The Author & Books
Sinu Joseph is the author of ‘Women and Sabarimala’, ‘Ṛtu Vidyā’, ‘Varṇa Vidyā’ and 'Strī Dharma Paddhatiḥ' which describe the science behind the traditional rules and restrictions for Hindu women. She holds a BE degree and chose to work in the social and developmental space. Although she has worked across diverse social sectors, her primary work has been in the area of women’s health and spirituality. Her books unravel the advanced scientific knowledge lying hidden in the culture and religious practices of Sanātana Dharma.
She has undertaken extensive action research in the areas of women’s health since 2009 through various NGOs and travelled across Bhārat, interacting with thousands of adolescent girls and women directly, to get a first-hand experiences of their practices and belief systems. Her primary area of work has been in the field of menstrual and reproductive health.
Her first book 'Women and Sabarimala' (2019) was based on her study of the Sabarimala temple and associated Sastha temples to explore the way consecrated spaces can alter women’s menstrual cycles. The book 'Women and Sabarimala' is an answer to the question “why aren’t women of menstrual age allowed to enter Sabarimala?” This book presents a never-before discussed perspective on the science behind the restrictions on women in the Sabarimala temple. This book has also been translated into Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu.
Her second and most popular book ‘Ṛtu Vidyā: Ancient Science behind Menstrual practices’ (2020) has brought forth a unique narrative, which is the Bhāratiya perspective on menstruation. Stepping away from popular narratives that focus on menstrual products, her work has explored native methods and cultural practices around menstruation. She has written extensively on unearthing the science behind native practices and bringing forth a unique narrative, which is the Bharatiya perspective, on menstruation. She has studied several Hindu temples, religious restrictions owing to menstruation and their impact on women’s menstrual health. Rtu Vidya has also been translated into Hindi and Kannada.
Her third book Varṇa Vidyā (2023) provides answers to all those who wish to know the science behind the dharmaśāstra rules for women and the śūdra varṇa. Going beyond the sociological understanding of varṇa based on jāti-guṇa-karma, this book takes a deep dive into the biological basis of varṇa dharma to answer questions about women and the śūdra varṇa, especially in the context of religious practices. The book not only answers burning questions of the present time but also explains the science behind the spiritual path prescribed for women and the śūdra varṇa. In the process of decoding the rules for women and the śūdra varṇa, the science of varṇa dharma itself stands revealed as an unintended consequence.
The Strī Dharma Paddhatiḥ (2024), published in two volumes, is her fourth book, and she considers it as her most important work. She has compiled a detailed and scientific interpretation of more than 300 Saṃskṛtaṃ verses from the ancient text titled Strīdharmapaddhatiḥ in this book. According to her, this book is the final authority and most comprehensive sādhana guide for women's spiritual path. She says that after reading this book, no other book on women needs to be read.
