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THE HIGH STATUS OF OUR WOMEN.
Those who complain that women have no right to perform sacrifices on
their own must remember that men too have no right to the same without a wife. If they knew this truth they would not make the allegation that Hindu sastras look down upon women.
Those who complain that women have no right to perform sacrifices on
their own must remember that men too have no right to the same without a wife. If they knew this truth they would not make the allegation that Hindu sastras look down upon women.
A man can perform sacrifices only with his wife. He does
them for the well being of all mankind and for his own inner purity. It is for this purpose that, after the samavartana following the completion of his student bachelorhood, he goes through the samskara called marriage.
them for the well being of all mankind and for his own inner purity. It is for this purpose that, after the samavartana following the completion of his student bachelorhood, he goes through the samskara called marriage.
Marriage or vivaha is known as "saha—dharma—carini—samprayoga‘. It
means (roughly) union with a wife together with whom a man practises dharma.
The clear implication is that carnal pleasure is not its chief purpose, but the pursuit of dharma. The sastras do not ask a man to ..
means (roughly) union with a wife together with whom a man practises dharma.
The clear implication is that carnal pleasure is not its chief purpose, but the pursuit of dharma. The sastras do not ask a man to ..
...pursue dharma all by himself but
require him to take a helpmate for it.
The wife is called "dharma—patnr‘‘, "saha—dharma—carini", thus underlining her connection with dharma, and not with kama or sensual pleasre. Here is prf of the high esteem in wch the sastras hold wmn.
require him to take a helpmate for it.
The wife is called "dharma—patnr‘‘, "saha—dharma—carini", thus underlining her connection with dharma, and not with kama or sensual pleasre. Here is prf of the high esteem in wch the sastras hold wmn.
The celibate student and the ascetic alike follw the dhrma of thr rspctv asramas (stages of life) nt in associatn with any1 else. The householdr has to cndct the karma as well as the dhrma of domstc life with his wife as a companion, such being the rule laid dwn in the sastras.
The dharma of domstic life is thr common property. Only a householder with a wife may prfrm sacrifices, nt studnt bachlrs nd ascetics. If the wife were mnt only fr sensual gratification, would the b dharmasastras hv insisted that a man cannot perform sacrifices after her death?
Women‘s libbers, who note that a woman cannot perform a sacrifice on her own, must also recognise the fact that the husband loses the right for the same without the wife and this is according to the Vedas themselves. ("Patnivatasya agnihotram bhavati.")
A great man lamented
thus at the time of his wife‘s death: "You have taken away all my sacrifices as well as other rituals."
Our sastras have thus given a high place to women in the matter of duties and works.
thus at the time of his wife‘s death: "You have taken away all my sacrifices as well as other rituals."
Our sastras have thus given a high place to women in the matter of duties and works.
