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Post by darshini on Sept 3, 2012 13:41:23 GMT 5.5
The duality of man-woman was created right at the beginning of the creation of the universe. Certain qualities and certain actions are naturally associated with every creation of the Lord. We should not interfere with this principle of creation; rather we should act in accordance with it. All actions that go against these principles, though they may seem to be successful in the beginning, turn pernicious later.
Man and Woman, who are a part of creation, are endowed with certain qualities common to both and certain others unique to each gender. For example, “sthyaayathi garbho asyaamithi’ – Motherhood is unique to women. This cannot be changed, nor is womanhood to be considered inferior because of this.
The Vedas refer to the mother first – “Maatru Devo Bhava” – and only then refer to the father – “Pitru Devo Bhava. The Vedas also show how a woman, who enters into a big family (consisting of relatives such as mother-in-law, father-in-law and brother-in-law) after marriage, should lead her life: “May you be the Empress, the Protectress of all your kin, such as the father-in-law, in your marital home.”
Samraajnee shvasure bhava – samraajnee shvashruvaam bhava Nanaandari samrajnee bhava samrajnee adhidevrushu||
It may even be appropriate to claim that the Sanaatana Hindu Dharma accords more importance and honour to a woman than to a man.
The life of a householder (grihasthaashrama) is like a chariot. The husband and wife are its two wheels. Women have a greater role to play in the performance of the rites of a householder.
“Yatra naaryastu poojyante ramante tatra devataaha|” (The Gods rejoice in the household where women are venerated.) “Piturdashagunam gauravenaatirichyate|” (The mother is more worthy of respect than the father.)
The house is called “graham” after the ‘grihini’ who is the Lakshmi of the household (Grihalakshmi) and the deity of the household (Grihadevataa). (Na gruham gruhamithyaahuhu grihinee gruhamuchyate.)
The smrithis say that the husband is to earn the money for the upkeep of the household and hand it over to the wife. The wife must spend it appropriately. She is responsible for saving some of it for future use, and for using it to do charitable deeds, to provide peace and comfort to the husband, and to entertain guests. It is also her duty to provide and safeguard the materials needed to maintain the grihastaashrama.
Does this not go to show that a woman was not treated as an object of pleasure but as a companion and associate in all aspects of life?
The greatness of women has been extolled thus in the Sanatana Dharma, in Hinduism. Our Vedas and Shastras hold not merely that a woman is equal to man but rather that a woman is greater than man.
Without a proper understanding of all this, we are influenced by what foreigners, who have a mere nodding acquaintance with our culture, say and people from our own community find fault with our culture.
Whenever we talk of rights we must also remember responsibilities. Those should not be forgotten. Our ancestors have laid down clearly the roles and responsibilities of everyone. All our problems have stemmed from the fact that we have ignored this and have begun to act as we please. Issues, thus, become complicated.Source :SRI KAMAKOTI PRADIPAM
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Post by subi24 on Sept 4, 2012 8:23:01 GMT 5.5
Very nicely compiled and presented by Darshini! Hindu traditions rever the feminine. Since the dawn of times, Hindus have venerated the feminine element under its different manifestations. Mahalakshmi, Mahakaali, Mahasaraswati, Maheshwari - and even India as "Mother India."
It is only the Vedic tradition that provides, even at the conceptual level, male and female principles working together, hand in hand, as equal partners in the universe. This concept is carried further to its logical climax in the form of Ardhanaareeswara, of Shiva and Shakthi in one body, each occupying one half of the body, denoting that one is incomplete without the other. One might laugh at it, not believe in it - but what is to be appreciated is the underlying concept of providing equality to women even in a physical body. Perhaps, many know the commonly recited slokham "Yakundentu Dusharahaara... " . Just one line in it is enough to show how Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped by "Yaa Brahma Achyuta Sankara Prabhrudibihi Devaissadaa Poojithaa", which means, 'Saraswati who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other Gods'.
In the Vedic literatures mother Earth is personified as the Goddess Bhoomi, or Prithvi. She is the abundant mother who showers her mercy on her children. Besides Goddesses, we have also numerous saints who are women. Maatha Sarada Devi, Maatha Amrutanandamayee, Maatha Karunamayee are some examples.
The Manu Smriti places women on a high pedestal as evidenced by the following quotes:
"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 happy 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)
" Hence men who seek their own welfare, should always honor women on holidays and festivals with gifts of ornaments, clothes, and dainty food." (Manu Smriti III, 59)
The idea of equality amongst men and women is most forcibly expressed in the Rig Veda (hymn 61. verse 8) that says: "The wife and husband, being the equal halves of one substance, are equal in every respect; therefore both should join and take equal parts in all work, religious and secular."
