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However, Sanatana Dharma texts have identified the existence of (the biological process) of Rajodharma (menstrual cycles in which there is a vaginal discharge of menstrual blood) in the female gender of the human species and instilled traditions and practices for women. As per the legend in the Taittriya Samhita which was later explained in many Puranic versions, Rajodharma in women is attributed to the one-fourth share of the Brahmahatyadosha of Indra, the ruler of the celestial worlds. After Indra killed Trishiraska the son of Tvashtra Prajapati, he is haunted by Brahmahatya-papa. In order to get rid of that he distributed it among Jala (water), Prthvi (earth), Vrkshas (trees) and Stree (women). For this favour shown to him, Indra grants boons to all of them. Women received the boon of being allowed to live with their husbands at all times in return for bearing the Brahmahatyadosha every month for three days. Prior to this women lived with their husbands only during the days of Rtukala (16 days of fertile time).<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>शश्वत्कामवरेणांहस्तुरीयं जगृहुः स्त्रियः । रजोरूपेण तास्वंहो मासि मासि प्रदृश्यते ॥ ९ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 6.9.9)<ref>Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4% Skanda 6 Adhyaya 9])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>śaśvatkāmavarēṇāṁhasturīyaṁ jagr̥huḥ striyaḥ । rajōrūpēṇa tāsvaṁhō māsi māsi pradr̥śyatē ॥ 9 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 6.9.9)</blockquote>Indra's Brahmahatyadosha came to be visible in the form of Rajasraava during the reproductive phase of a woman. Thus associated with such Rajodharma for a few days in a month she came to be known as Rajasvala (रजस्वला), Rtumati (ऋतुमती), Udaki (उदकी), Pushpini (पुष्पिणी), Aatreyi (आत्रेयी), Malavadvasa (मलवद्वसा), Rajaki (रजकी) and Aartavi (आर्तवी).<ref name=":4" />
 
However, Sanatana Dharma texts have identified the existence of (the biological process) of Rajodharma (menstrual cycles in which there is a vaginal discharge of menstrual blood) in the female gender of the human species and instilled traditions and practices for women. As per the legend in the Taittriya Samhita which was later explained in many Puranic versions, Rajodharma in women is attributed to the one-fourth share of the Brahmahatyadosha of Indra, the ruler of the celestial worlds. After Indra killed Trishiraska the son of Tvashtra Prajapati, he is haunted by Brahmahatya-papa. In order to get rid of that he distributed it among Jala (water), Prthvi (earth), Vrkshas (trees) and Stree (women). For this favour shown to him, Indra grants boons to all of them. Women received the boon of being allowed to live with their husbands at all times in return for bearing the Brahmahatyadosha every month for three days. Prior to this women lived with their husbands only during the days of Rtukala (16 days of fertile time).<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>शश्वत्कामवरेणांहस्तुरीयं जगृहुः स्त्रियः । रजोरूपेण तास्वंहो मासि मासि प्रदृश्यते ॥ ९ ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 6.9.9)<ref>Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4% Skanda 6 Adhyaya 9])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>śaśvatkāmavarēṇāṁhasturīyaṁ jagr̥huḥ striyaḥ । rajōrūpēṇa tāsvaṁhō māsi māsi pradr̥śyatē ॥ 9 ॥ (Bhag. Pura. 6.9.9)</blockquote>Indra's Brahmahatyadosha came to be visible in the form of Rajasraava during the reproductive phase of a woman. Thus associated with such Rajodharma for a few days in a month she came to be known as Rajasvala (रजस्वला), Rtumati (ऋतुमती), Udaki (उदकी), Pushpini (पुष्पिणी), Aatreyi (आत्रेयी), Malavadvasa (मलवद्वसा), Rajaki (रजकी) and Aartavi (आर्तवी).<ref name=":4" />
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==== Reasoning behind Rajasvala Asoucha ====
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In Sanatana Dharma, marriage and grhastha ashrama are extremely important dharmika activities for the good and perpetuation of mankind. A grhastha's important duty is to fulfill the Pitr Rna by producing progeny with the support of a lady. Thus one of the primary duties for uniting a man and woman in Vivaha samskara, according to Sanatana Dharma, is to give a good dharmika citizen to the society and elevate their ancestral lineage by bearing a child. Thus by giving birth to a child, by becoming parents, a couple is bringing to life another Jivatma into a bodily form to continue its karmic journey. By preventing the birth of a Jiva whether intentionally or unintentionally, leads the grhasthas to commit papa in the process. In this context, it is to be understood that even loss of egg, when unfertilized, results in the failure of birth and thus prevention of life form to take shape. The papa is even more serious, equated to murder or Brahmahatya (Brhunhatya -killing of an embryo) in the case of prevention of birth due to abortion.<ref name=":6" />
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The legend of Indra's attempt to attain Shoucha by distributing his doshas to others is to be understood with respect to the biological process of menstruation and its relation to childbirth. In this context one can relate the importance of birth related Asoucha. It is well-known that the menstrual discharge not only contains blood, but also the unfertilized egg. Thus one-third of the papa of Brahmahatya is incurred due to the failure of the egg to fertilize and emerge as a Jivatma into this universe. Since there is an amsha of childbirth involved in the monthly menses of a Rajasvala, she also has to enforce the Asoucha vidhis that are laid out in relation to failure of conception.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />
    
==== Determining the Period of Rajasvala Asoucha ====
 
==== Determining the Period of Rajasvala Asoucha ====

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