Greetings to all the children of Amrit. By the grace of Ishwara,I hope everyone is well. Today’s topic of discussion is “Sanatan Dharma and Women”. In this article we will know what is said about women in Sanatan Dharma, i.e. in the holy scriptures such as the Vedas.
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Currently, we see in most families that they keep women subordinate to men. That is, according to their interpretation, the job of wives is to obey their husbands, serve their husbands, and run the family according to their husbands’ instructions. But do you know that the Holy Vedas tell us the complete opposite in this regard?
Ahaṁ kēturahaṁ mūrdhāhamugraā bibācanī.
Mamēdanu trutuṁ patiḥ sēhānāẏā upācarēṯ.
—[Rigveda 10.159.2.]
Translation:—” I am wise, the head of the household, patient, eloquent, and a destroyer of enemies.May my husband be in my favor and perform household chores.”
That is, the woman is said to be the head of the house. The husband should act in accordance with his wife’s wishes.
Let’s now discuss another issue. In today’s society, we see that women are looked down upon compared to men. That is, women are behind men in knowledge, intelligence, etc. Let’s see what the Holy Vedas say about this.
Translation:—-“O Husband! As wise as I am, so are you. I am the Sama Mantra, you are the Rik Mantra. I am the Duloka, you are the Bhuloka. We both will unite together in this way and produce children.”
—-[Atharvaveda-14/2/71]
That is, according to this mantra, husband and wife are equally wise. Such equality exists only in Vedic Sanatan Dharma.
Another thing we see in society is that husbands often discipline and beat their wives; which is approved by all religions except Sanatan Dharma. Let’s see what the Holy Vedas say about this—-
A woman’s mind cannot be controlled because her wisdom is always in motion. Therefore, a husband should never try to control his wife’s mind by belittling her knowledge or wisdom.
——-[Rigveda 8/33/17]
This mantra clearly states that a woman’s mind is uncontrollable. Such respect for women exists only in Sanatan Dharma.
Now let’s come to the Vedic rights of women. In the holy Vedas, both men and women have equal rights. Which is achieved by the Yajurveda-26/2 mantra. Let’s look at the mantra-
Yathēmāṁ bācaṁ kalyāṇīmābadāni janēbhyaḥ.
Brahmarājan’yābhyāṁ śūdrāẏa cāryāẏa ca sbāẏa cāraṇāẏa ca.
Priẏō dēbānāṁ dakṣiṇāẏai dāturiha bhūẏāsamaẏaṁ mē kāmaḥ samr̥dhyatāmupa mādō namatu..
——- Yajurveda-26/2
Translation: “O man, just as I have preached this auspicious Vedic message to Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, my wives and servants, and all other human beings, so do you. Just as I have become beloved to the learned by preaching the Vedic message, so also do you. Just as I have become beloved to the charitable men of this world for my charity, so also do you. My desire is that the propagation of Vedic knowledge may increase. Just as I have found happiness in all knowledge, so may you also attain the happiness of liberation by receiving and propagating knowledge.”
Also, did you know that there are a total of 30 female sages who are seers of the Vedas’ mantras, including Lopamudra, Bak, Maitriya, Gargi, Paulami, Juhu, Shraddha, and Urvashi?
When misogynists say that women have no rights in the Vedas, they are giving a false argument. They say that women are of low intelligence and therefore cannot read the Vedas. The holy Vedas do not agree with this at all. Proof of this can be found in the following mantra.
Women are the bearers of knowledge.
[Atharvaveda-7/47/2]
If women are the bearers of knowledge, how can they be stupid? Thus, this fallacy of misogynists has been refuted.
Many say that women do not have the right to wear sacrificial garments. But the holy Vedas give women the right to perform Upanayana and wear sacrificial garments.
““Brahmacaryēra kan’yā ẏubanaṁ bindatē pati”
——(Atharvaveda 11.5.18)
Translation-After adopting celibacy (obtaining knowledge by studying the Vedas), a maiden will obtain a learned husband in her youth.
The prerequisite for observing Brahmacharya is the Upanayana Sanskar or the Gayatri Mantra initiation and the possession of a Yajna or Paita. Therefore, according to the Vedas, women have full rights to the possession of a Yajna or Janeu.
Prābr̥tāṁ ẏajñōpabītinīmamyudānaẏana japēṯ.
Sōmōhadadada gandharbāẏēti..
—–(Govil Griyasutra 2.1.19)
Translation- The bride should give Yajnopavit to her daughter and chant the Somaddad mantra.
All virgin girls should take upanayana to a Vedic scholar, undergo a yajna or janeu ceremony, and observe celibacy.
