Hindu Women

Hindu womanAccording to Hindu scriptures, men and women are both equal but in practice, women are considered inferior to men. This is mainly because of the socioeconomic conditions in India. Many people blame this to Hinduism, but the Hindu religion is not responsible for this. In ancient times, Hindu women enjoyed a very good status in society. There was no child marriage, Sati, or restrictions on education but this status deteriorated with time mainly because of security concerns from foreign invaders and internal conflicts. Some of the unscrupulous foreign invaders used rape as a weapon against Hindus. It had become impossible for Hindu girls to move out of the house. This resulted in restrictions on the activities of Hindu women. Evil traditions like child marriage and Sati also might have started because of this insecurity. In recent years after independence as things have normalized from the security point of view and because of modern education, Hindu women are coming out of the house and have established a significant presence in this world. There has been a gradual shift in the attitudes of Hindu males towards women and Hindu women are getting more freedom than they used to get before.

Now a day, Hindu women are not limited to the family only but they are very ambitious about their career. Many Hindu women are CEOs of big businesses. They are active in every field of life including politics, cinema, army, software industry, etc. She has started taking seriously her career as males. She is doing her job responsibly on both fronts of career and family.

Women in Hinduism:

In Hinduism, the chastity of a woman is of utmost importance. A woman must always maintain her chastity and guard her virtue. The same thing applies to men also but in practice, this thing is overlooked. Premarital and/or extramarital sex is not allowed both for Hindu men and women. It is a matter of debate whether widow marriage was allowed during ancient times or not but during medieval times, it was prohibited. Now a day, Hindu woman does get remarried after the death of her husband but still orthodox people do not agree with it. Her husband and her family top her priority. Child marriages are prohibited by law now. A Hindu woman gets an equal share in the ancestral property as her brothers by Hindu law. The life of a man is said to be incomplete except for his wife. A married woman is called Ardhangini (half part of a male’s body) of the husband. The main Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, is depicted as half part male and half part female. This form of him is called as Ardhanarinateshwar.

Clothing for Hindu women:

Sari is considered as an official clothing of Hindu women, but in general, the clothes which cover most of the parts of the body are considered as good. The dressings change from region to region. Punjabi dresses, Saris, Ghagra Choli, Salwar Kameez, lehengas, etc. are very common. Modern Hindu women also wear jeans, T-shirts, skirts, tops, etc.

What Hindu scriptures Say About Hindu women?

According to Hindu scriptures, men and women are equal. Nobody is superior or inferior for each other. The same soul dwells in men and women. The discrimination we find in Hindu society is not based on Hinduism but it is based on socioeconomic conditions.

There are mentions of women saints in Upanishads who were highly revered. In Rig-Veda, there are many sarcastic remarks on polygamy which indicates that polygamy is prohibited by Hinduism.

“Where women are honored, there the Gods are pleased. But where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards.” Manu Smriti 3.56

Worshipping The Womanhood:

Hindus worship goddesses like Parvati, Amba, Durga, Kali, and other female deities since ancient times. This trend can be linked to Indus Valley Civilization when people used to worship Mother Goddess. Shaktism is a sect of Hinduism, which focuses on the worship of a female goddess called Devi. Shaktism believes Devi is the Supreme God, which is one of its kinds in the history of mankind.

The Position of Hindu Women During the Vedic Period:

There were no evil practices such as Sati or child marriages. In several Vedic schools, there were women graduates. The caste system was not based upon birth; hence, there were no restrictions on marriages. The position of a widow was satisfactory. The widow was allowed to get married to the dead husband’s brother. If she did not have a son, she was allowed to get it through Niyoga. Niyoga was not compulsory. The status of women was very high in society. Utmost importance was given to the character of both men and women.

The Laws Concerning Women in Manu-Smriti:

13.1 Always dependent

By a girl, by a young woman, or even by an aged one, nothing must be done independently, even in her own house. [5.147.]

In childhood a female must be subject to her father, in youth to her husband, when her lord is dead to her sons; a woman must never be independent. [5.148.]

She must not seek to separate herself from her father, husband, or sons; by leaving them she would make both (her own and her husband’s) families contemptible. [5.149.]

She must always be cheerful, clever in (the management of her) household affairs, careful in cleaning her utensils, and economical in expenditure. [5.150.]

Him to whom her father may give her, or her brother with the father’s permission, she shall obey as long as he lives, and when he is dead, she must not insult (his memory). [5.151.]

For the sake of procuring good fortune to (brides), the recitation of benedictory texts (svastyayana), and the sacrifice to the Lord of creatures (Prajapati) are used at weddings; (but) the betrothal (by the father or guardian) is the cause of (the husband’s) dominion (over his wife). [5.152.]

