A-Z TIPS TO FOLLOW AND AVOID BY WOMEN DEVOTEES DURING MONTHLY PERIODS!
A WOMAN DEVOTEE (Name hidden) asked like this:
Namaste. I heard people saying u can chant vishnu sahasranama during monthly periods too is that right? And I know we shouldn’t touch gods pics or gods book in periods but I have an app called stotramaala so in periods can I open That app and chant? And we can chant hanuman chalisa too? Please do reply me. Thank you so much!
REPLY:
(A) During monthly periods, a devotee should not touch the following:
(i) Deities of Krishna or His avatars/ extensions/ acharyas.
(ii) Worshiping Pictures of Krishna and acharyas.
(iii) The prasadam utensils used for cooking for Krishna.
(iv) The cloth of curtain used to close the altar.
(v) If you have a puja room, entering into that room is not advisable.
(vi) the tulasi mala and bag used for chanting. However this can be relaxed. Wash the chanting bag after periods.
(vii) The Tulasi plant used for worship (the plant will die if touched. It is proven). It is better to avoid touching other tulasi plants in the house also.
(viii) Better avoid visiting inside the worshiping hall of temples because you may touch the devotees who again touch the things in the temple. If prasadam hall is separate, you can go and take prasadam. However, you can visit the temple compound after bathing. Avoid deity halls.
(ix) Better to avoid full fasting since they will be tired with the loss of energy through blood during periods. They may observe partial fasting if they like. But, fasting can be totally avoided during periods that is not a violation of oath taken.
(x) Heavy works should be avoided during monthly periods because the body will be tired and the mind will be tensed.
(B) During the monthly periods, a devotee can do these things:
(i) They can chant using the handy counter machine or fingers or chanting beads (wash after periods)
(ii) They can sing kirtans / songs (including the stothras you have mentioned) and think of Krishna’s lilas. But, they should not sing close to the altar or pictures used for puja. Just sing from a certain distance or place of rest.
(iii) They can honour Krishna Prasadam (offered by anyone in the family or temple).
(iv) They can read the books related to Krishna online or books
(vii) They can use apps or websites or social media related to Krishna.
(C) Why these restrictions during the periods?
(i) We will not touch any thing related to the ujas of Krishna if we have leak of excreting fluids like urine or stool in our body, as a mark of respect. Similarly, monthly periods involves natural leaking of unfertilized eggs and blood without any schedule for 3-4 days. Since it is also an excretion of unwanted fluid, we follow the same respect during monthly periods also. This is not an insult to the females. Just a mark of respect since they can not prevent the excretion.
(ii) Some women may argue that it is a natural phenomena. Yes. Urination is also a natural phenomena. But, we clean our body after unexpected urination without control. Better apply the same consideration for monthly periods also. Please do not take it offensive. This is just an advice. Following or not is your discretion.
(iii) That is why, in the scriptures, the women are not given serious devotional practices and they are naturally given the fruits of the devotional practices followed by their husbands. However, since the women are also separate souls, they can follow chanting and other simple practices to feel a closeness with Krishna.
(D) THINGS TO DO AFTER THE END OF MONTHLY PERIODS:
(i) Have a full bath.
(ii) Wash all the clothes and chanting bags used by you during the periods. Spray some water on beads.
(iii) Wash the curtains, bed sheets, utensils, touched during the periods.
(iv) Clean the entire house with water and mob once.
Hope you are clear now.