A Folklore of Menstruation

Menstruation is still considered taboo among Hindu (many other) cultures. However, Hindu Literature or Vedas has no mention of anything bad about this biological process.

 Women are barred from entering public places, touch food, and are also not allowed to see any man during periods. History says that seeing a man on the day of menses may make her pregnant. 

This Navratri, are you willing to hear an astonishing story?

 A long long time ago in the Satayuga, when Raja Daksha was unwilling to accept the Shiv-Sati love, then Sati on wrath, burnt herself to death. Shiva with the loss of her beloved, filled with both rage and grief. With no other option left, his yearn made him lift the perishable body of goddess Sati and do his 'Tandava'. And pledged not to stop until the body decays.

 On the other hand, Vishnu was terrified because the rage of Shiva was gonna destroy the universe. He then used his Sudarshan Chakra and split the corpse into 51. This resulted in the formation of 51 Shaktipeethas.

The place in Assam, where Sati's Yoni or vagina fell is called Kamakhya Temple.  It is believed that this Goddess along with mother earth bleeds annually on the month Ahaar (onset of monsoon) for 3 days. That is a decision by Solar Transition. You can also find the river Brahmaputra turning red. This festival is widely celebrated as Ambabuchi Mela.

Facts of the event:

1. During the festival, the temple remains closed for three days and no ritual is practiced.

2.  Worship begins like before from the 4th day when the festival ends.

3. The prasad is distributed in two forms – Angodak and Angabastra. Angodak literally means the fluid part of the body – water from the spring and Angabastra literally means the cloth covering the body – a piece of the red cloth used to cover the stone yoni during the days of menstruation.

 Looks like the embracement of womanhood explains the bewildering anomallical relationship between Hindu people and menstruation. There might be a magical, scientific reason for the river turning red. But why is this only for 3 days? Did you think?

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