‘All women whether naturally good or not, whether chaste or
unchaste should always be looked upon as images of the blissful Divine Mother.”
says the mystic saint of Bengal, Sri Ramakrishna paramahamsa. Women are considered as the embodiment of
Divine energy or Shakthi. While the Purusha or the male is considered as potential energy,
the female is termed as the kinetic energy. It is her dynamic role under the
supervision of the purusha. It is she that executes the will of the male. Divine Mother is the Primal Energy or Shakti.
She is also called Mahamaya, the great Illusion. She is said to be the cause of
creation, protection and destruction. She has covered us all with the veil of
ignorance. Without Her grace it is impossible to come out of the illusion!
According to sri Ramakrishna, there are two aspects of Divine Shakthi---Vidya
and Avidya. Avidya is the deluder, the enchanter that eggs man on to Kamini and
kanchana—women and gold. It creates attachment from which man cannot wriggle
out.” Woman is not only the housewife but on her depends the glory of the whole
country. That is why we say, “This is our motherland.” remarks Dhagawan Sri Sri
Satya Saibaba.
Woma plays a multiple role in her family.She is companion
and guide to her husband. She is also the first teacher of her childrenShe is
the role model for her children in all respects and a guardian of their health
and sound mind. Indian culture has placed high esteem on women and given them
very high place in society. Names of a few illustrious ancient women are
Anusuya,the spouse of sage Atri,
Lopamudra, Maitryi, Gargi and
others. It is she who molds her children so that they may reach their highest
position in life. “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Is the saying that proves the important part
played by the mother.The word “Ardhangi” in Sanskrit means wife. The exact
meaning is that she is half of the body
of her husband! According to mythology
Lord Siva has given away the left side of his body to his consort Parvathi!
That is why that form of Siva is called “Ardhanariswara” –one who is half
woman. It is in the hands of woman to make her home a veritable paradise or
dismal hell.Woman has tremendous responsibility. She has to bring repute not
only to her family but to that of her parents in law. It is like walking on the
sharp razor’s edge.
What about the modern woman in society? They are competing with man in every field of
activity. They are everywhere in offices, schools, colleges and factories. They
occupy high positions of authority in other fields also. With the advancement
of science and technology, desires have increased and they earn more than men.
They want to stand on their own legs and wish for a comfortable and luxurious
life. In many families both the husband and wife are employed. They have ample
money but their children miss their parents very much. Many women are not in a position
to adjust with work at home and office. There is neither job satisfaction nor
happiness at home. “ The educated woman must utilize her knowledge and skill to
bring up her children into healthy,
virtuous and disciplined youths who may be of use to their country, their
culture and their community Earning money is not the end all of education” asserts
Swami in one of his Divine discourses. (SSS
Vol 10) “ In trying to secure comforts, the office seeker woman achieves only
an emptiness at home.”
Women tenaciously champion of the culture of our country and
keep a check on the vagaries of the moral behavior of their men. They also
inspire men to follow spiritual discipline. They are tender hearted and full of
compassion for the distressed and the hungry. But unfortunately, women have
started aping foreign customs and habits and in the field of fashions they have
even beaten the foreigners! In the name of personal liberty
they have taken to semi naked fashionable dress! They assert that it is their right to dress as
they like and none has the right to question. This is a disturbing trend in the
present. Many Indian women bob their hair and even wipe off the kumkum bindi from their face! There are extreme cases where the woman
removes her mangala sutra, tied by her spouse to the nail on the wall!. “A
vessel of sweetness can be spoiled by a drop of Kerosene. Accept good things
from other cultures, the things that help you to control the vagaries of the
senses , and the mind, to investigate and discriminate more clearly. ”says swami
lovingly to our women! (SSS Vol !0))
Women have a pride of place in society and honored as
Goddess Mahalakshmi at home. she is
considered to be the harbinger of wealth and property! She is also called as “Dharmapatni”
, the one leading her man to Dharma or righteousness! A widower is not eligible
for yagas or sacrifices aod other religious rituals. In the Ramayana, Sri Rama,
in the absence of Sita, had to perform the yaga with the idol of Sita by his side! She helps
man in self realization and progress towards God! Women have equal rights in
achieving bhakthi, Jnana or knowledge and vairagya or non attachment! Happy,
healthy and holy women make the men of the country ‘ hardy, honest and happy. Prakriti or
Nature, the manifestation of God, is feminine in principle. The importance of
the female element is recognized from time immemorial .She is the first and
Purusha is the next and second! Names like Sita Ram, Lakshmi Narayana, Gauri
Sankara establish this fact clearly. Modesty is another asset for woman.
A woman without modesty is looked down upon in society.” The absence of modesty
makes life for a woman, however rich in the accomplishments, a waste and
vacuum. Modesty lifts her to the heights of sublime holiness. The modesty of
woman wields authority in the home and outside, in the community as well in the
world” says Swami in his divine
discourse. (24 10 1965)
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