Menstruation- a taboo ?

Menstruation in Sanatan Dharma: A Sacred Rite, Not a Stigma

Menstruation, often considered a taboo or shameful topic in many parts of the world, is viewed through a vastly different lens in Sanatan Dharma. Contrary to the misconception that Hinduism or its scriptures undermine women during their menstrual cycle, the truth is that Sanatan Dharma venerates women and their natural biological processes. In fact, menstruation is seen as an integral part of a woman's sacred journey—a vital force that is respected and celebrated. This article explores how Sanatan Dharma embraces menstruation, the concept of Sanskaras (rituals), and addresses the erroneous feminist perspective that often portrays it as a form of oppression.

The Core of Sanatan Dharma: Reverence for Women

In Sanatan Dharma, the feminine energy or Shakti is revered. The mother goddess is considered the highest form of divinity. From Durga, the warrior goddess, to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, these divine forms represent power, wisdom, and purity.

The notion that women are somehow oppressed in Sanatan Dharma is not just a misinterpretation of the religion but a deliberate distortion. Women are celebrated, and their natural cycles, including menstruation, are regarded as a holy process that connects them to the divine.

Understanding Sanskaras: The Spiritual Journey

In Sanatan Dharma, life is a series of rituals known as Sanskaras. These rites guide a person through different stages of life, including birth, education, marriage, and death. Each of these Sanskaras is intended to purify and elevate the individual spiritually. For women, menstruation is also tied to certain rituals that acknowledge and honor their bodily processes.

1. Ritusuddhi Sanskara (Menstrual Purification Rite)

The Ritusuddhi is a purification ritual for women that recognizes menstruation as a sacred purification process. During menstruation, a woman is not viewed as impure but as undergoing a spiritual cleansing, much like a ritual bath or fasting is seen in other contexts. The Sanskrit term "Ritu" refers to a season or cycle, and Suddhi means purity. The combination of the two underscores the reverence for the natural biological cycle of women.

2. Garbhadana Sanskara (Rite of Conception)

The Garbhadana Sanskara, which celebrates conception, signifies the sacredness of the female body in bearing life. It acknowledges menstruation as part of the biological rhythm that ultimately leads to creation. Without this natural cycle, the possibility of life would not exist.

3. Vivaha Sanskara (Marriage Rituals)

In the marriage rituals, women undergo certain ceremonies that celebrate their femininity, including the Kanyadaan (giving away of the bride by her father). This act honors the woman, recognizing her as a sacred being whose life and body are a reflection of divine Shakti.

4. Antyeshti Sanskara (Final Rites)

Even in death, the woman’s body is treated with respect and sanctity, symbolizing the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth in the universe. This cycle mirrors the menstrual process, where life is renewed regularly. These Sanskaras reinforce the central idea that the female body, its cycles, and its spiritual essence are always respected in Sanatan Dharma, and menstruation is not a source of shame but a process of sanctification.

A Detailed Report on the Celebration of Menstruation in India: Honoring the Sacred Cycle

Menstruation, though often considered a taboo subject in many parts of the world, holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in various parts of India. Across the country, there are regions and communities where menstruation is celebrated and respected as a natural and sacred process. These practices draw from ancient beliefs rooted in Sanatan Dharma, where the feminine form is seen as a reflection of divine power and creation. This report explores the diverse customs and rituals across India that not only acknowledge menstruation but celebrate it as a vital aspect of a woman’s spiritual and biological journey.

1. The Menstrual Celebrations in Kerala: "Puliyur Village Tradition"

In Kerala, particularly in the village of Puliyur in Kottayam, menstruation is celebrated with rituals of reverence. The menstrual cycle is considered a time when a woman’s spiritual energy is at its peak, and special prayers are offered for her well-being. The local temple has a special prayer where young girls and women are invited to take part in customs that honor their cycles. The festival of "Mottu Puli" is an example, where women are celebrated during their periods. The festival includes prayers for health, fertility, and longevity. During menstruation, women participate in special temple rituals, and the period is seen as a time for spiritual renewal.

2. The "Kamakhya Temple" in Assam

The Kamakhya Temple, one of the most prominent Shakti Peethas in India, stands as a powerful symbol of menstruation's sacredness in Hinduism. Located in Assam, this temple is devoted to Goddess Kamakhya, who is believed to embody the feminine power of creation and destruction. The temple’s most significant annual festival, Ambubachi Mela, marks the menstruation cycle of the Goddess Kamakhya. During this time, the temple remains closed for three days—symbolizing the menstruation of the Goddess—and on the fourth day, a grand festival is held. It is believed that Kamakhya’s menstruation symbolizes the creative and destructive forces of nature. Thousands of devotees visit the temple during this period to seek blessings for fertility, prosperity, and spiritual strength. Here, menstruation is not a taboo but a celebration of the feminine divine energy.

3. The "Ayyappa Temple" in Sabarimala

In Sabarimala, located in the Western Ghats of Kerala, there is a traditional restriction on women of menstruating age (typically 10-50 years) from entering the temple. However, this is often misunderstood by outsiders. The restriction is based on the spiritual energy and purity of the pilgrimage, where the devotee must be in a state of physical and mental austerity, refraining from distractions that could affect the sacred journey. Despite this, the focus is on the spirituality and discipline of the pilgrimage rather than any notion of impurity. The Sabarimala pilgrimage is often understood as a celebration of discipline and devotion, and the rules surrounding menstruation in this context highlight the sanctity of the pilgrimage rather than demeaning women.

