noun
cold-water purification; ritual bathing in cold water
A Shintō or Buddhist ascetic practice of standing under or pouring cold water over oneself to purify the body and spirit. Often performed at waterfalls, shrines, or before prayer.
滝に打たれて水垢離をとる修行がある。
There is an ascetic practice of performing cold-water purification under a waterfall.
神社でお参りする前に、水垢離で身を清めた。
Before praying at the shrine, I purified myself with cold-water ablutions.
Compound of 水 (water) and 垢離 (purification). 垢離 is a Buddhist term derived from Sanskrit, referring to ascetic practices for removing spiritual defilement.