(for ladies only)
Do you look forward to your monthly periods? Probably not, but actually, it can be a pleasant time for a little retreat and healthy restoration. Here's some suggestions and collected quotes on the matter:
NoD8 says one should not enter the temple in a contaminated state, so staying at home for at least the first few days is recommended.
Try to minimize your activities, especially those involving deity worship or cooking unless there is no other alternative, such as extended family help.
Now is the time to pamper yourself by doing what is personally enjoyable and restful.
A long nap sometime during the day is a good idea.
It may not be the best time to visit with others, however, since one's mind may be subjected to mood swings, although light conversation with a friend can be beneficial. Also it is extremely helpful to keep careful track of your cycle, so you'll know when to expect it and why you feel more tired at times and also more moody.
Drinking plenty of water when feeling out of sorts is very soothing.
Foods rich in iron such as green leafy vegetables are recommended. Also a small handful of soaked and peeled almonds sauteed in ghee are good for added minerals.
Now is not a good time for exercise and hard work. Observing those before each period, however, is important to keep the body functioning properly and minimize discomfort such as menstrual headaches.
It may seem old fashioned, but it is also green to save and repurpose soft absorbent cloth to fold into feminine napkins.
Some Quotes from Anonymous Ladies:
“Growing up, I was taught that we shouldn't go to the temple during our periods, or at least for the first three days of it, when it's the heaviest. All the bedsheets and clothes worn during the period should be washed after it ends. Also, many people do not cook during their periods, or perform arati or anything else having to deal intimately with the deities such as touching Their clothes (but not everyone can afford this luxury!). Nobody told me about not touching holy books...(if possible)”
“Findings (by a woman appointed by Srila Prabhupada to research these things) were that women should not go to the temple nor should they cook even for their families, what to speak of cooking for Deities (Well, no wonder women are not pujaris in India!). They should observe total rest for three days. They should keep their hair in a braid or loose, not in a bun (an Indian friend of mine told me about this one. She said a demigod lives in your bun, so you should let him out during your muchi time. I don't know how to verify this one, so I just braid my hair out of respect anyway, just in case), and they should not even bathe (in rivers)during those three days, but after the three days are over, they should take a full bath including washing of hair and clothes (in some places in India, the clothes a woman wears while she is on her period are burned afterwards), and then resume their household duties. Some women don't wear tilaka... Some refuse to touch holy books and it is understood that one does not touch one's husband. Not only in India but in other countries as well, ladies who are on their periods go to a separate place to rest and stay secluded.
"Of course, much of this is only possible when there is a joint family so that as soon as one woman starts her menses, the other women in the household are there to say to her husband, 'So-and-so is in her seclusion now, so don't worry, we will cook for you and do everything your wife usually does, so you will be comfortable.' Then the wife is free to rest, which restores her health and increases her energy and strength, thus allowing her to return to her normal duties with enthusiasm. This renewed energy also increases her attractiveness to her husband. An added 'plus' is that this practice gives the other ladies of the household the chance to serve their sister-daughter-mother-aunt-niece--whoever she may be to them--and in
turn, she helps them out when they get their courses. So in Vedic culture there is a wonderful system for how we ladies can actually get three days off every month, to restore our sanity and our health, which we desperately need. And when we are sane and healthy, our husbands can be happier and more peaceful, too!
“When a woman does not rest during her period, she pays for it by enduring fatigue for the rest of the month and back pain for the rest of her life. (The Indian ladies at (one) temple would look at me in disbelief like, 'How can you not know that you're supposed to rest while you're on your period? You should know this!' They would warn me, 'You're back is going to hurt!' And how right they were! But how could I rest without help? They would always stay home from the temple during their courses.”
Do you look forward to your monthly periods? Probably not, but actually, it can be a pleasant time for a little retreat and healthy restoration. Here's some suggestions and collected quotes on the matter:
NoD8 says one should not enter the temple in a contaminated state, so staying at home for at least the first few days is recommended.
Try to minimize your activities, especially those involving deity worship or cooking unless there is no other alternative, such as extended family help.
Now is the time to pamper yourself by doing what is personally enjoyable and restful.
A long nap sometime during the day is a good idea.It may not be the best time to visit with others, however, since one's mind may be subjected to mood swings, although light conversation with a friend can be beneficial. Also it is extremely helpful to keep careful track of your cycle, so you'll know when to expect it and why you feel more tired at times and also more moody.
Drinking plenty of water when feeling out of sorts is very soothing.
Foods rich in iron such as green leafy vegetables are recommended. Also a small handful of soaked and peeled almonds sauteed in ghee are good for added minerals.
Now is not a good time for exercise and hard work. Observing those before each period, however, is important to keep the body functioning properly and minimize discomfort such as menstrual headaches.
It may seem old fashioned, but it is also green to save and repurpose soft absorbent cloth to fold into feminine napkins.
Some Quotes from Anonymous Ladies:
“Growing up, I was taught that we shouldn't go to the temple during our periods, or at least for the first three days of it, when it's the heaviest. All the bedsheets and clothes worn during the period should be washed after it ends. Also, many people do not cook during their periods, or perform arati or anything else having to deal intimately with the deities such as touching Their clothes (but not everyone can afford this luxury!). Nobody told me about not touching holy books...(if possible)”
“Findings (by a woman appointed by Srila Prabhupada to research these things) were that women should not go to the temple nor should they cook even for their families, what to speak of cooking for Deities (Well, no wonder women are not pujaris in India!). They should observe total rest for three days. They should keep their hair in a braid or loose, not in a bun (an Indian friend of mine told me about this one. She said a demigod lives in your bun, so you should let him out during your muchi time. I don't know how to verify this one, so I just braid my hair out of respect anyway, just in case), and they should not even bathe (in rivers)during those three days, but after the three days are over, they should take a full bath including washing of hair and clothes (in some places in India, the clothes a woman wears while she is on her period are burned afterwards), and then resume their household duties. Some women don't wear tilaka... Some refuse to touch holy books and it is understood that one does not touch one's husband. Not only in India but in other countries as well, ladies who are on their periods go to a separate place to rest and stay secluded.
"Of course, much of this is only possible when there is a joint family so that as soon as one woman starts her menses, the other women in the household are there to say to her husband, 'So-and-so is in her seclusion now, so don't worry, we will cook for you and do everything your wife usually does, so you will be comfortable.' Then the wife is free to rest, which restores her health and increases her energy and strength, thus allowing her to return to her normal duties with enthusiasm. This renewed energy also increases her attractiveness to her husband. An added 'plus' is that this practice gives the other ladies of the household the chance to serve their sister-daughter-mother-aunt-niece--whoever she may be to them--and in
turn, she helps them out when they get their courses. So in Vedic culture there is a wonderful system for how we ladies can actually get three days off every month, to restore our sanity and our health, which we desperately need. And when we are sane and healthy, our husbands can be happier and more peaceful, too!
“When a woman does not rest during her period, she pays for it by enduring fatigue for the rest of the month and back pain for the rest of her life. (The Indian ladies at (one) temple would look at me in disbelief like, 'How can you not know that you're supposed to rest while you're on your period? You should know this!' They would warn me, 'You're back is going to hurt!' And how right they were! But how could I rest without help? They would always stay home from the temple during their courses.”