Shaucha (Sanskrit: शौच, romanized: Śauca) literally means purity, cleanliness, and clearness.
[7] LePage[clarification needed] states that shaucha in yoga is on many levels, and deepens as an understanding and evolution of self increases.
[8] In yogic practice, shaucha is considered essential for health, happiness, and general well-being.
Anger, hate, prejudice, greed, lust, pride, fear, and negative thoughts are sources of impurity of mind.
[15][better source needed] Traditional Shaucha is included as one of five niyamas in Yoga, that is activity that is recommended for spiritual development of an individual.
For example, in Book 14 Chapter 38, it lists shaucha as a quality found in the liberated, happy, and dharmic person,
Bhagavad Gita describes purity at three levels in Book 17, verses 14–16, namely body, speech and thoughts.