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Rajodharma (रजोधर्मः) (view source)
Revision as of 21:01, 24 September 2020
, 21:01, 24 September 2020→आयुर्वेददृष्टिकोणम् ॥ Ayurveda Viewpoint
=== आयुर्वेददृष्टिकोणम् ॥ Ayurveda Viewpoint ===
=== आयुर्वेददृष्टिकोणम् ॥ Ayurveda Viewpoint ===
Bharatiya Ayurveda shastra has enlightened us on the aspects related to menstrual flow and important Ayurvedic texts - Charaka and Sushruta samhitas have discussed this topic with a holistic approach. [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]] has always considered not just physical or mental health while assessing a patient; on the contrary it addresses the patient's constitution and the combination of Doshas involved in the physiological manifestations of a human body. While menstruation is recognized as a natural physiological process, it divides the monthly cycles into Rtukala, Rtu Vyateeta kala and Rajasraava kala and each of these phases are predominated by a different Dosha.<ref name=":6" />
Bharatiya Ayurveda shastra has enlightened us on the aspects related to menstrual flow and important Ayurvedic texts - Charaka and Sushruta samhitas - have discussed this topic with a holistic approach. [[Ayurveda (आयुर्वेदः)|Ayurveda]] has always considered not just physical or mental health while assessing a patient; on the contrary it addresses the patient's constitution and the combination of Doshas involved in the physiological manifestations of a human body. Artava or menstrual blood is classified as the eighth dhatu<blockquote>रसादेव स्त्रिया रक्तं रजःसंज्ञं प्रवर्तते । .... आर्तवं शोणितं त्वाग्नेयम् अग्नीषोमीयत्वाद्गर्भस्य ७ (Sush. Samh. Sutrasthana 14.6-7)<ref>Sushruta Samhita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5% Sutrasthana])</ref></blockquote>Described as one of the saptadhatus (seven dhatus), blood is different from Artava (आर्तवं) or menstrual blood in that the normal blood is said to be of "soumya" quality whereas Artava blood is said to be "agneya". Thus Artava is classified as eighth dhatu. So men have seven dhatus only whereas women have eight dhatus with the additional dhatu in the form of Artava or menstrual blood.<ref name=":4" />
While menstruation is recognized as a natural physiological process, it divides the monthly cycles into Rtukala, Rtu Vyateeta kala and Rajasraava kala and each of these phases are predominated by a different Dosha.<ref name=":6" />
* '''Rtukala - Proliferative phase''' (12 - 16 days) during which follicles inside the ovaries develop and mature in preparation for ovulation. This phase is dominated by Kapha Dosha.
* '''Rtukala - Proliferative phase''' (12 - 16 days) during which follicles inside the ovaries develop and mature in preparation for ovulation. This phase is dominated by Kapha Dosha.
* '''RtuVyateetakala - Secretory Phase''' (9 - 13 days) during which hormones and nutrients are secreted in anticipation of nourishing the embryo if conception were to take place. This phase is dominated by Pitta Dosha.
* '''RtuVyateetakala - Secretory Phase''' (9 - 13 days) during which hormones and nutrients are secreted in anticipation of nourishing the embryo if conception were to take place. This phase is dominated by Pitta Dosha.
