When a woman has her period, there is a suggestion in Hinduism that advises against going to the temple or praying during that time. This recommendation is NOT because a woman in “dirty” or “impure”. There is actually an explanation about why woman should not go to the temple during their period. This article will teach you the real reason why women should not go to temple during periods. (Spoiler alert: it has nothing to do with being “dirty”. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Sadly this knowledge isn’t known to many.)

I want to emphasize that it is not wrong to do pooja during periods or to go to the temple but it is only advised against it because it can cause discomfort for the woman while their body goes through menstruation.

Why women should not go to temple during periods?

The sacred Hindu texts, like the Vedas, never mention that a woman shouldn’t pray during their period. Instead, this idea comes from Ayurveda, an alternative medicine system focuses on a person’s energy balance. Over time, this ayurvedic lesson got twisted and transformed into a misogynistic myth by different cultures. But it is important to recognize the truth behind the lesson because it does have many benefits for a woman.

Throughout the month, a woman’s body prepares for pregnancy by accumulating energy and Prana (also known as life force). If pregnancy doesn’t occur, this built-up energy is released through menstruation. Menstruation is the downward flow of energy or energy release.

Apana Vayu, a concept in Ayurveda, is responsible for this downward flow of energy. Apana Vayu removes toxins and unnecessary energy. In other words, menstruation is a monthly cleansing process. Any activity that interferes with this cleaning process should be avoided.

That’s why it’s suggested that women avoid going to temples during menstruation. During this time, a woman energy flows downwards towards the earth, but in temples, the energy goes upwards. To maintain the right energy balance, especially since women are more sensitive to energy differences during this time, it’s best not to go to the temple. This practice aims to help women cleanse their energy without any interference and avoid absorbing unnecessary energy that can cause cramps and discomfort.

Is it wrong to do pooja during periods?

No, it is not wrong to do pooja during periods but it is not recommended. This is because of Apana Vayu and the energy imbalance while menstruating. During menstruation, a woman’s energy flows downwards towards the earth. In temples and other religions activities, the energy flows upwards. If you perform a pooja during menstruation, your energy will be imbalanced.

A woman’s body is very sensitive to energy changes during menstruation. If the woman is exposed to other flows of energy (like an upward flow in a pooja), she will absorb that energy and cause an imbalance. Her energy will try to move downward while the absorbed energy will try to move upwards. This imbalance can cause physical pain and other symptoms so it’s best to be avoided.

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However, it’s essential to know that the restrictions aren’t meant to imply that women are impure or inferior. In Hinduism, women are revered as goddesses, and every god has a feminine side or “shakti,” without which the god is powerless. During menstruation, women are believed to have a special aura and are seen as equivalent to actual deities.

While there might be a cultural stigma around this topic, it’s important to recognize that Hinduism doesn’t promote misogynistic ideas. These suggestions are not mandatory, and there’s nothing wrong with going to the temple if a woman chooses to do so. The primary goal is to help women have a more comfortable and less painful menstruation experience.