In Jain Dharma, menstruation is seen as a natural bodily process, not a sin. The “rules” are mainly about ritual purity (ashaucha), hygiene and giving the woman rest, and they vary by sampraday, city and family.

There is no single Agam sutra that lists one fixed set of rules for all women. Below is what many Jain families commonly avoid during those days.

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1. Temple and Pujā related restrictions

Usually avoided (especially 3 main days):

• Going inside the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of the derasar
• Touching mūrtis of Tirthankars or other idols
• Touching pūjā-dravya (chandan, akshat, dhup, deep, flowers, etc.)
• Doing snātra pūjā, abhishek, āratī, maṅgal dīvo
• Touching or handling Jain scriptures (Agams, Kalpasutra, etc.)
• Doing formal temple pratikraman or standing on the vedi

Many gurus say:

• You may still do namaskār from outside or from home
• You may listen to stavans, discourses, pravachan recordings, etc.

Read more detailed maryadā here:

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2. Religious practices at home

Often avoided:

• Doing full shāntidho / pūjā at home altar
• Doing panch-kalyānak, big anushthān or taking new vows (vrat) on those days
• Writing/studying scriptures as a religious act (varies by family)

Generally allowed (and encouraged):

• Smaran, jap, meditation, prarthanā mentally
• Listening to stavans, sutras, pravachan (without formal pūjā setup)

See explanation:

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3. Kitchen and food-related restrictions

Common traditional maryadā (not universal):

• Avoid cooking for others, especially:

- For sādhus–sādhvīs - For temple food / bhog - Sometimes even for whole family, so she can rest

• Avoid preparing:

- Pickles, papad, farsan, fermentation items - Medicine or special ayurvedic mixtures

Idea behind this in Jain thinking:

• Menstrual blood and discharge involve countless micro‑organisms (nigod jīv)
• To reduce possible himsa and because body is tired, they limited certain activities

More on this thought:

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4. Social and household contact

These points differ the most by family:

Some families:

• Ask her to avoid touching the home altar, pūjā-place, scriptures
• Sometimes avoid touching others’ clothes / beds
• May give her a separate bed-sheet / towel / seat for a few days

Other families are much lighter and only follow the temple/kitchen rules.

From Jain dharma view, these are maryadā (customs), not a question of “good Jain” vs “bad Jain”.

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5. Sex and brahmacharya

• Many Jain families consider sexual relations during menstruation as against brahmacharya & hygiene, especially first 3 days.
• So husband–wife are advised to abstain during that time.

This is similar to the general Jain stress on control of sensual pleasure, not on blaming the woman.

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6. What Jainism clearly does not say

• A menstruating woman is not “paapi” (sinful).
• Her soul is always shuddha (pure). Impurity is only ritual / bodily, like for any blood, urine, stool, etc.
• She is fully a Jain shrāvikā during periods also.

Modern Jain teachers often emphasize:

• Follow what you can with understanding,
• Keep good hygiene, rest properly,
• Do bhāvanā, prarthanā, jap as much as you feel comfortable.

Good clarifications:

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7. Digambar vs Shvetambar – brief note

• Both traditions see menstruation as a natural process and talk of ashaucha in a similar way.
• Differences are mostly in how strictly temple and food rules are applied in communities, not in core tattva:

- Some Digambar communities may be stricter about temple entry and certain vrats. - Many Shvetambar communities also follow 3‑day or 4‑day maryadā, but details differ.

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Summary

During menstruation, a Jain woman is usually asked to avoid:

• Entering inner temple area, touching idols & pūjā-dravya
• Formal pūjās, abhishek, āratī, handling scriptures
• Cooking / preparing food for others (especially for sādhus / derasar)
• Sexual relations
• Some extra touching/household rules, depending on family

But she can and should:

• Maintain shraddhā, bhakti, jap, dhyān, good conduct
• Take rest and maintain cleanliness & compassion (ahimsā)

How much is followed in practice should be decided calmly with guidance of your family guru / sadhu / sadhviji, keeping both Jain principles and your health in mind.