=== Sushruta Samhita ===
=== Sushruta Samhita ===
<blockquote>ऋतौ प्रथमदिवसात् प्रभृति ब्रह्मचारिणी दिवास्वप्नाञ्जनाश्रुपात-स्नानानुलेपनाभ्यङ्ग-नखच्छेदन-प्रधावनहसनकथनातिशब्दश्रवणावलेखनानिलायासान् परिहरेत् । ... दर्भसंस्तरशायिनीं करतलशरावपर्णान्यतमभोजिनीं हविष्यं त्र् यहं च भर्तुः संरक्षेत् ततः शुद्धस्नातां चतुर्थेऽहन्यहतवासः (Sush. Samh. Sharirasthanam. 2.24 - 25)<ref>Sushruta Samhita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5% Sharirasthanam])</ref></blockquote>A woman with healthy menses should forego the bed of her husband, lie down on a mattress made of Kusha grass (during the first three days of her menses), should take her food from her own blended palms or from earthern ware or trays made of leaves. She should not sleep during the day, not shed tears, nor bathe, not do exercises and activities of physical exertion, not annoint her body, do not have oil massage and bath, do not pare her finger nails, refrain from running, not indulge in excessive and loud laughter, should not indulge in conversations or hear loud noise, nor comb her hair or expose herself to wind do fatiguing work at all. She should sustain on Havishya diet and refrain from seeing her husband. After the menses, on the fourth day she should purify herself by sachela snana (ablution with her clothes on) and put on new garments and decorate herself, and then first see her husband.<ref name=":5">Kaviraj Kunjalal Bhishagratna (1911) ''The English Translation of The Sushruta Samhita, Volume 2.'' Calcutta: Bharat Mihir Press. (Pages 126-127)</ref>
<blockquote>ऋतौ प्रथमदिवसात् प्रभृति ब्रह्मचारिणी दिवास्वप्नाञ्जनाश्रुपात-स्नानानुलेपनाभ्यङ्ग-नखच्छेदन-प्रधावनहसनकथनातिशब्दश्रवणावलेखनानिलायासान् परिहरेत् । ... दर्भसंस्तरशायिनीं करतलशरावपर्णान्यतमभोजिनीं हविष्यं त्र् यहं च भर्तुः संरक्षेत् ततः शुद्धस्नातां चतुर्थेऽहन्यहतवासः (Sush. Samh. Sharirasthanam. 2.24 - 25)<ref>Sushruta Samhita ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5% Sharirasthanam])</ref></blockquote>A woman with healthy menses should forego the bed of her husband, lie down on a mattress made of Kusha grass (during the first three days of her menses), should take her food from her own blended palms or from earthern-ware or trays made of leaves. She should not sleep during the day, not shed tears, nor bathe, not do exercises and activities of physical exertion, not anoint her body, do not have oil massage and bath, do not pare her finger nails, refrain from running, not indulge in excessive and loud laughter, should not indulge in conversations or hear loud noise, nor comb her hair or expose herself to wind do fatiguing work at all. She should sustain on Havishya diet and refrain from seeing her husband. After the menses, on the fourth day she should purify herself by sachela snana (ablution with her clothes on) and put on new garments and decorate herself, and then first see her husband.<ref name=":5">Kaviraj Kunjalal Bhishagratna (1911) ''The English Translation of The Sushruta Samhita, Volume 2.'' Calcutta: Bharat Mihir Press. (Pages 126-127)</ref><blockquote>रजस्वलां प्राप्तवतो नरस्यानियतात्मनः १२१ दृष्ट्यायुस्तेजसां हानिरधर्मश्च ततो भवेत् ।(Sush. Samh. Chikitsastanam. 24.121-122)</blockquote>Acharya Sushruta further states that the longevity, brilliance along with loss of dharmik standing are the consequences of co-habitation with a woman in her menses.<ref name=":4" />
=== Vyasa Samhita ===
<blockquote>रजोदर्शनतो दोषात् सर्वमेव परित्यजेत् । सर्वैरलक्षिता शीघ्रं लज्जितान्तर्गृहे वसेत्।। </blockquote><blockquote>एकाम्बरावृता दीना स्नानालङ्कारवर्जिता । मौनिन्यधोमुखी चक्षुःपाणिपद्भिरचञ्चला।। (Vyas. Samh. 2.36-37)<ref name=":4" /></blockquote>A woman having noticed the onset of her menses should immediately renounce all the duties as she gets the rajodosha which gets transmitted by cooking food for the other members of the family. Bashfully she should withdraw from all others and restrict herself to the inner chambers and avoid interacting with friends and relatives. Clad in a single lengthy cloth, she should sit silently with her eyes downcast, avoiding all restless movements of her eyes and extremities.<ref>Dutt, Manmath Nath, (1979) ''The Dharam Shastra, Hindu Religious Codes (Vyasa, Parasara Samhita and others), Volume 3, English Translation and Text.'' New Delhi: Cosmo Publications (Page 512)</ref><ref name=":4" />
Vyasa samhita similar to other texts further prescribes sleeping on the ground covered with grass and eating from earthern-ware etc.
