In Jain Dharma, menstruation (periods) is seen as a natural bodily process, not a fault of the woman and not a impurity of the soul. But for the sake of safai (cleanliness) and ahimsa (avoiding harm in blood, etc.), certain ritual activities are usually stopped during those days.

Below is what is generally prohibited / avoided for a woman on her periods in many Jain families and derasars (both Śvetāmbar and Digambar). Exact rules can differ by family, guru, and local tradition.

1. Temple‑related activities

During periods, a woman is usually told not to:

• Enter the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of the temple
• Do abhishek / snatra pūjā on idols
• Touch murtis (idols) of Tirthankars or other dev‑devi
• Ring bells, do ārti, or offer dravya directly at the vedi

She may:

• Sit quietly in the temple compound (if local rules allow), only as darshan, without touching anything sacred.

2. Handling of sacred objects

Usually she is told not to:

• Touch or handle Jain āgams / scriptures, pustaks, pattās
• Touch pūjā samagri like kalash, chandan, rice, etc.
• Touch chauvihār jain sadhus / sadhvis’ personal religious items

If she wants, she can:

• Do mental pāṭh / smaraṇ (remembering mantras, stavans) without touching books or murtis.

3. Formal pūjā and vrata

Commonly advised not to do:

• Full daily pūjā with dravya (jal, dūdh, chandan, etc.)
• Anjan-śalākā rituals, big pratiṣṭhā, elaborate temple sevas
• Taking new vratas / anushthāns which require strict physical effort

But:

• Simple internal sādhanā like samayik bhāv, pratikraman‑bhāv, or namokar mantra in mind is allowed and encouraged, as the soul is never impure.

4. Cooking for religious use

Often she is asked not to:

• Cook āyambil, paryushan / pakkhi / chaitya paripāṭī food meant as “pūjā‑bhāv”
• Prepare food directly offered to sadhus/sadhvis (some families are strict about this)

Normal household cooking varies by family:

• Some families stop it completely so she can rest
• Others allow it with good hygiene.

5. Touch‑restrictions at home (family customs)

These are more cultural than strictly scriptural, but very common:

• Not touching home mandir or its samagri
• Avoiding sleeping on the main bed used for pūjā bhāv
• Sometimes separate utensils / towel / bedding for 3–5 days

How strict this is depends on each family; Jain Dharma itself emphasizes non‑violence, cleanliness, and rest, not punishing the woman.

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Śvetāmbar vs. Digambar view

• Both generally follow similar ritual restrictions (no pūjā with dravya, no touching idols/books).
• Differences are more in detail and strictness, not in the basic idea.
• Nowhere does Jain philosophy say that a woman on her period is spiritually inferior or that her soul becomes impure.

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What is not prohibited

From a Jain‑dharma point of view, a woman on her periods can:

• Remember Namokar Mantra, stavans, Tirthankars mentally
• Listen to pravachan, discourses, or watch online satsang
• Do day‑to‑day work according to her health
• Take medicine, rest well, and look after her body

There is no paap simply for bleeding. The main idea is:

• Maintain hygiene (so no blood or impurity reaches places of pūjā)
• Take physical and mental rest
• Avoid any activity where blood and tiny living beings (jiv) can be harmed or mixed with religious dravya.

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For a short Jain‑based discussion on periods, you can read more here