Why do we not use Tulasi bead, neem, and lotus garlands in our tradition while performing japa? Which garland should a woman use while doing japa?
Vidwan’s reply:
The answer provided is only based on sthree dharma;
Women need not have garlands while doing japa, they can easily keep count with their fingers.
Acharya would have initiated the proper form to do japa during mantropadesam. Excluding the thumb, if you count with the other four fingers in a clockwise direction, the tally would be 10; that is you should start your count on the index finger from down and when you reach your middle finger the total would be ten; you can count by keeping tabs mentally in this method. Generally, women do japa till 108 times and not more than this. So, this method of counting is easy; our elders also follow this method.
In certain households, after the menstruation period, on the fourth day a woman takes raw rice, salt, or tamarind; is there a scientific reason behind this practice?
Vidwan’s reply:
After the menstruation period, on the fourth day, it is a practice that a lady should look at her children only after partaking some type of food. This practice of taking rice or salt or tamarind on the fourth day has a scientific reason. Women have a lot of work like washing their clothes etc on the fourth day, while doing such chores they might not take food for an extended period; taking any of these will prevent acidity.
For convenience’s sake, we take raw rice or salt; that is one can take any salted item before continuing with other chores; it is difficult to cook a salty food item at that period hence this has been in practice. It is not a compulsion that one must take raw rice, tamarind, or salt, one can take any other raw food and proceed to do the chores. Though we can understand this scientifically, it is suitable to trust sampradaya and take raw rice or salt, hence this practice.
Can women recite the Apamarjana Stotram from Sri Vishnu Dharmam?
Vidwan’s reply:
It is not a common practice for women to recite the Apamarjana Stotram of Sri Vishnu Dharmam. But if elders of some households have this practice, one can follow such practices.
