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Post by cnupne on Nov 5, 2013 14:31:06 GMT 5.5
Phonetic error and Goswami tulsi das ji
We are in the era of using transliteration, a phonetic version to communicate in different language. Some time, the lack of knowledge of that language ruins the vey spirit translation by sending wrong signal. We have to ponder how lord Ganeshji might have given script to the dictation of veda vyas ji. Tulsi das ji was most misunderstood person on account of phonetic error in his epic ram charit manas
ढोल गवार शूद्र पशु नारी सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी!! Dhol Gawar Shudra Pashu Nari Sakal Tadna key Adhikari
This “chaupai” (quatrains) is cited in Sundarkand where Lord Rama is requesting with the vast and mighty sea for a pass-through to Ravana's Lanka. This is probably the most misunderstood “chaupai” of Goswami Tulsidas Ji (1532-1623). The word “ताड़ना” might mean “तारना” or “ताडयेत्” or simply “ताड़ना”. Never a single word has caused such damage to someones reputation as it has done to Tulsidas Ji's.
Depending upon the choice of the meaning of the word “ताड़ना” entire context of the sentence changes. Lets establish how?
If we choose the meaning to be “तारना”, then the meaning of the "chaupai" translates beautifully to:
A Drum, an Illiterate, Poor people (I would not interpret it as Dalit’s), Animals and Women all have the rights to be uplifted.
Considering the ills of society in 15th century it seems apt that Tulsidas ji comapared women with poor people, animals, drum and illiterates, as all of them did not have say over their wishes and destiny. But lot of the modern people would not be happy with Tulsidas ji’s example, but we should keep in mind that the society in 15th century was not what we see today and woman did not have same rights as man (for that matter not even today!!). ANOTHER VERSION ABAILABLE IS
‘Dhol Gawanr Shudra Pashu Nari, Sakal Tadan ke Adhikari’.
It is to be noted that simply pulling out the word woman (‘Nari’) and declaring that Tulsidas told women are ought to be beaten and scolded (‘Tadan ke Adhikari’) as per Hindu society, would be wrong as the sentence contains many other entities and the context too has to be clarified. We will analyse the whole sentence and try to understand what is meant out of it, in context of the situation in the scripture, and as explained by Hindu saints. The above lines are said by the Sea Deity ‘Samudra’ to Lord Rama. When Lord Rama got angry and took out weapon in order to evaporate the whole sea, the deity appeared and said above lines in context of boundaries that are created by God himself in order to hold his creations. Even sea resides in its boundaries and hence to go across it, Rama supervised the construction of famous Rama Setu Bandh the trace of which exists even today. The metaphors are used to convince the reader that matter or non-matter, ignorant or learned, animal or human, all need to understand the importance of boundaries of nature. The exact meaning of the sentences even out of the context goes as:
Let us understand the literary meaning of ‘Tadana’ first. The word is of abstract meaning and can mean many things. Directly it means scolding or commenting so as to keep the conscience intact. Indirectly, it is considered as a boundary of society or family that holds a member of the family or society within its meaning.
‘Dhol’ means drum – it needs to be beaten, but in boundaries of rhythm to produce beauty of music, otherwise it becomes harsh noise.
‘Gawanr’ means ‘Ignorant and illiterate’ – they need to be held in the observed boundary and controllable limits, or else they would create havoc out of means of livelihood.
‘Shudra’ means ‘Worker classes – they need to be guided so that they do not create mess of their work.
‘Pashu’ means animal – they need to be controlled. ‘Nari’ means ‘Woman’ – they need to be kept in the boundary of culture, as they are more important pillar of a house, society and nation than men.
Thus, the complete sentence means within context of the story, as Drum, Ignorant, Illiterates, Animals and Women are ought to respect boundaries, so the sea also has its boundaries in respect and powers should not be forced to destabilize those boundaries – this is what is told by the deity. I wonder, instead of focusing on the real fact about how miles long bridge was constructed in those days over the sea (the bridge now being proven through the images from NASA and carbon dating for its age), a technology not known to modern world, the critics diverts the focus with wrong meanings to defame Indian values.
There are some other explanations too like It is dhor instead of dhol and Tadana does not mean beating. Tadana in hindi also means to rebuke or to chide or to keep in check. so then the actual doha is
Dhor ganwar shudra pashu-nari ye sab tadan ke adhikari
here dhor means animal and this can not be used twice as dhor and pashu. so the actual meaning is Pashu nari means a women who is like animal and is out of control of society. such women needs to be kept in check by Tadna i.e. rebuking
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Post by nilmadhab on Oct 16, 2014 21:08:31 GMT 5.5
I respectfully disagree with this interpretation. Thanks to Sadguru Maharaj, I got to know the real import of this Chaupai.
ढोल गवाँर सूद्र पसु नारी। सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी।। Dhol Ganvar Shudra Pashu Naari, sakal tadna ke adhikari
This chaupai from Ramcharitmanas has often been used by detractors to show the evil face of Hinduism which sanctifies the ill-treatment of women. People have stooped low enough to call Goswami Tulsidas many a name for this alleged diatribe. How wrong could they be!
