Brahma muhurta (it is the time 1 hour and 36 minutes earlier than sunrise) is the time when Tamo guna (the quality of darkness) disappears from the nature and the Sattva guna (quality of purity and goodness) enters. The bath at this time is given importance by the sciences of observances and Ayurveda. When we get up at Brahma muhurta and take a bath we achieve the external purity. The mind also will be purified by the observances following it. One who fasts and takes a bath at this period achieves long life, prosperity, wisdom, health, mental purity and mental power.
The domination on each one of seven elements in the body is stipulated with each planet. They are as follows: Sun- bone; Moon- blood; Mars- bone marrow; Mercury- skin; Jupiter- fat under the skin; Venus- semen; Saturn- ligament. Taking a bath with the medicines stipulated to each planet will cure the diseases in connection with the corresponding element. This bath is known as herbal or medicinal bath. Separate medicines are prescribed for each planet. Taking a bath with the water boiled with those medicines will help to avoid the misfortunes caused by the corresponding planet. The traditional siddha oil is also used for herbal bath.
Herbal bath is done at Sadhanapatham for the people come for Yoga treatment and for the students come to learn the observances. The experienced people certify that by doing the rites after taking bath before sunrise and sunset in the water, boiled with these medicines gives them physical, mental and spiritual freshness and vigor.
Herbal bath is done in another way also. If a person is suffering because of the fury of a planet, 30 grams of the medicine, corresponding to that planet is ground and mixed in the water. That water is transferred into a mud pot and it is worshipped by an eligible priest. After that, the water is poured through the head of the affected person. It is certain that the worshippers of God will be benefitted from this process.