Such a ‘Rajsvala Nari’ should not touch another person of their ‘Jata’ for three days. They may however touch animals. Similarly, clothing and utensils made from clay/pottery should also not be touched for three days and nights. On the fourth day, after bathing (including washing her hair), she may touch the household utensils etc.
Bhavishyotara Purana explains, ‘A Rajsvala on the first day is considered a Chandali (the lowest kind, dispicable), on the second - a Brahmgati (murderer of Brahmins), on the third - a Dhobarna (a washer woman) and on the fourth day she is cleansed of such impurity after taking a bath.’ The duties of a Rajsvala are given in Vishnudharmotara: ‘A Rajsvala, for three days, should not partake in cow’s milk, yoghurt, Ghee etc. She should not decorate herself with flowers nor wear eye make-up (Anjarna). She should not use Kumkum or Chandan, nor sleep upon a bed. She should not touch (thus should stay away from) Agni (fire).’ Daksha adds, ‘A Rajsvala should not perfume her body with oils, brush her teeth with Datarna nor wander around (i.e. go to other places or people’s houses). She should refrain from bathing, eating betel leaf and sleeping during the day.’
Shatanand then explains how to calculate the first day of Rajsvala dependant on when exactly Rajodarshan (time of menstrual cycle) takes place. Mitakshara explains, ‘If Rajodarshan occurs at night, then splitting the night-time into three equal parts, if Rajodarshan occurred in the first two parts of night-time then the previous day should be considered as the first day. If it occurred in the last third then the next day is considered the first day of Rajsvala Vrata.’ Other Smrutis explain that if Rajodarshan occurs before the middle of night-time then the previous day should be considered as the first day. Nirnyasindhu however explains that one should act in such cases in accordance with what is accepted in the village, town, country etc.
If Rajodarshan occurs again after a short space of time then it is explained: ‘If Rajodarshan occurs again after seventeen days then one is cleansed by merely bathing; after eighteen days, then one day of Rajsvala Vrata should be observed; after nineteen days, then two days should be observed; and if after twenty days or more then the full three days should be observed.’
Then is explained the prohibition of touch for a Rajsvala. It is even forbidden for a Rajsvala Stree to touch another Rajsvala: ‘If a Rajsvala accidentally touches another Rajsvala, then they are purified by bathing. If they touch intentionally, then they should perform Upavaas (full day fast) and partake in Panchagavya (five elements from a cow - including urine) for purification.’ Parashar adds, ‘If a Rajsvala Brahmin woman touches a Rajsvala Kshatriya woman, then the Brahmin woman should observe the complete Ardhakrutch Vrata and the Kshatriya woman should observe half of the same Vrata.’ Thus all women of all castes should observe the Rajsvala Dharma.
Gautama adds that if a Rajsvala touches any other woman (not Rajsvala) or man, then the man or woman should bathe with clothes for purification: ‘By touching the sinful, the lowest of persons (Chandal), a woman who has just delivered a child, a Rajsvala or a corpse; after cutting your hair or shaving, after sex or if one happens to smell the smoke from a burning corpse, then one should purify themselves by bathing with clothes and performing Achmana (sipping of water).’
Parashar adds that if a Rajsvala has to attend a wedding, festival, Yagna etc., then she may purify herself by performing an Upavas (full day fast), and thus become free from the Rajsvala Vrata. During Rajsvala Dharma, strict celibacy should be observed and she should refrain from going to other peoples houses etc. Every year, she should observe the Rushi Panchmi Vrata in order to dissolve the sins performed during her Rajsvala days and also makes up for any faults, short givings and discrepancies in performing her Rajsvala Dharma.
Thus concludes the Shlokas for Grihasta men and women. Now are given the additional duties of members of the Tyagashram (those that have renounced all worldly life). These span twenty-eight Shlokas in total. Lord Swaminarayan first addresses Naishtika Brahmcharis and then Sadhus: