Cleanliness is next to Godliness is a proverb that refers to the importance of cleanliness in human life and its connection with the spiritual growth and purity of body, mind, and soul. The first-ever evidence for the use of the phrase “cleanliness is next to godliness” is in a sermon by an English cleric, John Wesley. The phrase seeks to invoke cleanliness and hygiene by equating cleanliness with godliness. The biblical meaning of Godliness is “conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious.” Therefore, the phrase “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” means that practicing cleanliness is as good as conforming to the wish of God.

Short and Long Essay on Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Essay 1 (250 words)

The famous proverb ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’ expresses a lot to us. It indicates that cleanliness is an essential part of the healthy life. As we all know that the habit of cleanliness is in our tradition and culture. Our grandparents teach us properly to be clean always and promote us to do worship and eat a meal after taking a morning bath.

They teach us to eat food only after doing proper hand wash and touch holy books and other holy things with clean hands. Even in some houses, there are restrictions on entering the temple and kitchen without taking a bath. Priests tell us to take bath, wash hands and wear clean clothes before appearing to God or involve in the puja or Katha. There was a strict tradition of hand washing before meals in the Jewish elders.

There is a close connection between personal cleanliness and the moral health of the person. Personal cleanliness is considered as the symbol of purity of body and soul which is necessary to get a healthy and spiritual connection. People who do not take a daily bath or wear dirty clothes are generally losing their feeling of confidence, self-respect and well being.

So we can say that personal cleanliness safeguards us against dishonesty. All the advantages of cleanliness prove the question that why religious people and religious founders have made cleanliness rituals necessary during spiritual occasions. Regular and proper cleanliness helps us to prevent germs remaining long on the body and maintain our godliness.

Essay 2 (300 words)

Cleanliness is next to godliness which we can say that cleanliness is the way to godliness and without cleanliness, we cannot get godliness.

Many great people and social reformers in India (like Mahatma Gandhi, etc) had worked hard for the maintenance of personal and surrounding cleanliness to be physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. Nowadays, a clean India campaign called Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been run by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in order to maintain the cleanliness in surroundings and make India a clean India.

Earlier too, many cleanliness programs were run however became unsuccessful because of the not getting proper support of the common public. The celebration of World Environment Day is also taking place every year having the same objectives of cleanliness. We have adopted many things from the western culture however never caught their etiquette and habits related to sanitation and hygiene. Cleanliness is a matter of attitude which is possible through the proper awareness among common people.

Cleanliness is a virtue which should be promoted among people of all age group and status to get complete command over the cleanliness. Proper and regular cleanliness brings good mental and physical health, tidiness, and purity of soul and mind. Cleanliness of body and mind provides spiritual and positive thoughts as well as helps to easily connect with nature.

People who do not maintain their cleanliness become generally fed up because of many reasons like physical problems, mental disturbances, diseases, negative thoughts, etc. On the other hand, people who maintain their hygiene and personal cleanliness become always happy as they develop positive thoughts which help to balance body, mind, and soul.

Essay 3 (400 words)

Cleanliness is next to godliness is the most common and famous proverb which means cleanliness is everything for goodness. People should keep themselves clean and bright to maintain their healthy lifestyle and healthy living. Cleanliness is a way to godliness and godliness is a way to balance the mind, soul, and body. Being clean is mean to keep ourselves physically and mentally clean. Keeping our body clean, tidy and well dressed makes us smart enough to get confidence and positive thoughts. Clean habits with nice dress sense create a good impression on others and a good reputation in society because cleanliness reflects a clean character of the person.

It is considered that the people maintaining cleanliness and develop the habit of dressing smartly, become a clean character and generally pious and god-fearing. Such people have certain morals in their life and have a clean heart by being godly. We can say that godliness starts with a clean heart and a clean heart can be of a person with good character. This is the reason why priests of any religion tell to be clean from body and mind before worship. Cleanliness is the first and foremost thing to be near to the god.

On the other hand, being clean strengthens our immunity system and secures us from many chronic and acute diseases. However, clean people may catch diseases from dirty people but they are strong enough to tackle small problems. They can manage things in their surroundings related to cleanliness including instructing poor and dirty people about cleanliness.

People maintaining their proper cleanliness feel shame in meeting with the people having a dirty face, hands, soiled clothes and bad-smelling clothes because they feel their insult while meeting with such types of people. The cleanliness of the body is really very necessary for good physical health. On the other hand, physical cleanliness gives inner cleanliness and keeps the heart and mind clean. Cleanliness of mind keeps us mentally healthy and prevents from the psychological problems. So, the complete cleanliness keeps away from dirt and diseases as both go together, where there is dirt there are diseases.

Disease-causing germs breed and grow very rapidly in the dirt which causes infection or various epidemic diseases such as cholera. So, in order to be a healthy, happy and peaceful life, we all should practice clean habits in every aspect of life because dirt symbolizes moral evil whereas cleanliness symbolizes moral purity.