In Jain dharma, the main point during periods is about not touching / doing certain religious things, not about “not touching anything or anyone at all.”

1. From Jain point of view – what is actually restricted?

Traditional achar (conduct) in many Jain families:

• Avoid:

- Going inside the garbhagriha (inner part) of the temple - Touching Jain idols (murtis) - Doing snatra / abhishek / dravya-pūjā - Touching pūja items and āgams / religious books (in some houses)

• Allowed (in most traditions):

- Bhāva-pūjā (mental worship), prarthanā from a distance - Listening to pravachan, doing svādhyāy quietly at home (some families still avoid books, many do not) - Normal house work (as per health), talking to family, touching family members, daily life activities

So, Jain shāsan does not say: “Do not touch anyone or anything during periods.” The stress is on ritual purity for idol-related worship, not on making the woman herself “untouchable.”

You can read more detailed explanations here:

2. Why this rule exists (short spiritual idea)

• Menstruation is a natural body process, not a sin.
• Jain achar talks of ashaucha (ritual non‑purity) for any bodily discharge (blood, semen, etc.) near idols and temples, to keep:

- very high cleanliness (śuddhi) in worship - extra care for ahiṁsā towards the tiny life‑forms in such discharges

So for a few days, idol‑touching and some temple rituals are paused, then after proper bath, everything is normal again.

3. Digambar – Śvetāmbara difference (simple view)

• Both: usually say

- don’t do murti‑pūjā / abhishek / go in inner sanctum during periods - you can still do mantra, dhyān, good thoughts at home

• Exact strictness (e.g., touching books, entering outer hall of temple) can change by sangh and family.

4. Clear answer to your question

• No, Jain dharma does not say a woman in periods must avoid touching everything or everyone.
• The main traditional restriction is: avoid touching religious things and doing certain temple rituals for those few days.
• Daily normal touch (family, children, things in home) is not a Jain-scriptural “sin”; whatever extra rules some families keep are mostly cultural/family tradition, not core Jain doctrine.