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Jootth, Joottha


JOOTTH/ JOOTTHAA

Jootth Jootth is a word of Apbhransh language (in Prakrit Jutth; in Sanskrit jusht). It means: that which has been used; i.e. left-over food, crumbs of food. Sanskrit word uchchhisht means left-over, forsaken, stale, unfresh.

Joottha literally: unclean and/or impure.

An unclean utensil or food left out by someone is known as jootha.

According to Hinduism, if a (so-called) low-caste person touches a utensil or anything, it becomes jootha/ joothi* (polluted).

{*joothi is feminine gender of jootha}.

Sikhism rejects this view.

In Sikhism, there is no taboo of caste.

In a Gurdwara, any one, irrespective of caste, birth, colour, gender or any other distinction, can cook, serve and eat the same food.

According to Sikhism :

If mind is unclean, the body is unclean, and, one who utters falsehood from mouth, is also jutha. (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 56).

Also see: Ablution, Pollution.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)