In Jainism there is no universal, scriptural prohibition that says a woman cannot touch things or participate in rites during her period. The idea that menstruation makes a person ritually impure is not a core Jain doctrinal rule. Instead, what you see in practice is largely cultural and differs by community (Digambar vs. Śvetāmbara) and by family or region.

• Why some Jains observe separation or reduced contact during periods: In many Indian religious and social contexts, menstruation has historically been treated as a time of special cleanliness or impurity in everyday practice. Some Jain households and communities adopted similar cultural norms out of a sense of personal purity or to avoid discomfort in shared spaces. This is not a universal Jain rule, and it varies widely.

• Digambara vs. Śvetāmbara distinctions:

- Digambara traditions place strict distinctions around monastic life and have unique doctrinal positions about the role of women in asceticayana; these doctrinal differences influence how menstruation is discussed in relation to temple rituals and ascetic practices, but they do not amount to a single, unified rule applied to all lay or monastic practice. - Śvetāmbara communities tend to be more varied in practice today, with many households not observing any prohibition on touch or participation during menses, while some individuals may still observe personal or family norms.

• Spiritual message: Jain Dharma emphasizes the equality of the soul (tattva) and the potential for liberation for all beings. Menstruation does not determine spiritual worth or spiritual progress.

If you’d like, I can point you to specific Jain sources or discuss how different Jain sects describe ritual purity and daily conduct in their scriptures and codes of conduct.