I have explained the true meaning of this chaupai to many of my friends whenever someone brought it out. However, the general understanding remains poor. Hence, this post!
Let us first look at the context. Samudra, refusing initially to pave way for the vanar sena, bows in to the wishes of Lord Ram out of fear. He requests for forgiveness and it is in this context that he utters these words.
Now, let us look at the import. Samudra calls himself "Dhol Ganvar" or an Illiterate Bucolic who is so busy with his own preoccupations that he cares not for anything that the other person is saying.
Dhol = A percussion instrument. Ganvar = bucolic idiot. Therefore, "Dhol Ganvar" = A bucolic idiot who keeps beating his own drum without heeding to what others may be saying.
He says he is like the "Dhol Ganvar" and therefore deserves punishment (ताड़ना). However, he requests Ram for forgiveness as such idiocy is in his nature.
Let's come to "Shudra Pashu Naari" now. People interpret it as advocating the torture / ill-treatment of Shudras (low-caste people), Pashu (animal) and Naari (women). How wrong could they be!
"Shudra Pashu Naari" means "शुद्र पशुवत आचरण करने वाली नारी", i.e. a women who behaves like a low animal and thus breaks the social order. Thus it refers to married women indulging in fornication with multiple people.
Feminists might find this regressive as well. However, looking at the social mores at that time, such an opinion can hardly be criticized.
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Post by shudrapashunari on Oct 5, 2019 14:53:03 GMT 5.5
Hello,
I would like to disagree respectfully with both of your views and offer an alternate, new and pretty plausible explanation. The great Sri Tulsidas ji was one of the avatars of the Lord himself and knew that he had to be a vehicle of change in society.
So,he did get married and then got so thoroughly insulted by his wife that people would remember it generations later. But, it was all a ruse. He actually wanted to depict the power of a woman by letting his own wife knock him back to his senses. Actually, Sri Bhagwan Tulsidas ji was always looking for the world to read in between the lines. The narrative that he did not get married is absolutely false. He could have just appeared on Earth through his magical powers which made even the Gods visit him so often. But, he chose to come on Earth through a women's womb, and got shown the right path when he was becoming all wobbly and weak like a stupid, love struck, dumb, teenage, useless idiot. There are some accounts of Ratnavali also slapping him smack bang across his face (not once but several times) to remind him of his purpose on Earth. Some of them have compared it to the ringing of bells in a temple when God listens to our prayers, similarly her extremely swift one handed repeated striking across the Swami's face definitely left his face swollen, but to the neutral observer, it marked the end of all that was dark- Tulsidas' mediocrity, ignorance and selfishness. Some accounts also talk of the great Ratnavali taking the form of Durga for a second as the Swami was still reeling from those slaps across his face. In such a form, Durga Ma smiled at him because this was her way of teaching the world and Swami ji an important lesson- we should never forget where we come from. Hence, despite his great love for his wife, the Swamiji always consciously maintained a very safe distance from her because he wanted to prove to the Goddess of his devotion and how he would sacrifice his own selfish desires to be with her and use his time instead to become a vehicle of change for mankind. Such is the greatness of Goddess Durga.
The poor Tulsidas ji is also criticized by society when he says shudra pashu nari. That criticism can only come from men who haven't taken the trouble to get to know the Swamiji.
Any devout Tulsidas ji bhakt would tell you what a profound impact the Devi had on him. (Honestly, we could use Durga Ma's avatars today to put a few hooligan boys in their places. Or even if Tulsidas ji could recount how one slap saved his soul...he would happily oblige) Tulsidas from the day he sought the blessing of the one and only Ratnavali knew something greater than mankind itself. He carried the secret to our harmony. It was to be brought about by a complete renaissance of our souls which were rotting everyday through the systematic culture in which all young men were become prostitutes for lack of a better word. What else do you call men who run from woman to woman seeking fulfillment when all they are running from is themselves because they know that they have started resembling the plague that was threatening civilization in that day and age. Men started thinking that they had the audacity to discipline other species and most remarkably, the rest 50% of their own species too. For those who remember what Krishna did to Arjuna when his ego had reached its zenith ca now understand the story better. Men and boys in our society had to learn some new manners but to teach them our very own Maharaj would have to take the lead. To teach the world the value of forgiveness, Jesus Christ got himself crucified. Similarly, Tulsidas ji started raising issues which conflicted man. He said shudra pashu nari in no direct context to either one of the three species. He was being SARCASTIC and using these three as symbols to tell man how useless he has become. So, when he tells the doha he makes man introspection about the fact that he has become absolutely redundant. All manual labor and actual hard work was driven by the shudras or in other words the oppressed and under paid and under appreciated masses. The animals bore the horror of man's cruelty and still continued to enrich his life by feeding him. And lastly, the woman where he got his identity is now being seen as something he can rise above, dictate and control. This is a subtle warning from the Gods that as the waves can ask Rama to bend to them, so should man recognize his folly and make amends immediately or else his end would probably not even be as pleasant as that of several Asuras.
Hope people understand the true motive of Tulsidas ji now and never misunderstand him again.
Jai Mata Di.
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