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26-Women and Ved-2

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26-Women and Vaidik Rites

The following three are essential prescription for Vaidik rites:
1. Tuft
2. Panch Kachcham
3. Upaveet

Women obviously cannot shave their head to have tuft (there is no Chowlaa Sanskaar prescribed for girls) nor can they wear a white cloth (because Sumangalee have to wear a beautiful colored cloth) nor they can wear an Upaveetam (because there is no Upanayan Sanskaar prescribed for them).

Based on the biological and physiological differences, it is difficult for women to follow many practices prescribed - like in the Apar Karm (for the deceased) - the Kartaa performs this Sanskaar with only one Vastra tied to his waist. Is it possible for women?
Like wise, Tarpan or changing the position of Upaveetam or replacing the Upaveetam, etc., it is not possible for women and these practices and procedures are taking into physiology of men.

How can a woman wear only a dear skin and dedicate her life for protecting and propagating Ved when she is biologically and physiologically created for other jobs.

Will not tantamount to transgress the Supreme command if we do not fulfill what is expected of us with whatever human body we have been bestowed by Almighty?

If the ultimate goal is to find the Truth or to achieve the purpose of Birth, it is sufficient if we perform our duties to our best, which we are expected to, discharge our responsibilities and dedicate the fruit of action to the Lord who will take care of us. Will He not know when to enlighten us? What we need to do is to expect nothing from the Supreme and leave everything to It's will keep making efforts in the right direction.

As I said Ved are need to studied, it is for those only who are endowed with that responsibility and if they don't do it, they take longer to achieve the goal of oneness with God, while it is unnecessary for those who have not been prescribed to learn Ved.
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1. Siddhaant Kaumudee or Ashtaadhyaayee are Grammar books. They are not Vaidik authorities. There are more than 20 known Grammar books (how many existed before is not known); Paanini is considered in the recent times. Naaraayan Bhaatadri, the author of Naaraayaneeyam, is a great Grammarian and has himself formulated rules of grammar at many places over ruling Paanini by logic and sense.

2. There are Mantra which have to be recited by women only, even in our marriage there are portions of Mantra which only the bride has to recite. This in no way amounts to study of Ved.

3. Yagya Tattwa - means import of Yagya; Shiv Naam Braahmanee Ved means knower of / fully realized Shiv Naam as Brahm Tattwa, the Taatparya in Mahaabhaarat is - women should know the import of Ved like Draupadee, Taittireeya Braahaman Yagya Tattwa Prakaashanee - means the knower of import of Yagya. Many of the names described Saavitree etc, though resembling Puraan characters are all celestials, women Rishi Patnee have learnt the import or they themselves are the Mantra Drashtaa is different ; because there were some Mantra contributed by some of the Rishi Patnee who by their virtues captured these Mantra from space, doesn't have the logic all women should or eligible are to study Ved.

At this rate, those who perceive differentiation of women in study of Ved might also seek to equal women by asking men to conceive, may not be a wonder. At no point of time men and women can become equal biologically (barring eunuchs); if equal, then they come to a stage neither they can be called men or women. How do we equal the biology which Nature has created ? Equal or greater status than men for women is acceptable when situation warrants and permitted by Shaastra, but not in everything in the absolute sense. By striving to make men and women equal in all will mean endangering the Creation.
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Madaalasaa, a Gyaanvatee, person with Gyaan, was a queen. She did not study Ved. She sang the Verses of A-Dwait to put to sleep her baby son. Her singing was not simply pronouncing the words, but being a Gyaanvatee the verses sung to the baby were themselves a teaching on Aatmaa, the Self. The son grew up as a Gyaanvaan.Her second and third sons, Madaalasaa delivered, also grew-up as Gyaanvaan, because they were also given Gyaanopadesh through the verses sung by Madaalasaa while putting them to sleep when they were babies.

The King was worried as no one is available to care of the Kingdom after his rule, hence he requested Madaalasaa not to make her next son Gyaanvaan. Madaalasaa agreed and their fourth son grew-up and took over the Kingdom after his education and learning of all arts, crafts, skills and Shaastra meant for a king. He became a king and administered the kingdom very well. Towards the end of his reign the three brothers upon compassion decided to elevate the King by their teaching and the King also became a Gyaanvaan.

Bhaarat had such mothers who did not study Ved but were able to make their sons / daughters endowed with Gyaan.

Anasooyaa, the mother of Dattaatreya, by her conduct transformed the Tri-Moorti Devtaa - Brahmaa, Vishnu and Shiv into babies and fed them. She did not go to any Ved Paathshaalaa to study Ved. Kannakee by her chastity could burn the city of Madurai (Tamilnaadu), she did not study Ved. Paanchaalee, Seetaa, and Mandodaree are all praised for their virtuous conduct and merely thinking of them every morning would have purificatory effect as per elders.

There are innumerable examples in our Itihaas and Puraan where exemplary women reached exalted state by their virtuous conduct alone and not by studying Ved; That said those who are entitled for Vaidik studies if they don't do it is relegation of their duty. Therefore, as far as possible whatever we know in Ved or Vaidik rites let's perform them sincerely and repent for not discharging fully our duty enshrined on us and pray God for forgive and redemption.

There are some 57 women who have written about 60% of Ved Richaa.

Women are in no way inferior to men; as a matter of fact nothing / no one is inferior or superior, if we understand and lead life as given to us and observe our duty faithfully and sincerely assigned to us.

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 04/14/13