Yet another university in Kerala has come up with menstrual leave for students considering the physical and mental agony that they undergo during the period. It is notable that the new decisions are from a Communist government which rubbishes all that is said in Hindu sciences as myth. Keeping the well-being of women in the community, the Hindu tradition has come up with a number of guidelines for menstruating women, most of which are now considered primitive.
Every culture has its own practices while women undergo menstruation. Ancient Indian science, which includes Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, mantra and astrology has also set rules and regulations to be followed.
The ancient Vedic seers recognized a principle of “energy” that provides motion, velocity, direction, vigor, and drive. This life force is referred to as prana, which means “primal breath.” The foundation of Western allopathic medicine, which dates back a few centuries, is external treatment and medication.
Ayurveda is a natural healing system and a science of life with a deep understanding of the human body and its relationship to nature. It is at least 7000 years old. The three doshas, or primary life forces in the body, are the foundation of Ayurveda.
Doshas are the bio-energies that each person possesses and contribute to the body’s various physiological functions. Vata, pitta, and kapha are the three doshas, which represent the elements air, fire, and water, respectively. In the body, each dosha performs a primary function. The moving force behind communication, perception, and cognition is vata, which means air. The force of assimilation and metabolism is called pitta, which means fire. Moreover, Kapha—water, an element—acts as a stabilizing force.
Menstruation is closely linked to the functions of the doshas, according to Ayurveda. Ayurveda views menstruation as a unique opportunity for women to cleanse themselves of excess doshas each month. Female longevity is attributed to this monthly cleansing.
The body is getting ready for pregnancy in the days leading up to menstruation, so there is an increase in energy. During menstruation, this stored energy is released from the body if there is no pregnancy and menstruation begins. Vata is the predominant dosha during periods. One of the fundamental air functions of the vata dosha, apana vayu, is responsible for menstruation’s downward flow. Consequently, during menstruation, avoid any activity that hinders this essential downward flow of energy. Women are more likely to absorb other energies from their surroundings during menstruation. The majority of India’s cultural practices regarding menstruation are based on this.
The common menstrual practices include not attending religious functions, visiting the temple and not touching menstruating women, avoiding cooking and eating with others during menstruation, avoiding sex during menstruation, avoiding swimming or washing the hair during menstruation, avoiding eating certain types of food during menstruation, taking time off during menstruation, restricting menstruating women to seclusion huts. However, if we carefully observe there are scientific reasons behind all these.
The times have changed. In the modern era when even Ayurvedic medicines have started coming in a form convenient for the busy life, these guidelines drawn by our ancestors have to be revisited and revised. Those practices were relevant and suitable for the time in which they were conceived, however, keeping in mind the reasons for the same new guidelines.
Bharat is a country that believes यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते, रमन्ते तत्र देवताः – that means where women are honored where, divinity blossoms and their well being is the very foundation of a healthy nation.
Infomation courtesy
Sinu Joseph
https://www.hinduamerican.org/
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