Host:
Gurudev, my respect to you (Pranam).
Gurudev:
Pranam, my son.
Host:
Paying our respects to Shantikunj and the mother-goddess Bamatara, we begin today's episode. Gurudev, honoring the women of the world, I have a question. This is something we don't know much about. It's a small question, and I hope you can explain it to us beautifully.
Gurudev:
Yes, go ahead.
Host:
The question is about the menstrual cycle in women. Is there any divine or spiritual way to manage or restrict this?
Gurudev:
No, it cannot be stopped under any circumstances. Doctors cannot stop it, and we cannot stop it from a health or scriptural perspective. Usually, it begins in girls around the age of 12 or 13. At that age, they are innocent and don't understand much. They might suddenly tell their mother that it has started. The mother then understands.
Gurudev:
In our scriptures, there is a specific mention: if a girl experiences her first period, she should pick flowers with her own hands, weave a garland, and place it around the neck of Lord Shiva (Mahadev). The scriptures state that Mahadev is very pleased with this.
Gurudev:
This cycle is essential; without it, creation would not exist. This is the origin of life. We should always respect it so that creation continues smoothly and beautifully.
Gurudev:
Now, many people today might find it hard to follow everything the scriptures say. For example, it is said that before conception, a husband and wife should sit together and pray to God for a virtuous child. After long periods of spiritual practice (tapasya), if they unite, the child born is said to be very virtuous. This is what our scriptures tell us.
Gurudev:
Generally, during menstruation, women experience an increase in desire. To manage this, our ancestors created certain restrictions. They advised that women should not go out, mingle with others, go to temples, or touch men for those four days. These rules were created by our predecessors.
Gurudev:
However, the same ancestors would never deny that without this cycle, there would be no children. This cycle is the primary force behind creation. Therefore, women must be very mindful during this time.
Host:
Gurudev, we have seen in many places that girls are confined to a room during their first period or subsequent periods.
Gurudev:
Yes, the reason is that their desires increase during this time. If they go out freely, it might lead to complications, and the resulting offspring might not be virtuous. That is why our society or scholars of the past established rules like not going anywhere, not touching anyone, and staying confined. This was very common in the past. People wouldn't even know if someone in the neighborhood was menstruating. Nowadays, things are more open, and people understand it differently. Some follow these rules, and some don't.
Gurudev:
My view is slightly different. From a scriptural standpoint, when a woman is menstruating, she is restricted from worship and other rituals primarily to ensure the sanctity of creation. Mothers know this best and they are the ones who caution their daughters.
Gurudev:
About 50-60 years ago, if there was a "leak" or if someone found out, people were sometimes ostracized. I have seen cases in Kalyani where families had to sell their homes and move because the neighborhood wouldn't let them stay after certain incidents related to this. Today, there are medicines and better understanding, but in the past, it was taken very seriously.
Gurudev:
I don't strictly forbid everything. Many people call me and ask, "I am menstruating, can I still pray?" I tell them they can come, they can chant, but they should avoid touching the deity. This is my personal school of thought. I cannot deny the force of creation. Without creation, who will sustain or destroy? Creation comes first. So, we must honor it. I tell women that even if they are menstruating, they don't have to stop their devotion to God. Just maintain a distance from the idol as per tradition, but keep your connection with the Divine.
Host:
Gurudev, let's move to another question. We know that suicide is a great sin. What happens to a person after suicide? Do they go to the world of spirits (Pret-lok) or to heaven?
Gurudev:
They immediately go to the world of spirits. The moment a person dies, they are referred to as "Pret." Their post-death rituals are called "Pret-kriya." Suicide—killing one's own self—is the greatest sin. Because of this sin, their souls wander the streets. They cannot take birth again easily.
Host:
Do they live in hell?
Gurudev:
Whether it is hell or heaven, who can say for sure? But it is a form of hell because the soul suffers immensely. They wander day and night. Sometimes, during specific lunar alignments (Tithi), they can even be seen in a spiritual form. Many people have come to me saying they saw a deceased relative sitting on the stairs or in the house. This happens quite often.
Gurudev:
The soul that commits suicide is not accepted for "Pinda-daan" (offerings to ancestors) at Gaya (Gadadhar). Instead, the scriptures say that the offering should be made at Pushkar in Rajasthan. It is said that if Pinda-daan is performed at Pushkar, the soul can be liberated. Until that is done, the soul remains restless and can even cause trouble for the family. So, I advise people to go to Pushkar to find peace for such souls so they can eventually be reincarnated.
Host:
Gurudev, one more question. We know that the worship of Shani Dev (Boro Thakur) is usually done outside, not inside the house. Can his mantra (Japa) be chanted at home?
Gurudev:
Nothing related to Shani Dev should be done inside the house. Shani Dev is "cursed" by his own wife. His wife was a very virtuous and devoted woman (Sati). After their marriage, Shani Dev never looked at her or spent time with her. This made her mentally ill and eventually, as she approached death, she called her father-in-law, Surya Dev (the Sun God). She asked to see Shani Dev one last time. When Shani Dev came, she cursed him, saying, "You will be worshipped on the streets. Anyone who eats your prasad (blessed food) or worships you without caution will face hardships. If they don't bathe after your worship, they will suffer." She also cursed that dogs would urinate in his temples and his shrines would be on the roadsides without a permanent caretaker.
Gurudev:
Therefore, you should not even chant his mantra at home. If you want to pray to him, go to a Shani temple on the roadside, do your prayers, and then you must bathe before entering your home.
Gurudev:
In some traditions, Shani and Surya are considered of "Sudra" origin (Saurashtram Kasyapam Sudram...). Thus, according to old customs, Brahmins were not supposed to worship them directly. Nowadays, many things have changed, and people are bearing the consequences of not following these spiritual guidelines. Shani's songs and hymns (Panchali) were also written by someone from a different community. If I, as a Brahmin, worship him inside, I am violating these traditions. People do it anyway, but they also face the results.
Host:
Dear viewers, today you heard the answers to three very important questions. Gurudev has explained them beautifully. You now understand what to do and what to avoid regarding menstruation, suicide, and the worship of Shani Dev. Thank you, Gurudev.
Gurudev:
Pranam, my son.