Hinduism and Woman

by Suyeshadebalina

Hindus worship women as Goddesses. There is no other religion which A scholarly woman, the entire life of society depends upon you. You provide us the right knowledge. May you bring knowledge to all segments of societworships female.

Women are accorded the utmost respect in Hinduism.One can proudly assert that there is perhaps few other texts world that accords so much of respect and rights to women.

Hinduism gave the status of Mother to a woman through thoughts, words & action- regardless of age, caste, religion, geography etc.

This is because of a woman act as the mother in a variety to ways beyond biological motherhood. Family and society become worth civilized living in the presence of a woman.Different Hindu Goddess represent different qualities and role.

Devi (female God) is one of the main deities in Hinduism.

In the Rigveda, the most prominent goddess is Ushas, the goddess of dawn. In modern Hinduism, goddesses are widely revered. Shaktism is one of the major sects of Hinduism. Followers of Shaktism believe that the goddess (Devi) is the power (Shakti) that underlies the female principle and that Devi is the supreme being, one and the same with Para Brahman.

Some different Devis are:-

  • Hindu Goddess Durga symbolizes the divine forces (positive energy) known as divine shakti (feminine energy/ power) that is used against the negative forces of evil and wickedness. She protects her devotees from evil powers and safeguards them.

  • Hindu goddess Laxmi is the goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity. She is the wife and shakti (energy) of Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism and the Supreme Being in the Vaishnavism Tradition.

  • Hindu Goddess Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning.

  • Kali (a form of Parvati) as Bhadrakali, an auspicious form of Kali and Bharavi/Chamundikeshwari often known as Chandi, as a ferocious form
  • Bhumi, the mother Earth known as Prithvi and second wife of Lord Vishnu.
  • Gayatri, the supreme life-giving goddess and second wife of Lord Brahma
  • Ganga, the goddess personification of the Ganges River and third wife of Lord Shiva
  • The Narmada, the daughter of Shiva and Ganga, also the goddess of river Narmada
  • Annapoorna (daughter of Shiva and Parvati), the goddess of food
  • Nindra, goddess of sleep
  • Yami, the sacred river Yamuna and goddess of life
  • Santoshi Mata, considered to be the goddess of happiness and long life
  • Sati(first wife of Lord Shiva), a goddess of boons who is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Shakti who is widely worshipped in south India.

Hindu texts and the role of women.

As per Vedic Dharma, the first and foremost criteria for success of a society is that women are accorded the high respect thatthey rightly deserve.

Without that eventhe otherwise noble deeds would be fruitless. The Vedic Woman has to be respected as Mother. Period.
Saraswati, Mata, Usha, Aditi or Devi do not refer to some divine forms that no one ever witnessed.
The Hindu religious text Veda’s attitude towards woman is clear and unambiguous. She forms the foundation of society and home. Vedas are the oldest religious text.

Vedas give all kind of freedom to a woman unlike 15-18th centuries Hinduism, some historian says that after Islamic invasion Hinduism became more “conservative”.

Some quotes of Vedas will give you a clear idea of how much freedom and respect was given to women that Time.

Veda and importance of woman in the home and society:

Atharva 7.46.3

Teach husband ways of earning wealth

Atharva 14.1.20
Oh wife! Give us discourse of knowledge

Atharva 7.47.1
Oh, woman! You are the keeper of the knowledge of all types of actions (karma).

Atharva 7.47.2
Oh, woman! You know everything. Please provide us with the strength of prosperity and wealth

Atharva 7.48.2
Oh, woman! Please provide us with wealth through your intellect

Atharva 14.1.64
Oh, woman! Utilize your Vedic intellect in all directions of our home!Atharva 2:36:5
Oh, bride! Step into the boat of prosperity and take your husband beyond the ocean of worldly troubles into realms of success

Atharva 1.14.3
Oh, the groom! This bride will protect your entire family

Atharva 2.36.3
May this bride become the queen of the house of her husband and enlighten all.

Atharva 11.1.17
These women are pure, sacred and yajna (as respected as yajna); they provide us with subjects, animals and food.

Atharva 12.1.25
Oh motherland! Give us that aura which is present in girls

Atharva 12.2.31
Ensure that these women never weep out of sorrow. Keep them free from all diseases and give them ornaments and jewels to wear.

Atharva 14.1.20
Hey wife! Become the queen and manager of everyone in the family of your husband.

Atharva 14.1.50
Hey wife! I am holding your hand for prosperity

  • Atharva 14.1.61

Hey bride! You shall bring bliss to all and direct our homes towards our purpose of living

  • Atharva 14.2.71

Hey wife! I am knowledgeable and you are also knowledgeable. If I am Samved then you are Rigved.

  • Atharva 14.2.74

This bride is illuminating. She has conquered everyone’s hearts!

