In Jainism, menstruation is a natural bodily process. Whether a woman can touch things during her period is not about spiritual guilt, but about traditional rules that some Jain communities observe for ritual purity.

Key points:

• These rules are cultural and communal, not universal to all Jains or to the core philosophy. Different groups (Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras) have different practices, and even within those groups, practices can vary by region and family.
• In many communities, women may avoid touching sacred images, temples, or perform certain puja/ritual activities during their period. The idea behind this is tied to traditional notions of ritual purity rather than moral wrongdoing. Some communities continue these restrictions strictly, while others follow more relaxed or no restrictions in modern times.
• There are also Jain families who do not observe any period-based restrictions and continue normal religious practices.

If you’d like, I can share more precise details about how Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions differ on this topic, or point you to authentic Jain source material that discusses ritual purity and menstruation as treated in Jain dharma.