What are the scientific reasons for women to be in a separate place during menstruation in days gone by? The facilities we have at present times were not available back then. Why must we continue this practice? Kindly explain in detail for the women of the household to understand the reasons and follow them.
Vidwan’s reply:
During menstruation, there will be physical restlessness and difficulties. At a mental level, there will be other worries and sorrows. To have a complete rest from all of these, they have prescribed menstruating women to be separate. It is true these days one is not burdened with domestic chores similar to the days gone by. There were no gadgets and devices for the various domestic chores in those days, which added to the burden. There was a need to rest from the burdensome activities. Even today, many travel and go to work and no one is asking to put a stop to these.
When one returns home, in addition to the need for rest, impurities related to the mind, and physical body needs to be considered. Some might be mentally impacted causing contradictory thoughts to arise. Our home is the place where Perumal is residing at, where Perumal Tiruvaradhanam is conducted, it is a place where prasadam for Emperuman is prepared, a place where we partake prasadam – we associate all aspects of household living with Perumal. This is the reason why we wash the entrance of the house and draw kolam. Hence, to disengage menstruating women from aspects related to Perumal to maintain purity and for them to remain pure and restful, they were asked to live separately.
On days such as maasikam, sraddha, amavasyai, etc., must the sumangali ladies wear only a simple 9 yards cotton saree? Or are they allowed to wear sarees with silk zari border or Kalyani cotton sarees? Can 6 yards saree be worn like traditional 9 yards sari?
Vidwan’s reply:
On maasikam, sraddha, and amavasyai days, the wife of kartA must wear only the pure clothes that were hung out to dry after sunset the previous day. It is not a practice to wear a 6 yards saree in a 9 yards saree fashion. Only 9 yards sarees must be worn.
Notes:
Usually, it is not a practice to wear silk sarees on days such as maasikam, sraddha, and amavasyai. Since the silk sarees contain zari and some are not appropriate variety. Some types of ordinary zari must not come into contact with vessels at home. Cotton saree does not impact such deficiencies and it is better to wear only cotton sarees.
In some households, it is a practice to wear silk sarees on maasikam, sraddha, and amavasyai. Even those silk sarees must be washed and dried after sunset on the previous day. Follow the practice of the respective households.
