodhana.
Antar Dhauti
It is again divided into three categories:
Vatsara Dhauti - This is the practice of swallowing air into the stomach, passing through intestines and expelling it through the anus.
Varisara Dhauti - This is a practice through which large quantity of water is evacuated through the bowels.
Vahnisara Dhauti - This involves rapid breathing in and out while at the same time expanding and contracting the abdomen in such a way that the posture resembles the panting of a dog.
Danta Dhauti
It is cleaning of the teeth with a special stick especially of neem or babool. It is again categorized. Danta dhauti also includes Jihva dhauti, Karna dhauti, Kapalrandhra and Chakshu dhauti.
Jiva Dhauti - It involves cleaning of the tongue by rubbing it with the joined first finger and thumb in a downward motion and squeezing it thereby.
Karna Dhauti- It involves cleaning of the ears with the middle finger.
Kapalrandhra- Kapalrandhra involves cleaning upper back portion of the tongue.
Chakshu Dhauti- It involves bathing the eyes with tepid saline water.
Hrid Dhauti
It is divided into three parts: Vastra dhauti, Danda dhauti and Vaman dhauti.
Vastra Dhauti - This involves cleaning the stomach by swallowing a long thin strip of cloth and after sometime retiring it.
Danda Dhauti - It involves cleaning the oesophagus, by inserting a specially prepared stick from the throat to the stomach.
Vaman Dhauti - This involves repeating the solid food contents of the stomach.
Moola Shodhana
Moola shodhana is further divided into two categories including Moola shodhana and Bahiskrita dhauti.
Moola Shodhana - This is the cleaning of the rectum with the middle finger or a turmeric root.
Bahiskrita Dhauti - This involves pushing the rectum out and washing it in the hands.
Dhauti karma is swallowing of a strip of cloth which is made moist with warm water through the passage directed by Guru. By practicing Dhauti Karma cough, asthma, enlargement of the spleen, leprosy, and other kinds of diseases born of phlegm disappear.
When Dhauti is practiced in combination then it cleans the entire digestive tract and respiratory tract. It also helps in removing excess and old bile, mucus and toxins and restores the natural balance of the body"s chemical composition. It also helps remove infectious bacteria from the mouth, nose, eyes, ears, throat, stomach, intestines and anus. It is also said that Dhauti cures leprosy. It is also known to cure abdominal ailments and fever. However under certain conditions like stomach ulcers, hernia, heart disease, and high blood pressure this should not be practiced.
