19 November - Ladies Day

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19 November - Ladies Day

This Bharat (India) is the land of sanctity and chastity, which has given birth

to such great women of exceptional character, who lent glory to Bharat as a

nation of heroic women. From ancient times, the presiding deity of Gayathri

Mantra, Gayathri Devi, has been worshipped as the Mother of the Vedas, which

are held as the most ancient and authoritative scriptures of wisdom. The

Gayathri Mantra originated in this holy land. The glory of this mantra has

spread all over the world. The people of Bharat have worshiped Gayathri in

several ways and have redeemed their lives. Gayathri has been worshipped in

four forms: (1) Sathyavathi (2) Angavathi (3) Anyavathi (4) Nidhanavathi. All

four are equally sacred and elicit limitless the grace of the Divine. The world

is symbolized by these four forms of Gayathri. That is why ithe world is

described as nature (prakriti), a female form (sthree). We refer to our native

country as the motherland. The woman at home has been held in high esteem as

the "goddess of prosperity of the home (grihalakshmi)". When her husband faces

difficulties, the wife readily shares the burden and is prepared to do

anything, undergo any suffering, or even sacrifice her life for the welfare of

her husband and family. It is the woman of the home who is behind the home's

good reputation. The woman is the embodiment of sacrifice. Though the male

counterpart may also do sacrifice, it will be with a selfish tinge, while

woman's sacrifice is absolutely selfless. Therefore, we should be proud of our

women. Women devotees in Sai Movement are participating in large numbers

enthusiastically in service activities such as helping the women of weaker

sections to learn some useful trades like tailoring, so that they can earn some

money for the family and also spend their time usefully. If such activities are

taken up all over the country, the country will prosper. This sacred work is

typical of the culture of our ancient country. Women are the heirs of our

ancient culture. Culture means refinement. Women are the torch-bearers of

refinement, and they are toiling for the emancipation of the nation. In order

to teach the subtleties of the scriptural texts and encourage women to play

their role in society, 19 November is fixed as Woman's (Mahila) Day. Dharma can

be made to occupy its position in society and restored to its pristine glory

only by women.

Divine Discourse: 19 April 1998

A married lady has many great titles like "righteous wife (dharma patni)",

"goddess of the house (grihalakshmi), "lady of the house", and "equal partner

of the husband (ardhaangi)". These titles have more value than socially

recognized titles like "padma bhushan'"and "given by the Government (padma

vibhushan)". A lady must look after the home first and then work outside, if

necessary. A house without a mother is like an empty hall of a temple

(choultry). A lady should be an ideal to her children, look after her husband,

and then do outside work. She can study, get degrees, enter politics, or do any

other work, but she should not neglect the home, which is the very foundation of

her life. The husband and wife are equally responsible for establishing harmony

in the home. But times have

changed. Womanly ideals are not being practiced, and there are no ideal men and

women today. That is why the world is in such a sorry state.

Divine Discourse: 19 November 1997

 

 

It is not my view that women should not get educated. They should have

education. You may also take up jobs. But they should live up to the

obligations and glory of womanhood. The first title given to a woman is the

goddess of home (grihalakshmi). A woman is expected to confer all prosperity,

honor, and good name on the home and the family. She is characterized as

home-Lakshmi and not office-Lakshmi. Another title for a woman is the better

half (ardhaangi). This means she is the better half of the husband and not a

partner in his job. The third title is the mistress of the Home (illalu). She

is the mistress in the house and not in the office. Dharmapathni is the fourth

title conferred on a married woman. This implies that the home is the dwelling

for all righteousness. The home is the birth place of all the rules of right

conduct

(dharmas) hallowed by usage from ancient times.

What we have to safeguard and protect today are truth and righteousness, and not

the nation. When truth and righteousness are protected, they will protect the

nation. Hence, righteousness should be fostered in the home. A home is no

trivial place. The home is the abode of dharma. which protects and safeguards

the country. The home is the beacon that illumines and sustains the world.