=== Summary of Niyamas ===
=== Summary of Niyamas ===
A list of prescriptions laid down for menstruating women include<ref name=":4" />
A list of prescriptions laid down for menstruating women include<ref name=":4" />
# '''दैवपित्र्यादि कर्मनिवृत्तिः''' - Refrain from performing activities related to devatas and ancestors.
# '''दैवपित्र्यादि कर्मनिवृत्तिः''' - Refrain from performing activities related to fire, devatas and ancestors.
# '''गृहकर्मनिवृत्तिः''' - Relieved from performing any household chores including cooking food for the family.
# '''गृहकर्मनिवृत्तिः''' - Relieved from performing any household chores including cooking food for the family. By performing exerting activities a child afflicted with mental problems (Unmatta) is said to be born.
# '''एकान्तवासः (अस्पृष्या)''' - Segregation and isolation from rest of the family members without seeing, touching, sitting and sleeping next to other family members especially the husband (this excludes treatment and meeting people for medical necessities).
# '''एकान्तवासः (अस्पृष्या)''' - Segregation and isolation from rest of the family members without seeing, touching, sitting and sleeping next to other family members especially the husband (this excludes treatment and meeting people for medical necessities).
# '''असम्भाषणम्''' - Not speaking with other family persons especially husband if married, friends or outsiders for any reason including household activities
# '''असम्भाषणम्''' - Not speaking with other family persons especially husband if married, friends or outsiders for any reason including household activities
# '''अनधिगमनम् (ब्रह्मचर्यपालनम्)''' - No sexual intercourse during menstruation is an important advice given by many texts. Vedas as well as Ayurvedic texts mention that if a sexual intercourse during menstruation leads to conception, it may result in inter-uterine death or death within few days of birth or some form of deformity of the child. Even if conception is prevented, ayurvedic texts mention that an imbalance of the Doshas will flare up due to sexual intercourse during that time.
# '''अनधिगमनम् (ब्रह्मचर्यपालनम्)''' - No sexual intercourse during menstruation is an important advice given by many texts. Vedas as well as Ayurvedic texts mention that if a sexual intercourse during menstruation leads to conception, it may result in inter-uterine death or death within few days of birth or some form of deformity of the child. Even if conception is prevented, ayurvedic texts mention that an imbalance of the Doshas will flare up due to sexual intercourse during that time.
# '''Prohibition of Personal Grooming''' - The principles for such prescriptions by dharmic and ayurvedic texts are two-fold: toning down activities during period of austerity and prevent imbalance of Doshas caused even by activities such as bath etc. The following activities are forbidden.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />
# '''Prohibition of Personal Grooming''' - The principles for such prescriptions by dharmic and ayurvedic texts are two-fold: toning down activities during period of austerity and prevent imbalance of Doshas caused even by activities such as bath etc. The following activities are forbidden.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />
#* दन्तधावन-स्नानत्यागः - brushing the teeth and bathing
#* दन्तधावन-स्नानत्यागः - brushing the teeth and bathing (child will be of miserable nature)
#* तौलाभ्यंगनम् - Anointment with oil, oil massage and bath
#* तौलाभ्यंगनम् - Anointment with oil, oil massage and bath (child has skin disorders)
#* अञ्जनधारणम् - Application of Anjana (Collyrium) to the eyes
#* अञ्जनधारणम् - Application of Anjana (Collyrium) to the eyes (child becomes visually impaired)
#* नखनिकृन्थनम् - Cutting of nails
#* नखनिकृन्थनम् - Paring of nails (child having deformed nails)
#* अवलेखनम् - Combing of hair
#* अवलेखनम् - Combing of hair (Baldness in child)
#* पुष्पालङ्कारधारणम् - Wearing of flowers and ornaments
#* पुष्पालङ्कारधारणम् - Wearing of flowers and ornaments
