Short answer

• Yes. During Paushadh, if nature calls you may excrete. Do not suppress it. Do it very carefully, with minimum himsa, and outside any sacred area.
• In a temple/upashray, never use any space meant for puja, pratimaji, or scripture. Only use the designated washroom outside the sacred zones, then perform full cleansing before resuming religious activities.

How to observe this properly (simple maryada) Before Paushadh starts

• Try to finish bath and natural calls before sunrise and before taking pachchakkhan.
• Keep a small light/torch ready for night-time care.

If you need to excrete during Paushadh

• Take inner resolve: “I will go for mal–mutra with utmost care and least himsa.”
• Walk slowly, looking down to avoid stepping on insects; use a soft light in the dark.
• Use only the designated toilet (not any area near idols, pratimaji, puja room, or where scriptures are kept).
• Check the seat/area, sit carefully, use minimum necessary water, and keep the place clean before and after.
• Wash hands thoroughly; keep silence and inner restraint (apramatta).
• If you feel you made any lapse (e.g., haste, uncleanliness), do alochana–pratikraman and take fresh pachchakkhan.

After using the toilet and before resuming sadhana

• At home: at least wash hands, feet, mouth; preferably take a full bath and change into clean Paushadh vastra.
• In a temple/upashray: full bath and fresh clothes are required before entering the temple area, doing chaityavandan, puja, or touching scriptures.

Temple-specific care

• Never inside the sanctum, mandap, or any place where idols or agams are present.
• Most derasars and upashrays provide separate toilets outside the sacred space; use only those. Keep them spotless for the next person.
• After toilet use, do not go straight for darshan/puja; first bathe and wear washed clothes, then enter.

Notes by tradition

• Shvetambar: After toilet use, chaityavandan/puja or entering the derasar requires snan (bath) and vastra-antar (change of clothes). Maryada may be announced by your sangh—follow it strictly.
• Digambar: The same principle—bath and fresh vastra before any dev-puja or entering the garbhagriha/mandir area. Emphasis on apramatta (utmost care) is very strict.

Both traditions agree on: do not use any sacred area, maintain maximum cleanliness, and take pratikraman for any fault.

Helpful references

• Poshadh (Paushadh) basics and its aim of living like a monk for a day:
• Common Paushadh faults to avoid (dosh):
• Upashray facilities (separate from temple’s sacred space):

Essence Paushadh means living like a sadhu-sadhvi for that period. Excretion is permitted when necessary, but with utmost ahimsa, cleanliness, and respect for sacred spaces. If any lapse occurs, do pratikraman and continue your sadhana with care.