  • Atharva 7.38.4 and 12.3.52

Women should take part in the legislative chambers and put their views on the forefront.

  • Rig 10.85.7

Parents should gift their daughter intellectuality and power of knowledge when she leaves for husband’s home. They should give her a dowry of knowledge.

  • Rig 3.31.1

The right is equal in the fathers’ property for both son and daughter

  • Rig 10.159

A woman speaks after waking up in the morning, “My destiny is as glorious as the rising sun. I am the flag of my home and society. I am also their head. I can give impressive discourses. My sons conquer enemies. My daughter illuminates the whole world. I myself am the winner of enemies. My husband has infinite glory. I have made those sacrifices which make a king successful. I have also been successful. I have destroyed my enemies.”

Rig ved 1.164.41
One ved, two ved, or four ved along with Ayurved, dhanurved, gandharved, aarthved etc in addition with education, kalp, grammar, nirukt, astrology, meters i.e the six vedaang should be attained by the clear-minded woman, which is equivalent to the crystal-clear water and spread this diversified knowledge among the people

.Yajur 20.9
There are equal rights for men and women to get appointed as ruler.

Yajur 31.11
In this mantra, the Brahman, Kshatriya, vaishya and shudra are there in each human body. Brahmin from the head, king from the shoulders, vaishya from the thigh, and shudra by feet. The progeny of the shudra through his karma(actions) can grow to be a Brahman.Yajur 16.44
There should be a women army. Let the women be encouraged to participate in war.Yajur Ved 17:26
In this mantra, it is enforced that the wife of ruler should give education of politics to the others. Likewise the kingdoeso justice for the people, the queen should also justify her role.

Vedas and woman education

Rigveda 6.44.18: The government should ensure that all boys and girls get good education, follow Brahmacharya and strengthen the society.
Yajurveda 10.7: Government should put special efforts to make all women into scholars.
Rigveda 3.1.23:
Smart people should ensure that all boys and girls become scholars.
Rigveda 2.41.16:
All girls should receive education from scholarly women.
Yajurveda 11.36:
Parents should ensure good education of children – boys and girls – and then send them to scholars for a long period so that they enlighten the families and nation like sun.
Rigveda 1.152.6:
The waythe mother nourishes her children with milk, scholars should nourish girls and boys with knowledge.
Yajurveda 6.14:
Teachers should ensure that they inculcate noble qualities in their students (girls and boys) through the dissemination of knowledge of Vedas.
Rigveda 2.41.17:
All scholars should instruct their scholarly wives to educate all girls.Yajurveda 34.40:
The way dawn brings happiness among human beings,a scholarly woman should bring happiness by educating girls.
Yajurveda 20.85:
Scholarly woman should ensure that she educates other women and makes them also scholars.
Rigveda 1.117.24:
Teachers should ensure that they train boys and girls wit the highest levels of noble values and educate them and then return themto theirr respective parents.

Rigveda 1.164.41:
The woman who masters and teaches all the Vedas brings bliss in the entire society.

Rigveda 7.40.7:
Scholarly woman that possess noble qualities should educate all women and bring happiness to everywhere

Vedas about mothers

The core pillar of Vedic Dharma is Matruvat Paradareshu – All women are my mother.

To regard a woman as deserving anything except the respect that we accord to our mother is a recipe for doom. To depict or exploit women for lustful purpose deserves harshest punishment as per Vedas. A society that commoditizes women is bound to breed terrorism, violence, hatred, tragedies, fear and death. The best example is the world today.

Yajurveda 6.17:

O pure and blessing Mothers! Cleanse us all from sins, immorality and pollution. Purge us from falsehood, hatred, jealousy and frustrations.

Yathurveda
O pure and blessing Mothers! Satisfy our mind, speech, life, eyes, ears, soul and society with nobleness.

Atharvaveda 3.13.7:O pure and blessing Mothers! I am your beloved son. O powerful mother, please guide me towards fulfillment of my noble aspirations.

Rigveda 6.61.7:

O enlightening Mother! You have the potential to destroy the evil. You have a character as pure as gold. You have the potential to destroy the clouds of frustrations and doubt. You are brave and you only aspire for our well-being and success! We are indeed blessed!

Atharvaveda 7.68.2: O enlightening Mother! May you always shower your blessings in form of peace, happiness and success. May you always be pleased with us and may we never conduct any act that excludes us from your blessing gaze.

Rigveda 1.113.6:

O enlightening blessing Mother! May you inspire us into the path of valor and protection of nation, society and world. May you inspire us to conduct vigorous efforts for well-being of all. May you inspire us to conduct selfless noble deeds or Yajna. May you inspire us to seek economic prosperity for all of us through sustainable means. May you inspire us to enlighten the entire society with knowledge.May you do so for entire world regardless of false divisions of gender, geography, birth, beliefs, religions etc.

