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Thread: Hinduism and menstruation

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    Hinduism and menstruation

    What is the main Hindu view on menstruation? I know that women who are menstruating are not allowed to go to temples. I heard from ISKCON that anything a woman touches while she is menstruating becomes unclean. Do most Hindus believe this?

    For example, if my wife touched my clean dhoti when I was menstruating, would it become unclean and require another washing before I could wear it to the temple? Would sprinkling Ganga water on it remove the impurity?

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    I will enlarge your question. What are the views of different religions about menstruation?

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Really sensitive issue Scott....Its a taboo for some people to even talk about.....

    You cannot be totally isolating your wife from your life during the menstruation process....I personally dont think it is viable that touching will make thinks unclean. We cannot be washing our clothes, changing bedsheets, staying a meter away from our wife.

    I know that women during menstruation are not allowed to visit temples. Its only after the 5th day when they have a head bath then they usually go. If you are organising a prayer at your home and unfortunately your wife falls sick on the same day of the pooja and everythings arranged, then we certainly cannot cancel it can we. Its just that she wont be playing a part in the preparation and process prayer. She'l be more like a spectator.

    Hope i have thrown some insights from my point of view.

    Cheers
    Ravi

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Quote Originally Posted by ScottMalaysia View Post
    For example, if my wife touched my clean dhoti when I was menstruating
    Wait, you menstruate?

    On a serious note, women who menstruate are actually kept in a separate part of the house and are not allowed to mingle with others until after an oil bath after the 4th day where she undergoes a purificatory ceremony. It is also proven that menstrual blood is extremely toxic and can cause all sorts of illnesses. This is why they are kept aloof and in the good old days, women actually followed this tradition and most still do in traditional households. Other so-called "modern" Hindus, don't enforce this so their menstruating women still mingle with others in the family (yuck!).

    The women do not cook, they don't touch anything else in the house (they are restricted to their "room" where there is a toilet/shower for them to use of course).

    I'm glad most Hindus I know still follow this tradition and are clean.
    Last edited by satay; 06 March 2010 at 07:40 PM. Reason: rewording

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Quote Originally Posted by TatTvamAsi View Post

    I'm glad most Hindus I know still follow this tradition and are clean.
    Really?

    I know of not one Hindu women that stays in a room not touching anything for 4 days. How is that even possible in modern society? We don't all have servants that can take care of our children and cook for our families. What about households that depend on a double income?

    As far as I know Scott, women simply don't go to temple until after 5 days and a hair washing. I can completely understand why in the past a women on her period could have been deemed 'unclean'. Running water for showers and hand washing, sanitary napkins, and washing machines weren't exactly readily available. Things could get, er, 'messy' for lack of a better word, along with too much information.

    Go give your wife a hug and a kiss, don't make her feel like an alien for functioning as God created her to.

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Different strokes for different folks really.

    Some Hindus are more orthodox than others; and it seems like the closer to metropolitan areas families are, the more lackadaisical they become in orthodoxy. Perhaps an 'okay' thing, as Hinduism is not rigid about societal rules like other societies around the world.

    However, questioning the validity and then denigrating orthodoxy makes one look dumber than they look. And that is what prompted my truthful statement about families keeping menstruating women aloof. In most cases that I know, the women themselves know how to behave during those times so there aren't any issues. The only "issues" I have seen personally regarding this is a cousin, who studied in an international school in India, rebelled against her parents when she was asked to follow tradition (staying in her room during her periods). The parents left it after a while and although she doesn't follow the traditions strictly, she still doesn't go into the kitchen, pUjA room, and other important places during her menstrual cycle.

    The funny thing is, I heard that in some Tantric traditions, menstrual blood is actually used in some rituals! Shocking for us I suppose but after all, one man's food, quite literally , is another man's poison!

    Last but not least, whether a woman is kept aloof or not, when she is menstruating, there is a pungent smell that is absolutely disgusting. Nothing against the person per se, but one must have the common sense to be aware that others might be affected adversely. If someone has body odor and refuses to wear deodorant, you are welcome to "hug and kiss" them but I'm staying away! Thank you very much.

    Next.

    Quote Originally Posted by Shanti View Post
    Really?

    I know of not one Hindu women that stays in a room not touching anything for 4 days. How is that even possible in modern society? We don't all have servants that can take care of our children and cook for our families. What about households that depend on a double income?

    As far as I know Scott, women simply don't go to temple until after 5 days and a hair washing. I can completely understand why in the past a women on her period could have been deemed 'unclean'. Running water for showers and hand washing, sanitary napkins, and washing machines weren't exactly readily available. Things could get, er, 'messy' for lack of a better word, along with too much information.

    Go give your wife a hug and a kiss, don't make her feel like an alien for functioning as God created her to.