To my knowledge, no other scripture of the world has ever given to women such equality and respect with men as the ancient Vedas.
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Post by anusham163 on Sept 6, 2012 20:01:53 GMT 5.5
Very nice article. In this context, let us recall what Mahaperiava had stated on this subject.We will read in His own words. பெண்களின் உயர்ந்த ஸ்தானம். ஸ்த்ரிகளுக்கு தாமாக யக்ஞம் பண்ண அதிகரமில்லை என்பதை மட்டும் பார்த்து ஆட்சேபணை பண்ணுகிறவர்கள்,பத்னி இல்லாத புருஷனுக்கு யக்ஞம் செய்கிற அதிகரமில்லை என்கிற விஷயத்தையும் கவனித்தால் ஹிந்து சாஸ்திரம் பெண்களை மட்டம் தட்டுகிறது என்று சொல்ல மாட்டார்கள்………. ……….விவாஹத்துக்கு “ஸஹதர்ம சாரிணி ஸம்ப்ரயோகம்” என்று பேர்.அதாவது” தன்னோடுகூட தர்மத்தை நடத்திக்காட்டுகிறவளோடு பெறூகிற உத்தமமான சேர்க்கை” என்று அர்த்தம்.அதாவது, இந்த்ரிய சுகம் இதில் முக்ய லக்ஷியமில்லை. லோகத்தில் தர்மங்களை அனுஷ்டிப்பதுதான் லக்ஷியம். அதைத் தனியாக அனுஷ்டிக்க சொல்லவில்லை. அதற்குத் துணையாக ஒரு ஸ்த்ரீயைகச் சேர்த்துக்கொள்ளும்படி சாஸ்திரம் சொல்கிறது. “தர்ம பத்தினி” ஸஹதர்ம சாரிணி” என்பதாகப் பெண்டாட்டியை தர்மத்தோடு ஸம்பந்தப் படுத்தித்தான் சொல்லி இருக்கிறதே தவிர,காமத்தோடு அல்ல. இதிலிருந்து சாஸ்திரங்களில் ஸ்த்ரீகளுக்குக் கொடுத்துள்ள உயர்ந்த மதிப்பைப் புரிந்து கொள்ளலாம். பத்னீ இல்லாத புருஷக்கு யக்ஞம் செய்கிற அதிகாரமஇல்லை என்று ஹிந்து சாஸ்த்ரம் விதித்திருக்கிறது. தர்மத்துக்கும் கர்மத்துக்கும் கை கொடுப்பவளாக அப்படிப்பட்ட ஒரு உயர்ந்த ஸ்தானம் நம்முடைய சாஸ்த்ரங்களீல் கொடுக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.( தெய்வத்தின் குரல்---2nd vol, page852).
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Post by brindavankanchi on Sept 7, 2012 17:44:55 GMT 5.5
There is yet another greater explanation offered by Maha Periyavaa on this subject. If you read D.Kuram Vol 6, on Soundarya Lahari, here is what you may find. (This is a jist of what is said in D.KURAL, and not a verbatim transalation.) The first line is SHIVA SHAHTYA YUKTO SHIVA makes a very interesting reading. In SHIVA the letter "I" or "E" represents SHAKTI. You remove "I", Shiva becomes SHVA meaning dead body. Hence the importance of women. In the very word ‘Shiva’ there is the vowel ‘i’ along with the consonant ‘sh’. The vowels ‘I’ (as in ‘feel’) and ‘i’ (as in ‘fit’) are themselves names of ambaal. All consonants are letters pertaining to Shiva and all vowels pertain to Shakti. This is a general rule. In addition the letters ‘I’ and ‘i’ are supposed to be the very forms of ambaal. Just as the actionless immutable brahman has a symbolic praNava or ‘Om’, so also the brahman coupled with Shakti, the kArya-brahman, has a symbolic seed letter called the praNava of Shiva-Shakti. And in that praNava, the letter corresponding to Shakti is ‘I’. www.krishnamurthys.com/profvk/gohitvip/DPDS06-10.html
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Post by sbalasubramanian on Sept 8, 2012 11:48:20 GMT 5.5
shree maha periva thiruvadigal charanam
shree shiva shivashakthi iykkya swaroopini shree matha maha periva lalithambika NAMASTHE
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Post by athmapremprakash on Sept 8, 2012 22:14:26 GMT 5.5
jaya jaya sankara hara hara sankara
good information
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