Every year, in the lush hills of Assam, the Kamakhya Temple becomes the heart of one of Hinduism’s most remarkable festivals – Ambubachi Mela. For four days, the temple doors remain shut to mark the menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya, a symbol of fertility, life and the creative power of nature itself. Devotees from all corners of India and beyond come to pay homage to her, believing that her cycle blesses the earth with abundance.
Yet while thousands revere the divine mother’s bleeding as sacred, the same natural process in human mothers, daughters and sisters is often treated as something impure, shameful and socially isolating. This contradiction reveals a deep gap between spiritual ideals and lived practices – a paradox that deserves honest reflection.
The Contradiction We Ignore
It is striking that the menstruation of a 16-year-old goddess is a cause of celebration, while the menstruation of a 16-year-old girl in many Indian homes becomes a reason for shame and restriction. Even today, in countless households across North India, girls are forced to hide away, comply with arbitrary taboo and bear the burden of superstition disguised as tradition.
Here are the most common restrictions imposed, with the superstitions often called and the actual scriptural perspective of each superstition:
Banned from the Kitchen
Superstition – A menstruating girl’s touch will spoil food or pickles
What scriptures say – No Veda, Manusmriti or Dharmashastras states that menstruating women contaminates food. The Manusmriti (V.66) mentions avoiding ritual cooking, but not everyday meals.
Prohibited from Worship Spaces
Superstition – Entering the temple or puja room will anger the deity or pollute the space.
What scriptures say – The restriction on temple rituals during menstruation is about rest and privacy, not impurity. The Vedas do not describe women as untouchable during their cycles. In fact, many Tantric traditions, including Shaktism, consider menstruation powerful and auspicious.
Sri Amritananda Nath Saraswati, the founder of Devipuram temple in Andhra Pradesh, beautifully explained this often-misunderstood practice.
“She (a menstruating woman) is so pure that she can be worshipped as a Goddess. The reason for not having a woman go into a temple is precisely that she is a living Goddess at that time. The energy of the God or Goddess which is there in the ‘Murti’ will move over to her and that ‘murti’ becomes lifeless, while the menstruating woman is life. So that is why they were prevented from entering the temple. So it is exactly the opposite of what we think.”
This perspective is echoed in the spiritual traditions
In Shaktism and other Tantric texts, the feminine creative energy (Rajaswala Shakti) during menstruation is described as a heightened force of life, which requires space and stillness rather than external worship.
In many Tantric texts, the menstruating woman is called Raja Yogini – a ‘queen of spiritual energy’, whose cycles mirror the cosmic cycle of creation.
This shows that what many call ‘pollution’ is actually a misunderstanding of an ancient tradition that viewed menstruation as sacred, potent and worthy of honor – not shame.
Isolation from Family
Superstition – Her presence brings misfortune or illness
What scriptures say – No Sanatana scripture mandates that menstruating women be socially excluded or treated as untouchable. This notion stems from later cultural practices and not from the core teachings of Sanatana Dharma.
Here are specific spiritual references and interpretations that contradict the idea of isolating women:
Charaka Samhita (Sharira Sthana, Chapter 4), one of the oldest Sankrit texts on Indian traditional medicine describes menstruation in detail as a healthy, natural process necessary for reproduction and balance. It recommends rest, light food and hygiene – but no social isolation.
In the Anushasana Parva, Section XI of Mahabharata, Bhishma explains that a woman must be respected and cared for during her ritu (menstrual period), not humiliated and cast aside.
Many Tantric and Shakta schools of thought consider the menstruating women to be embodying heightened creative Shakti, not misfortune. In some traditions, she is even discouraged from performing intense spiritual practices because she is already in a potent state of inner transformation.
Excluded from Ceremonies and Weddings
Superstition – A menstruating girl’s presence will bring bad luck
What scriptures say: There is no mention anywhere in the Vedas, Upanishads or core Hindu scriptures that a menstruating woman causes misfortune and defiles an event. This belief is a later social custom, not an ancient religious mandate.
Atharva Veda (6.11.1-2) speaks of women as the source of prosperity and good fortune in the household, with no exception of menstruation. The verses say:
“The wife is a home’s ornament, bringing happiness, wealth and continuity. This applies throughout her life, including during menstruation.”
Shaktism and Shakta Tantric Traditions honours menstruation as Rajaswala Stuti. In some communities, special rituals are performed during Ambubachi to celebrate the menstrual power of the goddess herself.
Restrictions on Bathing
Superstition – Washing hair increases menstrual flow and weakens the body
What scriptures say – None of the Vedas, Smritis or classical Hindu texts prohibit bathing during menstruation. In fact, Ayurveda and many Dharma texts encourage cleanliness as a part of dinacharya (daily routine) for health, comfort and even during rajaswala (menstruation).
Here are specific references that clearly oppose the idea that bathing is harmful or forbidden:
Sushruta Samhita (Chikitsa Sthana, Chapter 16) discusses menstrual care in detail and recommends gentle cleaning and washing to prevent infections and maintain personal hygiene. It only cautions against very cold water or vigorous scrubbing.
Ayurveda holds that bathing in warm water during menstruation relieves cramps and muscle tension, supports circulation with comfort and helps maintain hygiene and prevent infections
The Hypocrisy in Practice
These taboos are often enforced in the name of culture, with little understanding of their origins. Ironically, the same families who prohibit girls from touching pickles and entering the kitchen often observe Ambubachi Mela, celebrating the divine menstruation of Goddess Kamakhya as sacred and life-affirming.
This contradiction is not only illogical but harmful, burdening generations of women with shame over natural biological function.
Celebrating Menstruation in South India
In contrast to these stigmas, many communities in South India treat menstruation, especially the first cycle, as a moment of pride and celebration. When a girl has her ‘MENARCHE’ (first period), her family hosts a ceremony to honor her coming of age.
In Tamil Nadu, this is known as Manjal Neerattu Vizha or Sadangu. The girl is bathed, dressed in a new saree or silk pavadai and adorned with flowers and jewellery. Elder women apply turmeric to her skin as a sign of auspiciousness and blessings are offered for her health and fertility. Relatives and neighbours are invited to share in the joy, bringing gifts, sweets and sometimes gold ornaments.
This practice affirms menstruation as a natural, significant milestone – not something to hide.
A Call for Reflection
As a society, we cannot ignore the irony: we worship a menstruating goddess but shame a menstruating girl/woman. Menstruation is not pollution; it is the very force that sustains creation. It deserves respect, empathy and understanding – not superstition or exclusion.
By questioning inherited taboos and returning to the spirit of our own scriptures, we can build a culture that treats girls with dignity. When we honor the divine feminine in the temple, we must also honor it at home. In every menstruation girl lives the same Shakti, we bow to Kamakhya – she deserves no less reverence.
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