vedas and women

From time immemorial, our elders have maintained that women should not recite Vedhas. They can recite Nama slokas without the word OM. There are people trying to give explanations based on science. But our Acharyas have always maintained that science and Vedhas should not be related to each other, mainly because our knowledge of both Vedhas and science are both incomplete.

It is true that in the ancient times, there were more than 30 known women Rishi’s who are known to be well versed in Vedhas. 

But there is a difference between knowing and reciting in public.

The vedas mention that women can have knowledge of Vedhas and attain celibacy, (Rig vedha 1.1.5)

Atharva vedha 11.5.18 says Girls should train themselves to become complete scholars and youthful through Brahmcharya and then enter married life.

This means there is some relationship between leadings married life and reciting vedhas.

It is therefore advisable to accept what the elders say without questioning them or doing research or asking argumentative questions except for the purpose of true knowledge and a willingness to believe and follow what the Acharyas say.

In early Vedic period, women were treated in a higher pedestal than men. 

Vedas and related texts sings about the status of womanhood in a very glorifying and respectful way. It will be no exaggeration to say that among all religious philosophies in the world only Vedas considers women as superior to man. If we compare the status of women in Christianity and Islam they do not consider women to be even equal to man. Most of the readers might have doubt arising in their mind that than why the condition of women was so downtrodden and trampled especially in the middle ages.

The answer to this question is that in Vedic age the women enjoyed respectful status in whole society while in the middle age of ignorance was the era of downfall and decline. Most of the objections about status of women are related to same middle age like Sati Pratha, Dowry, Polygamy, Adultery, lack of education, child marriage, widowhood etc. These ill practices prevailed when people stopped following the instructions of the Vedas. They were side effects of in-compliance and non adherence of Vedic Philosophy. So, the fault goes to inaction not to the Vedic Texts.

Status of Women in Vedas

Vedas regards womanhood to such status that many women became Vedic Seers or Rishikas in the Vedic age. The various suktas of Rigveda like 10 /134, 10/40, 8/91, 10/95,10/107, 10/109, 10/154, 10/159,5/28 were elaborated by female Vedic Seers like Ghosha,Godha,Upanishada, Apala, Vishavavara, Nishat,Romsha etc.

1.Vedas clearly mentions that Women can Read/Listen/Chant/Teach any Vedic Mantra.

Rigveda 10/191/3

God says that O! man and women i am granting you these Mantras for you both So, that you can think and progress together.

Atharvaveda 14/1/64

O Bride! Let the Vedic knowledge (Vedas) be in front of you, behind you and all along side you. Let you attain knowledge of Vedas and live life according to them.

Yajurveda 14/2

O! Women for success in life you must read and follow Vedas.

Rigveda 1/1/5

Women who read Vedas and related Texts in her life practicing celibacy are adorned in society.

Yajurveda 14/14

If both Boys and Girls are taught Vedas from beginning of life they attains knowledge and wisdom promptly.

2.Vedas grants full opportunity to women to become scholar and attain Knowledge.

Atharvaveda 11.5.18

Girls should train themselves to become complete scholars and youthful through Brahmcharya and then enter married life.

Rigveda 6.44.18

The government should ensure that all boys and girls get good education, follow Brahmacharya and strengthen the society.

3. Vedas considers women as source of Knowledge and guidance for whole family.

Atharvaveda 14.1.20

Oh wife! Give us discourse of knowledge

Atharvaveda 7.46.3

Teach the husband ways of earning wealth

Atharvaveda 14.1.20

Oh wife! Give us discourse of knowledge

4.

Vedas speaks of Women as supporter, protector and pillar of whole family.

Atharvaveda 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

Atharvaveda 1.14.3

Oh groom! This bride will protect your entire family

Atharvaveda 2.36.3

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

Atharvaveda 11.1.17

These women are pure, sacred and yajna, they provide us with subjects, animals and food

5. Vedas speaks of status of women in family as queen.

Atharvaveda 12.1.25

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

Atharvaveda 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.

Atharvaveda 14.1.20

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

Atharvaveda 14.2.74

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

6. Vedas grants equal rights to women in Property.

Rigveda 3.31.1

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

7. Vedas considers women as well-wisher for her family.

Rigveda 10.159

A women speaks after waking up in 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 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.”