4. The "Rajasthan" Traditions

In several communities in Rajasthan, menstruation is celebrated through the ritual of "Rajasthani Pooja" (also known as "Menstrual Puja"). In this ritual, young girls and women are honored during their menstruation period, and the family holds a special prayer session in their honor. During this time, the girl or woman is considered to be in a sacred state and is treated with great respect, including offering special meals and gifts.

5. The "Goddess Yellamma" Worship in Karnataka and Maharashtra

In the southern and western parts of India, particularly in Karnataka and Maharashtra, the worship of Goddess Yellamma involves rituals that acknowledge the menstruation cycle. Yellamma, often associated with fertility and life, is revered as a goddess who protects women and ensures their well-being during menstruation. There are temple celebrations and festivals during the menstruation cycle of the Goddess, where women participate in rituals and prayers that honor their cycles. This tradition symbolizes the divine connection between menstruation and the natural cycles of life and death. Women offer prayers and seek the goddess's blessings for fertility, health, and prosperity.

6. The "Rajasthan" Temple of Goddess Durga

In some regions of Rajasthan, especially in the Shekhawati region, there is a celebration dedicated to Goddess Durga, where women are celebrated during their menstrual periods. A practice called "Menstrual Ritual" is observed, where women who are menstruating are given the status of "Pujaris" (priests) for a short duration. During this time, they are treated as holy and participate in religious and cultural functions, receiving blessings from their elders.

7. "Maharashtra’s Kumbh Mela" and Menstruation Rituals

In the Kumbh Mela in Maharashtra, women in some areas of the state observe a special ritual during their periods. These women visit sacred rivers and take ritual baths, marking the menstrual cycle as a time of purification. Here, menstruation is seen as an essential part of the cycle of life and death, reflecting the fluidity and movement of the universe.

8. The "Bastar Dussehra" in Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, the Bastar Dussehra festival has special customs for women, and menstruation plays a key role in the celebration. Women, especially the young ones, are celebrated for their role in preserving fertility and the health of the village. During the festival, there are special rituals that honor the menstrual cycle, and women are regarded as symbols of prosperity and spiritual purity.

9. The "Kali Puja" in Bengal

In West Bengal, during Kali Puja, women are treated with reverence. There are beliefs and practices that associate the goddess Kali with menstruation. Kali, in her fierce form, is considered the destroyer of evil and the protector of women, especially during menstruation. Some communities offer "prasad" (offerings) to women during their menstrual cycle as a mark of respect and honor.

Menstruation as a Sacred Rite in Sanatan Dharma

In Sanatan Dharma, menstruation is often linked to sacred rituals like pujas and fasting. Women, particularly during menstruation, are often advised to refrain from certain temple rituals to preserve the sanctity of the sacred space. This is not because they are deemed impure but because they are believed to be in a state of spiritual transformation, needing time to rejuvenate. This concept is highlighted in texts such as the Manusmriti, which outlines that during menstruation, women are advised to refrain from certain social and spiritual activities to maintain the purity of their spiritual energy.

However, it is vital to understand that this abstinence is not a mark of subjugation but a celebration of the woman's inner sanctity and connection to the divine. The woman is not unclean but is undergoing a period of sacred purification, where she is in touch with the deeper spiritual energies of the universe.

Feminist Misinterpretations and Distortions

Feminists, particularly in the West, have often argued that the restrictions around menstruation in Sanatan Dharma are a form of oppression. They claim that Hinduism, with its emphasis on abstinence during menstruation, perpetuates the idea that women are unclean during this time, thus undermining them. However, this interpretation is not only inaccurate but overlooks the deeper, spiritual significance of the practice.

In fact, the concept of menstrual purity is rooted in a recognition of divinity and spirituality. Far from being viewed as inferior, women are considered powerful agents of life, capable of creating and sustaining life in ways that men cannot. The rituals around menstruation protect women’s energy and spiritual equilibrium, which is crucial to their well-being.

To illustrate this, let’s refer to the Rig Veda, where it is stated:

• The womb of the woman is the seat of the divine. A woman, like the earth, is the source of all life and energy." (Rig Veda, 10.85.44). This indicates the divine reverence for women, contrasting with the feminist narrative of oppression.

Shlokas that Reaffirm Women’s Sacredness

1. "यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः।"

("Where women are honored, divinity blossoms there.") — Manusmriti 3.56

This shloka explicitly affirms that women are held in high esteem and revered in places where they are respected, which directly refutes the notion of menstruation being a sign of impurity.

2. "A woman is the creator of the family, the protector of the home, and the one who leads the family to prosperity." — Mahabharata

This quote speaks to the reverence given to women in the Vedic texts and reinforces the idea that they are the backbone of society, not inferior beings.

Conclusion: A Call to Reclaim the Truth

It is high time that the feminist narrative around menstruation and Sanatan Dharma be corrected. Rather than seeing it as a form of oppression, it should be acknowledged as a celebration of feminine power and spirituality. The menstural cycle in Sanatan Dharma is not a mark of impurity but a mark of a woman's sanctity, a powerful spiritual process that is a part of the natural order.

Women are never undermined in Sanatan Dharma. In fact, they are revered as life-givers, spiritual nurturers, and divine entities. The Sanskaras and sacred rituals surrounding menstruation are not meant to oppress women but to honor their sacred roles in the cosmic cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It's time to dispel the myths and celebrate the true essence of what it means to be a woman in Sanatan Dharma.