Jain Spirit 2005 12 No24

SR No.: 529004
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 102
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK_Jain Spirit, & UK
File Size: 21 MB

Page 71

EVER WONDERED WHY?
As Jain females, we've all been frustrated with it before. In this article, CHIRAG BAJARIA looks into the exact reasons why Jain women are not traditionally allowed in the temple during "that time of the month"...
T
The historically acknowledged 'reasons' for menstruating women being prohibited from the temples come from the Vaishnav faith, in which it is important to observe 'physical purity' and thus it prevents bleeding people (of either gender) from engaging in temple worship. As a zealous method to uphold this requirement, Vaishnav women do not attend the temple during menstruation. Through association, Jains and Vaishnavs commonly assume that the same rules apply when, in fact, they do not.
The soul is the true form of a Jain, not the body, therefore in identifying
BANCT
Only
ourselves with our bodies and aspects of this material realm, we only bind karma. When we as Jains attend temple, we seek to focus our minds on shedding karma through meditation and introspection. Why should an educated Jain woman, embodying progressive thinking and seeking freedom from bodily attachment (particularly during her period!), be kept out of the gates of Palitana?
The traditional reason for this is that a woman in menstruation experiences changes in both body and mind. These changes are thought to 'disturb' the meditation of others and therefore contradicts ahimsa. However, it is implied that if a menstruating woman does not disturb others in this way, she is free to worship wherever appropriate.
Chirag Bajaria is an active Jain in London, England.⚫
X
Wiz