On Womanhood

On womanhood ....  

Though women constitute more or less fifty percent of the total population they are not always treated fairly, though they are called fairer sex etc.

According to Subramanya Bharathi a great Tamil Poet he writes that “To be born as a woman one must have done great penance! “. But in reality situation is far from such an ideal state.

Though there are many religions in India, Hinduism gave great respect for woman during Vedic time. Some of the interesting scripts from Veda are quoted to corroborate the point !

“Where Women are Respected, Gods Rejoice”

According to Manu, where women are respected, Gods are rejoiced.

I am He, you are She;
I am Song, you are Verse,
I am Heaven, you are Earth.
We two shall here together dwell,
becoming parents of children.

"Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands and brothers-in-law, who desire their own welfare." (Manu Smriti III, 55)

“Where women are honored there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored no sacred rite yields rewards," Manu Smriti (III.56).

"Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers." (Manu Smriti III, 57).

"The houses on which female relations, not being duly honored, pronounce a curse perish completely as if destroyed by magic." (Manu Smriti III, 58)
Mahabharata says "There is no friend like the wife, there is no refuge better than the wife. There is no better ally in the world than the wife in acts undertaken for acquisition of dharmic merit (Shanti Parva 144-16). She is a true wife who is skillful in household affairs. She is a true wife who has borne a son. She is a true wife whose heart is devoted to her lord (husband). She is a true wife who knows none but her lord. The wife is a man’s half. The wife is the first of friends. The wife is the root of religion, profit and desire. The wife is the root of salvation. They that have wives can perform religious acts.”
On Mother :-
Rigveda 6.61.7: O enlightening Mother! You have the potential to destroy the evil. You have a character as pure as gold. You have the potential to destroy the clouds of frustrations and doubt. You are brave and you only aspire for our well being and success! We are indeed blessed!

Yajurveda 6.31: O pure and blessing Mothers! Satisfy our mind, speech, life, eyes, ears, soul and society with nobleness.

Yajurveda 11.68: O Mother! Protect us from infighting. Protect us from violence and hatred. Propel us to conduct noble acts of valor. May we together conduct virtuous acts alone.

So one can safely conclude that the all these issues of medical termination of pregnancies when the fetus is identified as that of a girl, suppression of girl child from getting it rightful share in food, shelter, education and social status are recent inventions to silence the women folk.

Christianity because of its recent evaluation is being perceived as a modern religion keeping women in equal status. Islam on the contrary pays scant attention to the feelings of women because of the interpretation of Shariat their personal law with issues like Triple Talaq etc. looming large in Muslim women’s lives.

But Hinduism on the contrary has always been keeping Women in high esteem and one should feel proud to be Hindu for this great reason.