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.