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Another important matter that I see a lot of people who are against certain traditions is this: the immediate need to see a verse or quote from the Vedas or other scripture to prove the authenticity and injunction of the tradition(s).

    This is quite laughable for two reasons:

    1.) Hinduism is not about doing everything by the book, quite literally. Hence, we don't need a verse or injunction from the Vedas to do everything in life. Our scriptures are not about "do's and don'ts". This is the TRUE FREEDOM that Hinduism enjoins! People conveniently forget that fact! This becomes especially important for societal rules and traditions as they are forever changing and adapting.

    We are not brain-dead zombies like the abrahamics who do anything and everything that their books tell them to like slaves. We have something quite remarkable, it's called independent thinking.

    2.) Just because something is not in the Vedas, for example conversion as discussed before, does not mean it is invalid or untrue. As the inexorable change of universe occurs, not everything can be encapsulated in books. This is also why the Vedas, and Dharmic religions in general, talk about experiencing for oneself rather than following a set of rules laid down thousands of years ago.

    Regarding quirky topics like menstruation, the answer is quite simple; examine it in the frame of reference of the three gunas; sattva, rajas, and tamas. Anything that is an excretion from the body, sweat, blood, tears, etc. are toxic and hence classified under "tamas". This is what we call "bad" just in case you weren't aware. Just like eating a nice puppy sandwich may be looked down upon by dog worshipers in the west, eating meat, frolicking with untouchables, touching menstruating women are all classified as tamasic; hence, traditional Hindus don't do it!

    On that note, any venture capitalists out there? I have a business plan to start a dog/cat sandwich shop! It will certainly be the first one in the US and therefore I can have a clear sustainable advantage! Supply is great! Demand is great (lots of chinese and koreans here)! LOLOLOL...

    End of story.

    (On a serious note, this would be a great reason to argue in favor of vegetarianism and I'm assuming any case filed would go to the Supreme Court in the US!!)

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Quote Originally Posted by TatTvamAsi View Post

    independent thinking.

    experiencing for oneself
    TTA: You're stealing from my book. I thought some days I was the only one here that thought this way. Glad to know I have some company.

    But of course it helps to have a little guidance when necessary, if you need it.

    Aum Namasivaya

  9. #9

    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    Quote Originally Posted by TatTvamAsi View Post
    Different strokes for different folks really.

    Some Hindus are more orthodox than others; and it seems like the closer to metropolitan areas families are, the more lackadaisical they become in orthodoxy. Perhaps an 'okay' thing, as Hinduism is not rigid about societal rules like other societies around the world.

    However, questioning the validity and then denigrating orthodoxy makes one look dumber than they look. And that is what prompted my truthful statement about families keeping menstruating women aloof. In most cases that I know, the women themselves know how to behave during those times so there aren't any issues. The only "issues" I have seen personally regarding this is a cousin, who studied in an international school in India, rebelled against her parents when she was asked to follow tradition (staying in her room during her periods). The parents left it after a while and although she doesn't follow the traditions strictly, she still doesn't go into the kitchen, pUjA room, and other important places during her menstrual cycle.

    The funny thing is, I heard that in some Tantric traditions, menstrual blood is actually used in some rituals! Shocking for us I suppose but after all, one man's food, quite literally , is another man's poison!

    Last but not least, whether a woman is kept aloof or not, when she is menstruating, there is a pungent smell that is absolutely disgusting. Nothing against the person per se, but one must have the common sense to be aware that others might be affected adversely. If someone has body odor and refuses to wear deodorant, you are welcome to "hug and kiss" them but I'm staying away! Thank you very much.

    Next.
    Different strokes for different folks indeed. I don't see this issue as anything to do with orthodoxy, but more tradition. In the past, these 'rules' served a purpose, because as stated previously there was certainly an issue with cleanliness. As far as the "pungent smell" that is "absolutely disgusting", can you honestly sniff up every menstruating woman walking down the street. Maybe if she was bleeding and refused to wear sanitary napkin or tampon, you could then compare to a person with body odor that refused to wear deodorant.

    Quite frankly, it's nonsense. I'm supposed to tell my 3 year old son to go into the kitchen and fix his own breakfast, lunch, and dinner and to fend for himself because I'm not leaving my room. That's not following orthodoxy, that's child neglect.

    This was a tradition that was imposed at a time that it made sense, the beauty of our religion is that it embraces an evolving thought process.

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    Re: Hinduism and menstruation

    I think it is more to do with the physiological and psychological state of the woman's mind during that period! Impurity is not so external is what i believe.

    Taking bath alone does not make a man clean...in the same line on the opposite, just going through a natural cycle cannot make a woman impure.

    The restriction etc. are not due to some hypothetical physical "impurity" and it will be short sighted view to assume a meaning like that.

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