8. Vedas speaks of right to women to become Ruler as Man.

Yajurveda 20.9

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

Yajurveda 10.26

In this mantra it is enforced that the wife of ruler should give education of politics to the others. Likewise the king do justice for the people, the queen should also justify her role.

9. Vedas grants a women status of warrior

Yajurveda 16.44

There should me a women army. Let the women be encouraged to participate in war.

10. Vedas speaks of right to education for women.

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.

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 their enlighten the families and nation like sun.

11.Vedas speaks for respect to Women

Rigveda 10.17.7

Those who desire the society to become noble and powerful, they respect woman and please her. Those who desire virtues respect woman and please her. Those who respect woman obtain bliss, knowledge and happiness.

These are few verses from the four Vedas which clearly depicts Women enjoying superior, respectful, dignified, venerate and esteemed position in society.

12. Vedas considers dowry not as money but as Knowledge and merit.

Atharva 14.1.6

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

Thankful acknowledgement to Dr Vivek Arya, Vedic research scholar.

[ borrowed few references of Vedic Mantras from agniveer website for this article]
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ದೇವರು ಹೆಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಿದ್ದು ಹೀಗೆ
                                                                        ದೇವದೇವನು ಹೆಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಿದಾಗ ಆರು ದಿನ ಸರಿ ರಾತ್ರಿಯವರೆಗೂ ಸತತ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ... 

ಆಗೊಬ್ಬ ದೇವತೆ ಬಂದು ಕೇಳಿದಳು, " ದೇವದೇವಾ, ಏಕೆ ಇವಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಅಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಸಮಯ  ವ್ಯಯಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವೆ?"  

ದೇವದೇವ ಉತ್ತರಿಸಿದ, "ಇವಳನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ನಾನು ಏನೇನು ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ನೋಡಿದೆಯಾ,, ಇವಳು ಎಲ್ಲ ತರಹದ ಪಾಕಗಳನ್ನೂ ಬಲ್ಲವಳಾಗಬೇಕು,, ಹತ್ತಾರು ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಒಂದೇ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪ್ಪಿ ಸಮಾಧಾನ ಗೊಳಿಸಲು ಸಮರ್ಥಳಾಗಿರಬೇಕು,, ಅವು ಬಿದ್ದು ಗಾಯಗೊಂಡ ಮೊಣಕಾಲಿನ ಗಾಯದಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಬೆಳೆದು ಘಾಸಿಗೊಂಡ ಹೃದಯದವರಾದಾಗಲೂ ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಆಲಿಂಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸಾಂತ್ವನ ನೀಡಬೇಕು,,, ಇವೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಅವಳು ಕೇವಲ ಎರಡು ಕೈಗಳಿಂದ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು,,, ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ.
ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯ ಉಂಟಾದರೂ ಅವಳೇ ಮದ್ದು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಗಂಟೆಗಳ ಲೆಕ್ಕ ಇಡದೆ  ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡ ಬಲ್ಲವಳಾಗಬೇಕು,,, "

ದೇವತೆಗೆ ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯೂ ಸಂತಸವೂ ಆಯಿತು  " ಏನೂ! ಈಕೆಗೆ ಕೇವಲ ಎರಡೇ ಕೈಗಳಾ? ಅಸಾಧ್ಯ"ಎಂದಳು. ಮತ್ತು ಇದೇನಾ ನಿನ್ನ ತಯಾರಿಕೆಯ ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ಮಾದರಿ ಎಂದು ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಂದು ಆ ಹೆಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿದಳು. 
"ಓ ದೇವದೇವಾ  ...  ಇವಳನ್ನು ಬಹಳ ಮೃದುವಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೀ" ಎಂದು ಉದ್ಘಾರ ತೆಗೆದಳು. 