# '''Restrict activities causing negative psychological impact''' -<ref name=":4" />
# '''Restrict activities causing negative psychological impact''' - according to local customs these activities of a prospective mother bring about harmful effects on the child she conceives. At the time of imbalance of her Doshas a woman experiences mood swings, depression etc and the following activities directly impact her psychological state <ref name=":4" />
#* अश्रृपातम् - weeping or shedding of tears
#* अश्रृपातम् - weeping or shedding of tears (increases depression and sad state in mother and visual disturbances in child)
#* दिवास्वपनम् - sleeping during the day (child becomes over-sleepy)
#* वस्तुछेदनभेदनवर्जनम् - breaking and tearing of things
#* वस्तुछेदनभेदनवर्जनम् - breaking and tearing of things
#* पर्णपात्रात् जलपानं निषेधः - drinking water from vessels shaped out of leaves (usage of such items is common in rituals)
#* पर्णपात्रात् जलपानं निषेधः - drinking water from vessels shaped out of leaves (usage of such items is common in rituals)
#* लधुपात्रात् जलपानं निषेधः - drinking anything from small vessels
#* लधुपात्रात् जलपानं निषेधः - drinking anything from small vessels (child will be short statured)
#* रज्जुसृजनम् - binding/making of ropes
#* रज्जुसृजनम् - binding/making of ropes
#* प्रधावनहसनकथना - running, laughing and excessive conversations
#* प्रधावनहसनकथना - running (child will be very reckless and indecisive), laughing (child will have discoloured teeth, yellowish lips) and excessive conversations (talkative child)
#* Listening to loud sounds/conversations - makes the child deaf.
#* Exposure to winds - makes the child mentally ill.
# '''Promote activities causing positive psychological impact''' -
# '''Promote activities causing positive psychological impact''' -
#* Eating light and easily digestible food
#* Eating light and easily digestible food restriction of eating meat is also given as it disturbs the doshas in the body.
#* भूमिशयनम् - Sleeping on the floor
#* भूमिशयनम् - Sleeping on the floor
#* पुण्यश्लोकस्मरणम् - remember shlokas (mental recitation)
#* पुण्यश्लोकस्मरणम् - remember shlokas (mental recitation)
#* पुण्यग्रन्थोल्लिखित दयावीर-दानवीर-क्षमावीर-धर्मवीराणां स्मरणम् - remember and meditate on the stories of great personalities as well as pativratas such as Savitri and others.
#* पुण्यग्रन्थोल्लिखित दयावीर-दानवीर-क्षमावीर-धर्मवीराणां स्मरणम् - remember and meditate on the stories of great personalities as well as pativratas such as Savitri and others.
From the above discussion, we can very well note the importance of activities of a woman during her rtusravata time and the effect on the child she conceives. The underlying concept here is that she be given rest, and be undisturbed so that she does not get stressed due to any reason. This is the time when she is totally aware of her femininity and it is the time of solitude and mentally engages herself in a tapas or penance. Elderly people reflect that during this time her fragile mental status is ready to take impressions and hence she should be reminded of positive things both in thoughts and in actions. For example, a broken utensil is symbolic of miscarriage, small vessels of short stature (of a child), breaking and tearing of things as well as binding a rope is symbolic of stress and unpleasantness. A woman is also told not to draw on the ground (making pictures) during this time because she is very susceptible to mental impressions. It is for this reason that while she is in seclusion she constantly remembers the good qualities of her husband, her personal time with him and bears that imprint strongly in her mind. This positive frame of mind brings about not only good marital relationship but also the transmission of good qualities to the child from the husband. She is asked to reminisce about great personalities such as Rama and Krishna so that the child she bears gets those qualities. Bharatiya texts abound with many instances where the mother's mental status has a clear bearing on the child's psychological nature. A famous legend is that of Pravarakhya and Varudhini.
