शशासृक्प्रतिमं यत्तु यद्वा लाक्षारसोपमम् तदार्तवं प्रशंसन्ति॥
The blood that is akin to the blood of the rabbit, or the red lac, we're impressed by blood like that.
-Shushrut Samhita
Your menstrual cycle is not a problem or a curse. The Masic Dharma (monthly virtue) is an essential aspect of life according to Ayurvedic Granthas because it is the detoxification of the body and the healing of it due to women being so active in their regular lives. Menstruation is the period of complete rest, relaxation, and focusing on your connection with your divine self. In my previous article on menstruation, I stated that we become like the New Moon, She who is turning away from the world and back to her internal self. But how does one do that correctly? What practices can we follow during this delicate period to ensure maximum comfort, relaxation, and a stronger inner connection? In this article, I explore the Rajaswala Parichariya (routine for menstruation) elucidated by Acharaya Shushrata, Acharaya Charak, and Acharaya Agnivesha which I have been practicing for 6 months and have seen radical changes in my cycle and daily life.
In the modern world, the image of women in sanitary product advertisements is that of a 'strong' and 'productive' person who has readily adapted to an extremely fast-paced lifestyle full of stressors, constant movement, and fierce mental activity. This type of programming is masculinizing women instead of honouring their cyclical nature that is akin to the great Goddess and creatrix of the universe. When we neglect ourselves during this time of the month, we're neglecting to appreciate our inner divinity and the gifts that nature brings to us. It is not simply about birthing children to keep the life cycle going on, although that is magical in itself we need to have more awareness of our bodies and needs in a world that nullifies our pain, and suffering and wants to minimize our existence. Learning about your body, understanding it, and optimizing its complex functions is a yoga of its own, at an atomic level.
Caring for yourself is the dharma of the highest form which is why the ascendant is a dharma kendra and a kona sthan in the birth chart. It is the understanding of the body/ascendant in all of its glory that brings to invoke auspiciousness and fortune: Sri.
Rajaswala Paricharya
Although there are numerous practices mentioned in the Ayurvedic Granthas, the basics boil down to balancing the tri-dosha in the body to optimize this time for you and reduce any difficult menstrual symptoms for Ayurveda believes that these symptoms are the cause of a deep imbalance caused due to stress, eating the wrong foods for your body's primary dosha and doing an excess of certain activities during the luteal or ovulatory phase of your period. The menstrual phase is a Vata (air, movement, lightness) dominant phase of the cycle because we're dehydrated of essential nutrients and life force within the body. The increase of Vata (Vata prakop) causes Pitta shaman (weak digestive fire) and leads to Kapha sanchaya (accumulation of dampness and heaviness) within the body. The accumulated dampness or ama is the cause of many physical and mental disorders and there are few practices such as drinking hot water, lymphatic drainage, and eating ginger before your heavy meals that can reduce this accumulation, however, when the body is detoxifying, it's best to limit any heaviness due to us also beginning a new cycle/follicular phase within our menstruation. The following table shows the entire routine with do's and don'ts collected from various texts that I follow during the menstrual phase, these are simply suggestions and can be tailored to fit your needs if consulted with an Ayurvedic doctor.
Goddesses of Menstruation and their Mantras
Matangi and Kamakhaya
Maa Matangi is the goddess of speech and understanding the divine word even when it's polluted, you can check out the Instagram page for Shreem Astrology for more information on her. The Mahavidya that heals the planet Sun grants the knowledge of the 64 art forms and her noose keeps tight control over the masses.
Kamakhya is the bleeding goddess of attraction, love, and passion. Her Shaktipeeth is where the Goddess Shakti's Yoni fell which is why the city where the temple resides is also known as Kamarupa (the form of desire). I've written about Maa Kamakhya in the Bharani and Menstruation post. She also heals the Pitta dosha in the body making digestion better and the skin glow.
You can also offer a candy/chikki made of sesame, jaggery, and coconut milk to these goddesses and consume it as a prasad. Since the Vayu (air) tattwa is dominating menstruation, specifically the Apana Vayu (downward and outward life force/prana/breath), one should focus their meditation on these goddesses to eliminate anything, any memory or any psychological impression that hasn't been detoxified and is stagnant in the body with the help of Apana Vayu Mudra. This Mudra is good for removing any blockages and pain that can prevent the heart from fully opening up and accepting life in its beauty as it is.
In the Supreme Yoni (earth), one must do japa of the mantra at all times and perceive Her as the Goddess, worship the lady as the form of Shakti herself.
-Shiva to Shakti, Yoni Tantra
This is very insightful siddhi. Thankyou for your this post. I appreciate you alot❤️❤️✨✨
What an amazing post! Now days women are expected to still work as hard and physically strain themselves in the name of empowerment and equality, but this post taught me how we should be resting and find the divine within ourselves during our period. Thank you Siddhi!