Role of Women from the Vedic Times

[Guest guest]

Don’t Judge without Facts!

====================

One of our problem is that we try to judge the customs and traditions of

during an ancient time period by using an yard stick of modern time!

Few years back, we had a Satsang on Ramayana and the discussion got

diverted on the question - Was Sita (Rama’s wife) ill-treated by Rama?

This question arises because of several assumptions:

(1) Social standards are universal and they do not change across

geographical regions and time.

(2) Rama’s role as the husband is more important than his role as the

King and as the Judge.

(3) Sita was very resentful to Rama’s actions.

 

On what basis can we make judgement on an event that happened thousands

of years back and that too without all facts! Discussions on such

questions require the right frame of mind to understand the purpose and

context of Rama’s behavior. If the discussions continue with corrupted

mind, the Satsang move from peace to chaos. Though social customs and

beliefs need careful evaluation, but we need to be careful and vigilant

in conducting the Satsang so that we focus on the Divine virtues of the

human character Rama. The central focus of Ramayana is to illustrate

how Rama portrays the True Human Nature through his noble character.

 

Dharma is not Static!

================

Dharma (ethical law) is Not Static (From Manu Smriti, 1.81-86) "The

following passage brings out a very significant characteristic of

dharma, namely, that the concept and content of dharma change in

accordance with the changing circumstances. Ancient tradition speaks of

four ages (Yugas) - Krita, Tretaa, Dvaapara, and Kali -their duration,

respectively, 1,728,000; 1,296,000; 864,000; and 432,000 human years. It

is believed that each of these four succeeding ages is characterized by

an increasing physical and spiritual deterioration. No one uniform set

of dharmas can, therefore, be made applicable to all the four ages. It

is further believed that when one cycle of four ages is completed, there

occurs the end of the universe, which is followed by a new creation and

a new cycle."

 

Role of Women from the Vedic Times:

===========================

There is historical evidence that during Vedic period, Gayatri Mantra

Initiation ceremony (Thread Ceremony - Upanayana samskaras) was

conducted for all youngsters, both girls and boys. Samskaras are based

on both religious and social beliefs. After this initiation, the

children formally went to Gurukul (school education) to start the

learning process. Rishis and Rishibhathnis (wives of Rishis) were great

scholars and the children of Vedic time learnt lessons from the Rishi

and Rishibhathni. The Sanskrit saying - Mata (mother), Pita (father),

Guru (teacher) and Deivam (God) illustrates that the mother became more

important than father, teacher and God. This saying can also be

interpreted to mean that the first vision of God for a child is seen

through his/her mother, father and teacher.

 

Even during Sankara's period, Mandana Misra's wife, Ubhaya Bharati was

appointed as the judge for the great debate between Sankara and Mandana

Misra. Later, Shankara also debated and defeated Ubhaya Bharati. There

is a Sanskrit proverb which confirms that scholars were judged by their

scholarship and not on the basis of the origin of their birth - “ Rishis

are judged by their scholarship and rivers are judged by their purity

irrespective of their origin.”

 

Evidence from Manu Smriti:

====================

Position of Women (Page 227), (Manu Smriti, 3.55-5; 9.3-7, 11, 26) "

Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands,

and brothers-in-law who desire great good fortune. Where women, verily,

are honored, there the gods rejoice; where however, they are not

honored, there all sacred rites prove fruitless. Where the female

relations live in grief - that family soon perishes completely; where,

however, they do not suffer from any grievance-that family always

prospers. Her father protects her in childhood, her husband protects her

in youth, her sons protect her in old age-- a woman does not deserve

independence. The father who does not give away his daughter in marriage

at the proper time is censurable; censurable is the husband who does not

approach his wife in due season; and after the husband is dead, the son

verily, is censurable, who does not protect his mother. Even against the

SLIGHTEST provocations should women be particularly guarded; for

unguarded they would bring grief to both the families............"

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

In the context of Role of Women in Vedic times, Swami Vivekanand speech on

"Women of India" Complete Works Vol.8 is very illuminating. List members may

have a look at that.

 

M.M.SUDAN

[Guest guest]

Hello,

 

If ancient texts are looked at for historical accuracy than one has to try

and work within the frame of the customs of that time. Such an undertaking

easily leads to misunderstandings of the culture being studied. Students

200 years from now will most likely be trying to make sense of this current

time in history. Last year one of the major Christian organizations at

their national convention voted in to have wives obligated to be under the

authority of their husbands. At this same time in history women's

basketball teams have become financially viable and we have Janet Reno and

Marilyn Albright making major decisions in the running of our country. How

will students judge the status of women based on these contradictions? One

can easily see how controversy will still be around as far as women's roles

are concerned.

 

The version of the Ramayana that I have worked with is the Adhyatma Ramayana

by Swami Tapasyananda. Unfortunately, there is no transliteration it

contains the Devangari script with English translations and I am still at

the point where it takes me hours to look up just a few words of Devangari.

So, I have read this through the words of the translator. What I understood

from the meeting of Rama and Sita after her rescue was as an allegory of the

soul's separation from the 'Godhead'. Sita, in order to be truly reunited

with God needed to go through the tapas of Agni or the fires of purification

so that all traces of maya be removed. In chapter 13 The Hymn of Brahma it

is spoken of that Rama is the creator of the world, how Rama is Pure

Consciousness and those who's vision is hidden by Maya Rama appears as

human. But to those who see beyond that is not so. Ravana is seen not only

as the physical enemy who captured Sita but as the force of the material

world that causes one to forget their true nature. The chapter then goes on

to tell how Agni returned with Sita shining like the luminous sun and the

'magical' or deceptive Sita was destroyed. One of the meanings of maya is

magic it can be understood that a reference was being made to Sita being

returned to her true nature at which point she was once again united with

Rama. This part of the Ramayana appears to be speaking of the same

principal of Siva and Sakti coming together through the process of full

Kundalini. It is the story of all of us as we move towards our true self.

If Rama mistreated Sita then we are all mistreated .

 

This is simply an interpretation of this ancient script through my own

understanding done with no knowledge of the original language.

 

Namaste,

Linda

 

 

>Don't Judge without Facts!

====================

>One of our problem is that we try to judge the customs and traditions of

>during an ancient time period by using an yard stick of modern time!

>Few years back, we had a Satsang on Ramayana and the discussion got

>diverted on the question - Was Sita (Rama's wife) ill-treated by Rama?

>This question arises because of several assumptions:

>(1) Social standards are universal and they do not change across

>geographical regions and time.

>(2) Rama's role as the husband is more important than his role as the

>King and as the Judge.

>(3) Sita was very resentful to Rama's actions.

>On what basis can we make judgement on an event that happened thousands

>of years back and that too without all facts! Discussions on such

>questions require the right frame of mind to understand the purpose and

>context of Rama's behavior. If the discussions continue with corrupted

>mind, the Satsang move from peace to chaos. Though social customs and

>beliefs need careful evaluation, but we need to be careful and vigilant

>in conducting the Satsang so that we focus on the Divine virtues of the

>human character Rama. The central focus of Ramayana is to illustrate

>how Rama portrays the True Human Nature through his noble character.