=== Exceptions ===
=== Exceptions ===
A vaidya is not restricted to reach out to a rajasvala in case of ill-health and does not get Asoucha in case she has to touch her to evaluate her. A woman suffering from any kind of uterine hemorrhage is not required to practice Asoucha niyamas, as is case the menstrual discharge due to a disease and not the outcome of a normal physiological function.<ref name=":3" />
A vaidya is not restricted to reach out to a rajasvala in case of ill-health and does not get Asoucha in case she has to touch her to evaluate her. A woman suffering from any kind of uterine hemorrhage is not required to practice Asoucha niyamas, as in this case the menstrual discharge is due to a disease and not the outcome of a normal physiological function.<ref name=":3" />
== Menstruation Dharmik Perspectives ==
Even to this day, the tradition of celebrating a girl's onset of puberty is practiced in many households across India observing many local customs, as a woman's reproductive phase is highly revered in dharmashastras. Stree is sacred and represents Adi Shakti, or Mahalakshmi or Supreme Deity (Feminine). She is the Prakrti which creates and sustains life on earth. Though in present days, this process is attached with many taboos and "looking down on women" or "discrimination". Many consider it as discrimination to restrict activity of women, however, according to dharmik perspective it is viewed as a period of rest for them from doing tough household chores.
During Ambubachi festival in Kamakhya temple in Assam, the temple is closed for three days to give rest to the Goddess, who is believed to be menstruating during that time. Similarly, during the Tulu festival called Keddasa in Karnataka, mother earth is believed to have begun her earthly menstrual cycle and is given a rest for three days. This is also practiced during Raja Parva (menstruation festival) in Odisha, where farmers don’t plough the land and give rest to Goddess earth.<ref name=":6" />
Ceremonies in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are carried out in much fanfare when a girl "comes of age", while in northern states the process is similar without much fanfare. The girl is given purificatory bath with turmeric and adorned with sumangali items such as ornaments, bangles etc along with gifts and draped in silk half sarees for the first time. Special foods such as balls made of jaggery and sesame (this is believed to help improve the menstrual flow) are distributed among the friends and family who visit her and bless her. She is introduced to the knowledge of her being the bearer of the next generation, along with sacred thoughts about her future husband and grhastaashrama. Along with the information about her menstrual symptoms she is educated about the reasons to follow the niyamas beneficial to her as well as the future children.
Nithin Sridhar rightly points out the lack of dharmik awareness regarding menstruation in women thus: It is a different issue that on the ground, many of these practices have today picked up a highly negative connotation, largely due to the fact that they have been reduced to blind mechanical restrictions that ignorant and ill-informed parents are imparting to their young children by packaging them as ‘forbidden practices/superstitions’. This may also be the result of “modernization” and “convent education” that takes on Christian ideas of taboo (subjects and impurity.) But, if we were to consider the essence of the traditions and the knowledge preserved in them on their own standing, it will become clear that the Hindu ceremonies associated with the onset of menstruation perceives menstruation and menstruating women in a highly positive manner. It associates menstruation with womanhood and a woman’s ability to give birth to life.<ref name=":6" />
== Discussion ==
The ayurvedic texts conclude that the paricharya prescribed for menstruating women will assist in the natural cleansing process and will restore health to menstruating women who face many symptoms from simple pimples to severe debilitating abdominal and lower backpain. The prescriptions aid by preventing any imbalance in the Doshas and nourish the Agni which is in a weakened state (Agnimandya) resulting in loss of appetite. Thus the diet prescribed is also simple and aids in rekindling the digestive fire. Doshas in ayurvedic terminology indicates the bodily attributes and it must be noted that the term does not imply "fault" of a woman.
Restriction of other activities such as not sleeping during the day, not participating in strenuous exercises even household activities assist in fast healing of the delicate organs of a woman's body. These prescriptions primarily protect the woman who is the future mother, as her health effects the children born to her. It does not mean that each and every woman who does not follow the paricharya will end up having children who are afflicted with deafness, laziness or mental disorders. The gist is that the children born to such women are more suceptible to developing such conditions because of their exposure to the vitated doshas, while they were in their mother's womb.<ref name=":6" />
The usefulness of the mode of life prescribed by the Ayurvedic Rajaswala Paricharya in protecting the health of the menstruating women and in ensuring that they undergo normal menstruation, without any pain and other unpleasant symptoms, has been scientifically established by at least one study conducted by Dr. Pallavi Pai, Dr. Sarita Bhutada, and Dr. Prasad Pandkar. Their study titled: '''‘Rajaswala Paricharya: Effect on Menstrual Cycle and Its Associated Symptoms’''' was published in IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences in February 2015 (Volume 14, Issue 2 Ver. II).<ref name=":6" />
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Shastras]]
[[Category:Shastras]]
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