Who Knows When A Woman

[Guest guest]

One of my Gujerati woman friends once told me that the reason

menstruating women do not touch flowers for puja or garlands is

because the whole body is involved in the cycle. flowers that touch

the skin will change in color. One time I put a flower behind my

ear. It touched my face and within a short time had turned brown

where it touched my face. She also said that certain foods can be

affected. Her sister had made bread one time at that time --

against the rules -- and the bread was very dark, nearly black. I

never tried that one. The flower convinced me that some of these

rules had chemistry behind them.

 

Aikya

 

 

Ammachi, "Erica" <sugarandbrine> wrote:

> This is so odd to me that this subject has come up. I was going to

> ask Amma about it this summer when I see her!

>

> As a Western woman married to an Indian, I am very much conflicted

> about this subject.

>

> On one hand, the body is simply shedding something that is not

needed

> when a woman has her periods. It is not something holy nor unholy,

> but purely a function of the body.

>

> On the other hand, I know better. This is something that all

women

> share, and we can all relate to symptoms of PMS and cramps and

all.

> However, does it weaken my aura? I hardly think so. When is a

woman

> more feminine than when she is menstruating? It is perhaps only

> second to when she is pregnant. Yes, it is true that women

sometimes

> act differently during their period, but there are times when

> EVERYONE acts differently.

>

> None of us is perfect. I, for sure, know that my Sanskrit is not

even

> close! But I try, and do my best, and ask forgiveness for my

> transgressions.

>

> I do not believe that women should be forced to stay out of

temples,

> etc when they are menstruating. HOWEVER, I generally do stay out

of

> temples/holy places/ashram at this time for the same reason that I

> avoid going to temple after eating meat: other people believe that

my

> presence there is "contaminating" the pureness of the place, and I

> respect their views.

>

> However, sometimes I will *forget* that I had a chicken sandwich

for

> lunch and make way to the temple at night. It is completely

> unintentional, and I always ask for forgiveness.

>

> But, as I once said to my husband, who knows when a woman is

having

> her period? Who knows what I ate before coming to temple? I

respect

> the views because they are traditional, but do not think that they

> are *right*.

>

> However, I sometimes play the card myself, when I don't want to

> cook. "But honey...I'm not supposed to cook!" hee.

>

> With love,

> Oh-so-excitedly waiting for Mother's visit,

> Niseema