This chapter is a collaboration with a friend of mine, Maya. She has beautifully described the reason why women aren't allowed in temples during their menstruation period. The part in Italics is written by her and is the most special part of this chapter. Happy reading

A woman bleeds a minimum of three days each month in accordance with her menstrual cycle. Her womb marks the shelter of creation. Yet the blood of the same shelter in which each of us are born is considered impure. 

Many girls donot even know the nature of their own body till they bleed for the first time. Parents don't educate their sons or daughters about the most natural process of life that paves way to new life. Anything related to this topic  is generally avoided. People go as far as hiding sanitary pads in thick cloth bags so that it can't be seen by others after purchasing it.  There are more than 497 Million females in India and a lot more than half of them menstruate. Should it be hidden?

The menstrual cycle is a beautiful process giving the woman the privilege to bear and nourish a life in her. In many cultures, nature is a woman. Without the so called "impure" menstruation you wouldn't be reading this.

In a country where condom and other contraceptives donot have GST, why don't sanitary pads too? Yes, sexual intercourse is a natural process but menstruation isn't? Or is it because both men and women are involved in the prior and only women in the later? Or is it because Pads can be replaced by cloth where it can spread contagious infections if not washed properly? No access to menstrual hygiene and education is the fifth biggest killer of women in this world and I can assure that India is a considerable contributor.

According to ancient scripts in India, Menstruation is in sync with the cycle of moon. A 14 days gap and the full moon marks the ovulation period and another fortnight and new moon marks menstruation. The age old practice of keeping women outside the home on the onset of their menstruation is not because they are "impure" but because they need rest from their daily routine at home as most of them worked as home makers back then. The men in the household would take up the household chores themselves , allowing their wives or mothers to rest. Over the years it was widely misinterpreted that women's menstruation was impure and hence such actions were taken.

Maya @Shivran86 

Yes, I had been menstruating. It was night. I don't remember what I had been thinking, but yes, I was gazing at the moon and the blue, starless sky. The magic happened.

I felt something indefinable. A surge of energy, power , whatever you name it. I felt it inside my body, and within moments I was connected to the moon, the sky, the other world. I haven't been able to relive that moment, or even if I had got the experience not for the first time, it was a flickering exquisite moment which I couldn't stop and feel forever.

I began questioning– is this the power of a menstruating woman? Is she so divine and so close to the cosmos? Because I had felt something which no language can possibly give a form. I knew, it was eerie yet beautiful!

Then, after some days, I came across an article on Google, and I got my answer.
When women are menstruating, the energy flows from top to below(opposite to what usually yogis strive to achieve, to make the semen flow from bottom to the head). This is an intense spiritual expression, when we are giving out these powerful rays of divine, of mystic. During such times, a woman has the power to become the Devi, to become Shakti. For this is the thing which differentiates us from Purusha.

During such times, we are expected to not enter a temple, or touch a tulsi tree, because we might unintentionally be extracting the holy energy the temple or the plant has, because we need it to nourish ourselves. In other words, since we are losing out on energy, we try to extract it from another source. This process is often beyond our control.

It is said that two Devis cannot reside in a temple together. When a menstruating woman enters a temple, she has the capability (even if she doesn't want to) to take in the energy of the idol since she is the more powerful one at the moment. Thus, you see, we are asked not to enter a temple because we are a Devi, and a Devi should not want to take the energy away from her own idol, isn't it? She should rest, be respected. For she is not allowed to enter a temple because she is a Devi of immense, but most of the times, uncontrollable power, and not because she is impure. She is the purest!

From that day, I didn't touch God in a temple while menstruating. I might talk to God, or play with the little statue which I sleep with, or walk in nature(this one is highly advised).
Now, I should not have been able to grasp this concept and accept the fact that we should not enter the temple if I had not experienced the power myself.

Nowadays, I have seen many women(all affected by Western thoughts) call periods as "shit", "disgusting" and what not. They talk of vampires and how they would use that period blood in many ways. They talk of free bleeding ( I wonder when we will start free urinating).
There is a limit to liberalism. I wonder what will happen to them and my hygiene if I start free bleeding in the house of those so-called feminists. Will they clean the stuff and applaud me? I don't want to be rude, but this is the reality.
So, do you think such people will be ever able to grasp the spiritual aspect of menstruation?

(Though, on Wattpad spiritual means religion, accepting your body and love. Not saying these are not spiritual at all, but these are the probably the lower aspects. But unfortunately no one wants to go deep unless they try to walk on the path of awakening willingly or unwillingly).
No, they cannot unless they change their mindset and stop their debates. One must learn to question and listen before arguing. 

Menstruation is something that needs to be told before the age of twelve to both boys and girls alike. In a particular school in Tirunelvelli, Tamil Nadu a 13 year old girl was shamed by her teacher for a red stain on her school uniform of which the girl was unaware  as it was probably her first bleed. The reprimands of the teacher, the laughs of her class mates and that included boys who teased her incessantly led her to take her own life. It is the duty of an educational institution or atleast parents to create awareness of their own body ( boys and girls) and the necessary of menstruation and sexual intercourse which are the two processes involved in the continuation of human race and is a part and parcel of life, not something to be pushed under the carpet. If you have a son, tell him about menstruation and what he can do to help his mother, sister, friend, wife, daughter in those times. If you have a daughter tell her that what is happening inside her is a beautiful, natural process and she has the power to nourish and provide home to her progeny. 

What one can do to change the mindset of the society:

1. Talk about menstruation as a natural process and educate your children about it before they panic while experiencing it.

2. Create awareness of the necessary hygiene a menstruating woman has to take

3. Donot shame or laugh at a woman who unknowingly bleeds. It doesn't happen voluntarily. If you see a woman bleeding unknowingly, let her know gently . Even if you are a man or a woman, buy her a sanitary pad if she can't buy one. 

To all women : Let's  accept the natural process within us and be proud of who we are and the power we are entrusted with. 

Namaste.

* Thank you Maya, it wouldn't have been possible without you and thank you to all readers. Do mention your thoughts about this. Stay safe, stay healthy :)