Guest guest Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Hi, To a degree, I agree to the point. Indian traditions, particularly rituals, are steeped in similies and metaphors. Often, it is clear _what should be done_, and the reason _why_ is lost. In this case, it can be argued that it is okay for a woman to read any shloka she feels like; the original reason why it was ordained that a woman shouldn't read something may no longer be applicable. But to generalize that "you make your own rules" is dangerous. In the same american context, I read graffiti written on a train in Boston: "In a civilized society, _everything_ is acceptable". Most of the evils in modern (I don't say western:-) society are because of thoughtlessly bending rules. I hope you get the idea: its okay to act as you wish in certain cases, but, more importantly, sometimes, it is not. Just my 2 paisa. Om Namashivaya, Sundar --- "sivadancer <sivadancer" <sivadancer wrote: > AUM gaNapatye namaH > > I feel that one of the hardest barriers to Realiztion is the thought > "I have to follow the rules." > > Rules must be followed up to a point: for removal of doubts in the > sadhaka's mind or as an example to others of the "right way" so that > they are not led to lawless ways. > > But in the end, who makes the rules? Are you not THAT? > > The mahavakya goes: "Tat Tvam Asi" -- "Thou art That" > > Is this just an idle statement that we bandy about lightly? > > -------------------------- > The King says to his Queen about his son wanting to marry a commoner, > going against tradition: "Who am I to change tradition?" > > The Queen replies, "Well, I thought YOU were king!" > > The King's face lights up with realization...he can do anything he > wants BECAUSE HE IS KING! > > -- from "Coming to America" > > --------------------------- > > Some will say, "First you must know that you are That before one can > act like this." But how else will you KNOW it unless you DO? > > The order goes: > > 1. jnana 2. iccha 3. kriya: > > KNOWLEDGE...leads to DESIRE creating a WILLFULNESS...to DO. But there > is no knowledge without desire and action. > > So radhika, DO what you WILL...and you will KNOW You are THAT. > > Corrections welcome. > > AUM lalitAyai namaH > > , "gri1993 <gri1993>" > <gri1993> wrote: > > Namaskaram, > > Just wanted to know if Durga Suktam can be readby women, I have > heard > > it on Cd's it is by a male. > > > > Are there any slokas or shotras that should not be readby women. > > > > thanks very much for your time. > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 GOD is 'gender neutral' or perhaps 'ShivaShakti'. Therefore, who dictates, as to what women should/could do and don't. My two cents worth of 'opinion' is that 'men' make most of the rules, and as women endure more in life, they may just please 'GOD' more than what men could do, therefore, they may attain more 'Shakti', so, rules were made to keep women at certain levels, for example, I have learnt that women were not allowed to read the 'Hanuman Chalisa', makes one wonder why??? I am a woman!!! L. Baines Financial Assistance Officer Ministry of Advanced Education Student Services Branch 2nd Floor, 1106 Cook Street Victoria, BC V8W 9H7 [250] 387-6122 1-888-262-2112 [Fax] Sundara Raman Rajagopalan [happysundar] January 20, 2003 12:03 PM Re: Re: Durga Suktam Hi, To a degree, I agree to the point. Indian traditions, particularly rituals, are steeped in similies and metaphors. Often, it is clear _what should be done_, and the reason _why_ is lost. In this case, it can be argued that it is okay for a woman to read any shloka she feels like; the original reason why it was ordained that a woman shouldn't read something may no longer be applicable. But to generalize that "you make your own rules" is dangerous. In the same american context, I read graffiti written on a train in Boston: "In a civilized society, _everything_ is acceptable". Most of the evils in modern (I don't say western:-) society are because of thoughtlessly bending rules. I hope you get the idea: its okay to act as you wish in certain cases, but, more importantly, sometimes, it is not. Just my 2 paisa. Om Namashivaya, Sundar --- "sivadancer <sivadancer" <sivadancer wrote: > AUM gaNapatye namaH > > I feel that one of the hardest barriers to Realiztion is the thought > "I have to follow the rules." > > Rules must be followed up to a point: for removal of doubts in the > sadhaka's mind or as an example to others of the "right way" so that > they are not led to lawless ways. > > But in the end, who makes the rules? Are you not THAT? > > The mahavakya goes: "Tat Tvam Asi" -- "Thou art That" > > Is this just an idle statement that we bandy about lightly? > > -------------------------- > The King says to his Queen about his son wanting to marry a commoner, > going against tradition: "Who am I to change tradition?" > > The Queen replies, "Well, I thought YOU were king!" > > The King's face lights up with realization...he can do anything he > wants BECAUSE HE IS KING! > > -- from "Coming to America" > > --------------------------- > > Some will say, "First you must know that you are That before one can > act like this." But how else will you KNOW it unless you DO? > > The order goes: > > 1. jnana 2. iccha 3. kriya: > > KNOWLEDGE...leads to DESIRE creating a WILLFULNESS...to DO. But there > is no knowledge without desire and action. > > So radhika, DO what you WILL...and you will KNOW You are THAT. > > Corrections welcome. > > AUM lalitAyai namaH > > , "gri1993 <gri1993>" > <gri1993> wrote: > > Namaskaram, > > Just wanted to know if Durga Suktam can be readby women, I have > heard > > it on Cd's it is by a male. > > > > Are there any slokas or shotras that should not be readby women. > > > > thanks very much for your time. > > > > > > Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus. AUM shrImAtre namaH AUM namaH shivAya AUM namaH shivAbhyAm Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) : /messages// Contact : help Your use of is subject to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 At 11:00 PM 1/20/03 +0000, you wrote: >durga suuktam is from veda-s. Traditionally, chanting of veda-s is >restricted to first three varNa-s and to only males who are >initiated to upanayana and taught these mantra-s in person. If you >write a letter to shringeri or kanchi maTha, this is what you will >hear. > >You can do what you want, but you should understand that you will >face the consequences. > >If your desire is to please God, there are easier and legitimate >ways to do it. > >My 2c. > >Ravi This something of an anomaly. One important school of SriVidya is propounded by LOpamudra. One of the SUkthams has got a female as its rishi. This suktham is read as a part of Durga Sapthasathi. A female rishi almost defeated Yaagnyavalkiya. Nobody has captured the essence of Kundalini Yoga so very precisely in a short beautiful poem - Vinaayagar Agaval - as Auvaiyaar. And nobody has so succinctly delivered most of the aspects of yoga in short verse forms as Auvai KURaL. Again Auvaiyaar. There is always something called the yuga dharma. Time, place, and circumstance dictate what we do and what we are do not/cannot do. Are we following the vedic laws as they have been propounded? Regards JayBee > > > > > >, "gri1993 <gri1993>" ><gri1993> wrote: >> Namaskaram, >> Just wanted to know if Durga Suktam can be readby women, I have >heard >> it on Cd's it is by a male. >> >> Are there any slokas or shotras that should not be readby women. >> >> thanks very much for your time. >> >> Radhika > > >AUM shrImAtre namaH >AUM namaH shivAya >AUM namaH shivAbhyAm > >Archives : http://www.ambaa.org/ (Edited) > : /messages// > >Contact : help > >Your use of is subject to > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 Namah Shivaya Ravi and others >But at least for known period of time, only men when initiated to >upanayana and taught veda mantras I have read ( cant remember immiediately where-in manu smriti? ) that initially women too got initiated into the Gayatri mantra and had upanayanam but in later years this practice died out and it became an only male affair .. Any thoughts?- i shall check my source and get back to you- cant remember off the top of my head. BUT as regards women chanting the Durga Suktam or the vedas, my Guru being a woman , you know what answer i will give:-) But my answer is no answer . But my gut feelings is- if a man can be qualified to invoke Mother Durga, then i dont see why a woman cannot acheive the same qualifications- which i guess are inner purity and devotion. And just because something is traditional, doesnt make it right. Just my 2c. bala _______________ The new MSN 8 is here: Try it free* for 2 months http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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