Answer

During Paryushan, if a woman is having her monthly periods, she can still observe the festival with devotion, purity of thought, and inner spiritual practice.

Depending on family tradition and Jain sect, she may avoid certain external religious activities, but she can still do many meaningful things.

What Can Be Done

• Do Samayik mentally if sitting formally is not possible or not permitted by family tradition.
• Recite or listen to Navkar Mantra with devotion.
• Listen to Pravachan or religious discourses.
• Read or listen to Jain scriptures if allowed in one’s tradition.
• Practice forgiveness and reduce anger, ego, deceit, and greed.
• Observe dietary restraint, such as avoiding root vegetables, eating simple food, or doing whatever tapasya is physically suitable.
• Do Pratikraman mentally or listen to it respectfully, if formal participation is avoided.
• Practice Maun for some time.
• Do bhavna such as maitri, pramod, karuna, and madhyastha.
• Ask for forgiveness from others with a sincere heart.

What May Be Avoided

Many traditional Jain families advise women during periods to avoid:

• Going to the temple
• Touching idols, puja items, scriptures, or religious articles
• Performing dravya puja
• Participating physically in certain rituals

These practices vary by family, sect, and local tradition, so it is best to follow the guidance of one’s elders, guru, or sangh maryada.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, the deepest purity is inner purity: right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, humility, forgiveness, and reduction of passions.

Periods do not stop a person from doing inner dharma. Even if some external rituals are avoided, devotion, repentance, self-control, mantra, listening to dharma, and forgiveness can continue.

Takeaway

During periods in Paryushan, focus on bhav puja, inner reflection, forgiveness, mantra, listening to dharma, and self-discipline. If external rituals are restricted in your tradition, the spiritual essence of Paryushan can still be practiced sincerely.