Temizuya Ritual (手水舎 - Temizuya)
The stone water pavilion near the shrine entrance where visitors wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify mind and body before facing the deities. This is a simplified form of ancient purification rituals.
In ancient times, worshippers purified themselves by bathing in natural rivers or seas. Over the centuries, this evolved into the convenient ritual of using running water from the Temizuya pavilion.
Hold the ladle with your right hand to wash your left hand. Switch hands to wash your right hand. Switch back, pour water into your left palm to rinse your mouth. Wash your left hand again. Tilt the ladle vertically to wash its handle with the remaining water, and return it face down.
What is a major breach of etiquette when purifying at the Temizuya pavilion?