The holy Vedas command both husband and wife to perform the yajna at the same time.
The couple who are in a relationship are always together.
[Rigveda-8/31/5]
O learned men! The husband and wife who perform the sacrifice together with one mind, whose minds are directed towards the Supreme Soul through worship, always perform all their actions under the shelter of the Supreme Soul.
The claims of those weak-minded people who say women do not have the right to the priesthood have been completely refuted.
Let’s come to another important topic. There is another big superstition in our society. It is said that women are impure during their period or menstruation. During this time, women cannot worship, cannot enter the house of the deity, cannot cook. But have we considered what the scriptures say about this?
It is said in 28/4 of the Vasishtha Dharma Sutra:
Women have a different kind of purity. They are never completely impure. A few temporary periods of impurity every month wash away the sins of their hearts.
——-[Vasishtha Dharmasutra-28/4]
That is, women are always pure.
Here are some more scriptural references regarding the purity of women:
A remarkable verse from Yajnavalkya Smriti on the purity of women-
Soma: The best way to cleanse is to wash with gandharva. Purify: The best way is to purify.
(Yajnavalkya Smriti 1/71)
The moon has bestowed purity upon women; the Gandharva has bestowed sweet speech upon them; and the fire has made them purer than all things; therefore women are pure.
What is the rule of Sanatan Dharma regarding families where women are respected? Let’s learn from the words of Maharishi Manu-
Yatra nāryyastu pūjyantē ramantē tatra dēbatāḥ.
Yatraitāstu na pūjyantē sarbāstatrāphalāḥ kriẏāḥ..
[Manusamhita-3/56]
Simply put: In a generation where women are worshipped, that is, good deeds are performed, divine qualities, that is, divine enjoyment, and good children are born, and in a generation where women are not worshipped, that generation will know that all its actions are fruitless.
Even the Manusamhita states that a family in which women are miserable is destroyed.
A race in which sisters and housewives are made miserable by the actions of men, that race is soon destroyed. But a race in which women are content, that race is sure to prosper.
[Manusamhita 3/57]
Women are the main reason for happiness. This is also the saying of Maharishi Manu.
From generation to generation, women have been the source of all happiness. Because, producing children, practicing religion, taking care of the family, and maintaining marital peace are all performed by women.
[Manusamhita-9/28]
Let’s look at some more amazing mantras where full respect is shown towards women-
May women not suffer any pain.
[Atharvaveda -12/2/31]
A woman should never have a co-wife.
[Atharvaveda- 3/18/2]
Give knowledge as a gift to women.
[Atharvaveda-14/1/6]
Women are doers of good, beautifiers of the home.
[ Atharvaveda-14/2/26 ]
Now on the topic of widow marriage. Widow marriage is also approved in the Holy Vedas-
Udīṣarba nārṣyabhi jībalōkaṁ gatāsumētamupaśēṣa ēhi.
Hastāgrābhasya didhiṣōstabēdaṁ patyurjanitbamabhi sambabhuba.
——[Rigveda-10/18/8]
Translation:—O woman! Why are you lying beside this dead husband? Get up from there and come here to the living. Wifehood only born with your husband who had hold your hand.
Iẏaṁ nārī pati lōkaṁ br̥ṇānā nipadyata upatbya marntya prētam.Dharmaṁ purāṇamanu pālaẏantī tasmyai prajāṁ drabiṇaṁ cēha dhēhi..
———[Atharvaveda-18/31]
Translation:–O man! This woman has come to you after the death of her husband, desiring remarriage. She is a follower of the Sanatana Dharma. Grant her children and wealth in this world.
Now, let me introduce you to a famous verse, through which Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was able to get the Widow Remarriage Act passed.
Naṣṭē mr̥tē prabrajitē klībē ca patitē patau.
Pañcasbāpaṯsu nārīṇāṁ patiran’yō bidhīẏatē..”
——(Parashara Samhita 4/27)
Translation: If the husband is absent, dies, takes sannyasa, becomes a widow, or falls in love. In these five types of emergencies, women should take another husband.
Women are auspicious:-
“sumangali pratharani grihanam sushevapatye sashuray shangbhuah. Syona shavshvai pra grihan visheman”..
[Atharvaveda: 14/2/26]
O bride! Auspicious, a beautifier of the house, devoted to the service of the husband, a giver of peace to the father-in-law, a giver of joy to the mother-in-law. Be skilled in household chores.
There are countless such mantras and verses in our scriptures in which the glory of women is sung. We will discuss this topic further in the coming days. Today’s discussion ends here. With the blessings of God, I hope everyone remains healthy. Greetings.
Om Shanti: Shanti: Shanti: