Temples That Forbid Women (and Why): Sacred Spaces Beyond Misogyny

India, the country of religious contradictions, has more than 2 million temples. Though the majority are accessible to all, some holy places ban women, particularly those in their menstrual years (typically 10–50). The ban is less due to gender bias and misogyny, as popularly perceived, but due to ritual purity, celibacy oaths of the deity, or particular cosmic energy configurations.

Let us make our way through these unique temples, exploring the mystical rationale and ancient logic that govern them.