Women should realize that, regardless of their education or position, their

foremost obligation is to protect the home. Consider, for instance, this fact.

There any number of women have tried to bring back their dead husbands or to

venerate their memory. How many men have done likewise for their wives? Many

hasten to acquire a second wife. Wherever women are honored, there is

prosperity and happiness. Women should never be slighted or treated with

disrespect. A home in which the housewife sheds tears will be bereft of all

prosperity. This is the ancient conception of the role of women in the home.

Divine Discourse: 19 November 1996

Man is the chosen one in this whole world teeming with millions and millions of

creation. Woman is very superior in the whole creation including man. There are

many examples to prove that woman is really superior. Is it not because of the

boons granted to Kausalya in the form of giving birth to Divine that Rama

became famous and worshiped as God? Is it not by Seethaa's fostering and

rearing that the twins Kusa and Lava became so great? Again, Shivaji became

great and valorous because of the upbringing of his mother, Jijabai. Gandhi

gained reputation and fame because of encouragement from his mother Puthlibai.

Several great sages (rishis), warriors, various heroes, and wicked people were

also born from the womb of the mother. That mother is the very embodiment of

nature (prakriti). The Gayatri is the very source of all Vedas. Gayatri is the

embodiment of woman (sthree). Veda is the mother. When we see all these things,

we feel that the woman has got a very high place; her birth is something very

great and virtuous. The woman has been praised by the Vedas throughout the past

and the present. The woman has an exalted place in the various rituals of the

ancient times like, vaidika pooja, vaidika upasana and vaidika aradhana. The

house becomes a forest when the woman is not there. Men have to think today

that they should not make the women shed tears. They should respect and revere

them. Then only will there be prosperity and happiness. Wherever the women shed

tears, that house will go to ruin. Men have to carry on their lives by

respecting and revering women to the extent possible. The woman with nine

different powers is the very embodiment of Adhi Sakthi. Sabda Brahmamayi,

Charaacharamayi, Jyotirmayi, Vaangmayi, Nithyanandamayi, Paraatparamayi,

Maayaamayi, and Sreemayi are the names given to women. This principle is

nectarine. So the woman has got the worthy name sthree. Women have the strength

of mind and the courage to fight for the country and bring about harmony and

peace. So Valmiki ,who described women in many ways, said that women are the

very embodiment of sweetness. What is the main reason for this sweetness? It is

the quality of sacrifice in her that makes it sweet. The mother is prepared to

go to any length and sacrifice for the sake of the children. She will sacrifice

even her life to protect her children. This sense of sacrifice is there only in

the women. The father will say it is alright when the children are suffering

from some disease. The mother tries hard to protect them. The quality of

sacrifice causes her to be known as the embodiment of sacrifice. Mother is the

very foundation of everything. A ma óAmmaó is the very first word. Therefore,

she is called mother-god (matrudevi). The four important sayings in the culture

of Bharat (India) are "revere the mother as God (matru devo bhava)", "revere the

father as God (pitru devo bhava)", "revere the guru as God (acharya devo

bhava)", and "revere the guest as God (aathiti devo bhava)". The mother gives

birth to the children. She shows the father. Nobody has the authority to show

the father. Only the mother has the authority to show the father. Then the

father shows the guru. The guru leads the child to God. This is the ancient

tradition and culture of Bharat (India). We say that this world is full of

discord. From where has this discord come? It has come from within. So every

time we celebrate Ladies Day (sthree dina) on November 19, we should propagate

this type of thought. Not only should good thoughts be propagated, but they

should start right at the home. You should train the children with good

thoughts. You have to remain peaceful even if the husband is wicked. This is an

auspicious day, dedicated for women. If women change, men will definitely

change. Women should take to the right path. Then men will also take to the

right path. Because the women can be a leader, she shares half the body of the

man. She can change the men either today or tomorrow if she has good thoughts.

So women should inculcate compassion, love, and sacrifice. There is no quality

greater than sacrifice. Divine Discourse: 19 November 1995

 

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