Dr. Viyatprajna Acharya

The Egg
“Stop, stop… stand right there! Don’t touch anything… Oh God! You had to trouble me at ten o’clock at night! Let me put some water on the stove. Go and take a bath after that.”
“Mother, when one egg comes out of a woman, you ask her to wash her hair and bathe even on a cold winter night… But when a man releases ten crore ‘eggs’ at a time, shouldn’t he be submerged in water all the time?”
“Hey! Stop it! Don’t make my head hurt even more!”

The divine abode
“You wretched girl! Didn’t your mother teach you anything? Stand still, stay there! My Ekadashi observance has been ruined… Couldn’t you be careful for just two days? What was the need to roam all around the house with your frock fluttering like that?”
“Mother, she is only a little child!”
“She is already eleven years old! Is she not old enough? At her age, I was already married and had gone to my in-laws’ house!”
“Hey, Chandi! For these four days, don’t even go near the prayer room. No worship, no prayers!”
“But Grandma, where should I keep God for these four days?”
“Hey girl! God will remain in the prayer room. What nonsense are you talking?”
“Grandma, I was asking—what should I do with the God who lives in my heart? Where should I keep Him for these four days? I have woven Him into every moment of my life; into every breath I take. Where shall I put Him?
Before I eat, I offer a portion of my food to Him as prasad, chanting my prayers. What should I do about that? Whenever I travel, I keep Him with me as my companion and my shield of protection. What should I do about Him?”
Mother and grandmother exchanged glances and simply stared at the girl, speechless. They had never loved God like this in their entire life.
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Quarantine — Revenge
“Listen, Mother’s RT-PCR report has come positive. Let’s give her our bedroom. It has an AC and an attached bathroom. She will be comfortable there.”
“Hmmm… and why exactly should we do that? I am not going anywhere from this room! Anyway, I’ll arrange that room for her.”
“Which room are you talking about?”
“That one… the outhouse at the backyard.”
“Hey, you heartless woman! How can an old lady stay there alone?”
“What’s the problem? Do you remember how my child stayed there alone for seven days, crying relentlessly? I begged and pleaded so much. Did anyone listen to me then? Being a father, you never mustered courage to resist your mother and stood there silently. I was powerless then, not now, not anymore.”
“Now the wheel of Karma has taken a complete turn. Perhaps the taste of quarantine will remind everyone of the injustices of the past.”
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The Broken Plate
“Go, sit in that corner… here, take this.”
The mother-in-law pushed a broken plate towards her daughter-in-law. Rice, curry and fried vegetables had all been served together on it.
“No, Mother. It’s alright. I am not used to eating like this.”
Tears did not fall from Sri’s eyes. Instead, they seemed to shower sparks of fire.
A moment later, the sound of Sri starting her scooter and riding away was heard outside.
Lakshmi had disappeared.
Durga had emerged.
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A Sacred Sin
“I think Mother is having a heart attack! Sister, please send brother-in-law quickly. We can’t understand what to do!” Daughter-in-law of the house was calling frantically to her doctor sister-in-law, daughter of the house.
“Wait, I am coming myself. I’ll drive there. Your brother-in-law has an emergency operation today. He cannot leave.” Hurriedly she gave some information over phone and wheeled the car immediately.
Tejaswini hurriedly parked her car and rushed to her mother’s side. Her sister-in-law stood frozen against the wall.
“Hey! Is there nobody here? What have you all been doing till now?”
“How could I touch Mother? I am menstruating!”
“Oh my God! Come on, after all your education, you still remain the same! Was Mother cooking since you were menstruating? She must have felt dizzy and collapsed. It looks more like a vasovagal attack. Come on, hold her. Let us get an ECG done.”
“Hey, wait! I am menstruating too! Why don’t you give me some of your sins as well?”
After a while they were in the hospital and found the mother recuperating.
“Mother, how are you feeling now? You had fainted, but there is nothing to worry about now. However, in the meantime, we have committed so many sins! You are now completely defiled!”
Mother stared at Tejaswini in bewilderment.
“Your daughter-in-law and I, both are menstruating… and on top of that, this nurse and the female attendant too! Tell me, how will we ever free ourselves from this sin?”
Tejaswini asked mischievously, with a playful smile in her eyes.
Lowering her head, Mother replied, “This is a sacred sin… Akaale niyama nasti—in times of necessity, rules do not apply.”
Tejaswini burst out laughing.
“That muck is not going to leave your mind so easily! We will have to do something about it, Bhauja (Bhabhi)!”
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India, which was once illuminated by the wisdom of women such as Gargi, Apala and Lilavati, gradually became burdened with numerous superstitions as women were deprived of education. Many practices that may once have had scientific reasoning were blindly distorted, misinterpreted and misused.
Menstruation is a natural physiological process. Yet, in many places, it has been turned into something mysterious and almost cosmic.
The Mother (Pondicherry) explained it very simply: Nature prepares a woman’s body for the possibility of pregnancy. The uterine lining develops in preparation for conception. When pregnancy does not occur, this lining is shed through menstruation.
There is no need to become excessively sensitive or apprehensive about it. A woman may continue her routine daily activities as far as her physical comfort permits. Menstrual pain and discomfort can be managed appropriately with medical advice.
Motherhood has been accorded one of the highest positions in society. Then how can the process that precedes the possibility of motherhood—menstruation—be considered impure or disgusting?
During menstruation, what is most important is proper cleanliness and hygiene, adequate nutrition and attention to one’s physical and emotional well-being.
Women must abandon the tendency of being hostile towards their own fraternity and extend their hands towards the upliftment and empowerment of women in every sphere of life.
May all be blessed.
Shubhamastu.