The husband who wedded her with sacred texts, always gives happiness to his wife, both in season and out of season, in this world and the next. [5.153.]

13.2 Worships and obeys the husband.

Though destitute of virtue, or seeking pleasure (elsewhere), or devoid of good qualities, (yet) a husband must be constantly worshipped as a god by a faithful wife. [5.154.]

No sacrifice, no vow, no fast must be performed by women apart (from their husbands); if a wife obeys her husband, she will for that (reason alone) be exalted in heaven. [5.155.]

A faithful wife, who desires to dwell (after death) with her husband, must never do anything that might displease him who took her hand, whether he be alive or dead. [5.156.]

13.3 Faithful to her deceased husband

At her pleasure let her emaciate her body by (living on) pure flowers, roots, and fruit; but she must never even mention the name of another man after her husband has died. [5.157.]

Until death let her be patient (of hardships), self-controlled, and chaste, and strive (to fulfill) that most excellent duty which (is prescribed) for wives who have one husband only. [5.158.]

Many thousands of Brahmanas who were chaste from their youth have gone to heaven without continuing their race. [5.159.]

A virtuous wife who after the death of her husband constantly remains chaste, reaches heaven, though she has no son, just like those chaste men. [5.160.]

But a woman who from a desire to have offspring violates her duty towards her (deceased) husband, brings on herself disgrace in this world, and loses her place with her husband (in heaven). [5.161.]

13.4 Non-virtuous behavior

Offspring begotten by another man is here not (considered lawful), nor (does offspring begotten) on another man’s wife (belong to the begetter), nor is a second husband anywhere prescribed for virtuous women. [5.162.]

She who cohabits with a man of a higher caste, forsaking her husband who belongs to a lower one, will become contemptible in this world and is called a remarried woman (parapurva). [5.163.]

By violating her duty towards her husband, a wife is disgraced in this world, (after death) she enters the womb of a jackal and is tormented by diseases (the punishment of) her sin. [5.164.]

She who, controlling her thoughts, words, and deeds, never slights her lord, resides (after death) with her husband (in heaven), and is called a virtuous (wife). [5.165.]

In reward of such conduct, a female who controls her thoughts, speech, and actions, gains in this (life) highest renown, and in the next (world) a place near her husband. [5.166.]

A twice-born man, versed in the sacred law, shall burn a wife of an equal caste who conducts herself thus and dies before him, with (the sacred fires used for) the Agnihotra, and with the sacrificial implements. [5.167.]

Having thus, at the funeral, given the sacred fires to his wife who dies before him, he may marry again, and again kindle (the fires). [5.168.]

(Living) according to the (preceding) rules, he must never neglect the five (great) sacrifices, and, having taken a wife, he must dwell in (his own) house during the second period of his life. [5.169.]

The Honor of Women According to Manu-Smriti:

No father who knows (the law) must take even the smallest gratuity for his daughter; for a man who, through avarice, takes a gratuity, is a seller of his offspring. [3.51.]

But those (male) relations who, in their folly, live on the separate property of women, (e.g. appropriate) the beasts of burden, carriages, and clothes of women, commit sin and will sink into hell. [3.52.]

Some call the cow and the bull (given) at an Arsha wedding ‘a gratuity;’ (but) that is wrong, since (the acceptance of) a fee, be it small or great, is a sale (of the daughter). [3.53.]

When the relatives do not appropriate (for their use) the gratuity (given), it is not a sale; (in that case) the (gift) is only a token of respect and kindness towards the maidens. [3.54.]

Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands, and brothers-in-law, who desire (their own) welfare. [3.55.]

Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards. [3.56.]

Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers. [3.57.]

The houses on which female relations, not being duly honored, pronounce a curse, perish completely as if destroyed by magic. [3.58.]

Hence men who seek (their own) welfare, should always honor women on holidays and festivals with (gifts of) ornaments, clothes, and (dainty) food. [3.59.]

In that family, where the husband is pleased with his wife and the wife with her husband, happiness will assuredly be lasting. [3.60.]

For if the wife is not radiant with beauty, she will not attract her husband; but if she has no attractions for him, no children will be born. [3.61.]

If the wife is radiant with beauty, the whole house is bright; but if she is destitute of beauty, all will appear dismal. [3.62.]

Famous Indian Hindu Women:

1. Rani Laxmibai.

2. Ahilya Devi Holkar.

3. Indira Gandhi.

4. Lata Mangeshkar.

5. Jijabai.

More Articles:

Sex and Hinduism

If You Like This Article, Then Please Share It