Rigveda 1.113.19:

O life-giving enlightening Mother! May all noble people respect you and you guide them as mother. May you be the protector of society, nation and world. May you glow as the flag of all noble, virtuous and spiritual actions. May you eradicate the darkness of ignorance through the brilliance of your knowledge. May you teach us Vedic wisdom in actions and emotions. May you be mother for entire world and provide us with knowledge

Rigveda 10.17.10:

O Mothers! Purify us with your compassion, understanding and enlightenment. The women cleanse us all from all our sins, corruption and defects. We come out firm, pure and noble from their blessed company.
Rigveda 7.75.2:
O enlightening Mother! Inspire us into the path of the noble ones and gift us with success. Guide us into tremendous glory and enormous prosperity through virtuous deeds. With your blessings, may we desire for fame that comes through noble actions. And do it RIGHT NOW!

Rigveda 7.77.4:

O enlightening Mother! Cleanse us of the feeling of enmity within us. Strengthen the path of generosity and eradicate all meanness from us. Thus, bring us prosperity and inspire us into the path of success through positivity.

Rigveda 8.18.6:-
O pure-hearted noble Mother! Gift us with intellect and emotional quotient. Get rid of our hypocrisy. Cleanse us of our sins and inspire us to conduct noble acts in all circumstances.

Rigveda 8.18.7:

May the pure life-giving enlightening woman be respected as mother everyday so that she provides us with peace and eradicates all hatred from the society.

Rigveda 8.67.12:

O Mother! You conduct noble actions and have a pure mind. Cleanse us of our sins and provide us path of success. Inspire us to lead a life full of progress, compassion and honesty.

Atharvaveda 7.6.4:

We want tremendous power. Hence we please motherly pure woman with our noble words and actions. She is as patient as the wide sky. She shall remove our miseries and provide us shelter in all situations.

Rigveda 10.59.5:
O life-giving Mother! Provide us with strong will-power and noble intellect. Propel us to prolong our lives with noble actions. May we enlighten the world as sun. May you nourish us with happiness.

Vedas about woman empowerment

Atharvaveda 14.1.47:
O woman, you are the foundation of society. We promise to provide you a solid foundation to nurture and exhibit your capabilities. Stand up on this foundation and learn the lessons of firmness and patience. You also, thus, become firm foundation for the society like a solid rock. May you live a long life so that our brilliance can enlighten us for long!
Yajurveda 5.10:
O woman, you are a lioness. Destroy the enemies of ignorance, immaturity, negativity and savagery for welfare of all. O woman, you are a lioness. Destroy the enemies of ignorance, immaturity, negativity and savagery for purity of all. O woman, you are a lioness. Destroy the enemies of ignorance, immaturity, negativity and savagery for happiness of all.
Yajurveda 5.12:
O woman, you are a lioness. We resolve to do everything for your respect and glory. O woman, you are a lioness that leads to birth of great legends in society. We resolve to do everything for your respect and glory. O woman, you are a lioness that nurtures intelligence and bravery in society. We resolve to do everything for your respect and glory. O woman, you are a lioness who provides bliss and prosperity to society. We resolve to do everything for your respect and glory. We appoint you for welfare of all living beings.
Yajurveda 13.16:
O woman, you are firm and possess tremendous will-power. You support us all. The Supreme Lord has filled you with virtues of valor and knowledge. May even the entire army of enemies that comes like sea be unable to harm you. Even the vultures may not be able to harm you. May you strengthen the world.
Yajurevda 13.18:
O woman, you have tremendous potentials. You are as stable as this earth. You are the mother for entire world. You support the world and society. Protect the world from deviating to wrong paths, stabilize the world and ensure that there is never any violence.

Yajurveda 13.26:

O woman, you do not deserve to be defeated by challenges and obstacles. On contrary, you possess the power to defeat the stiffest challenge. Defeat the enemies and their armies. You have valor of thousands of men. Realize your true potential and demonstrate your valor. Please us all through your courage. The world demands that from you!
Rigveda 8.67.10:
O woman, you are unbreakable. You are never impoverished. We urge you to spread happiness and prosperity in the world. We urge you to realize your potential so that we are able to fulfill our goals.
Yajurveda 21.5:
O woman, you possess tremendous power. You are the mother of noble people. You are the wife of truth-seeker. You are full of valor. You cannot be weakened by attack of enemies. You are full of dynamism. You bring happiness to all. You follow the path of nobility. Protect the society by realizing your true potential.

Moreover Hinduism always encouraged woman to become powerful. After Islamic invasion real Hinduism gets down. Hope we will get back our old Hinduism. If everyone starts following Dharma properly.