ದೇವದೇವ ಹೇಳಿದ "ಹೌದು ಇವಳು ಮೃದು,,,, ಆದರೆ ಬಹಳ ಶಕ್ತಿವಂತಳು,,,ಅವಳು ಏನೇನೆಲ್ಲ ತಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬಲ್ಲಳು,  ಎಷ್ಟೆಷ್ಟು ಕ್ರಮಿಸಬಲ್ಲಳು ಎಂದು ನೀನು ಊಹಿಸಲೂ ಆರೆ"

ದೇವತೆ ಕೇಳಿದಳು "ಇವಳು ಆಲೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡಬಲ್ಲಳಾ? "

ದೇವದೇವ ನಗುತ್ತ ಹೇಳಿದ "ಆಲೋಚನೆ ಮಾಡುವುದಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ... ತರ್ಕಬದ್ಧವಾಗಿ, ಸಕಾರಣವಾಗಿ ಆಲೋಚಿಸುವಳು,, ಸಕಾರಣ ಮಾತಾಡಬಲ್ಲಳು,,, ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಒಳಹೊರಗ  ತಿಳಿಯಬಲ್ಲಳು"

ದೇವತೆ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಬಂದು ಅವಳ ಕೆನ್ನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿ ಮೆಲ್ಲಗೆ ಕಿರುಚಿದಳು " ದೇವದೇವಾ, ಈ ನಿನ್ನ  ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ಕರಗಿ ಸೋರುತ್ತಿದೆ,, ಇವಳ ಮೇಲೆ ತುಂಬಾ ಹೊರೆ ಹೊರೆಸಿರುವೆ ನೀನು,,, ಭಾರ ತಡೆಯದೆ ಇವಳು ಕರಗಿ ಸೋರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಳೆ"  

"ಅದು ಸೋರುವಿಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಕಣ್ಣೀರು " ದೇವತೆಯ ಮಾತನ್ನು ತಿದ್ದಿದ ದೇವದೇವ. 

 "ಈ ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಯಾಕೆ? "

"ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಅವಳ ಅಭಿವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ,, ದುಃಖ, ಅನುಮಾನ, ಪ್ರೇಮ, ಒಂಟಿತನ, ನೋವು, ಕಷ್ಟಗಳು,ಹೆಮ್ಮೆ ಎಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ"

ದೇವತೆ ಬಹಳ ಆನಂದದಿಂದ ಹೇಳಿದಳು "ದೇವದೇವಾ... ನೀನು ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ಆಲೋಚಿಸಿರುವೆ ,, ಈ ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಒಂದು ಅದ್ಭುತ  ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ" 

 ದೇವದೇವ ಉಲ್ಲಾಸದಿಂದ ನಗುತ್ತಾ ಹೇಳಿದ "ಹೌದು,, ಅವಳ ಶಕ್ತಿಗೆ ಗಂಡು ಅಚ್ಚರಿಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾನೆ,,, ಕಷ್ಟಗಳ ಹೊರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅವಳು ತಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬಲ್ಲಳು,,, ಪ್ರತಿ ವಿಷಯದ ಮೇಲೂ ಅವಳದೇ ಆದ ಸ್ವಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯ ಹೊಂದಿರಬಲ್ಲಳು,,, ಸಂತಸದ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಚಿಲುಮೆ ಅವಳು,,,, ಚೀರಬೇಕು ಎನ್ನಿಸಿದಾಗಲೂ ಮುಗುಳ್ನಗಬಲ್ಲಳು ಇವಳು,, ಅಳಬೇಕೆನ್ನಿಸಿದಾಗ ಹಾಡಬಲ್ಲಳು,,,ಸಂತಸವಾದಾಗ ಅಳಬಲ್ಲಳು,,, ತನಗೆ ಹೆದರಿಕೆ ಆದಾಗ ನಗಬಲ್ಲಳು,,, ತಾನು ನಂಬಿದ್ದರ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಹೋರಾಡಬಲ್ಲಳು,,,ಬೇಷರತ್ತಿನ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಅವಳದು,,, ಸನಿಹದವರು ಸತ್ತರೆ ಅವಳ ಮನ ಒಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ,,, ಆದರೆ ಅದೇ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಅವಳು ಮತ್ತೆ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾಳೆ"

ದೇವತೆ ಕೇಳಿದಳು "ಇವಳು ಪರಿಪೂರ್ಣಳಾ?"

"ಉಹೂಂ ಇಲ್ಲ,,,ಇವಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಲೋಪ ಇದೆ,,, ಅವಳಿಗೇ ಅವಳ ಮೌಲ್ಯ ಎಷ್ಟು ಎಂಬುದು ಬಹಳ ಸಲ ಮರೆತು ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ,,"
ಎಂದ ದೇವದೇವ. 


ಓ ಹೆಣ್ಣೇ ನೀನೊಂದು ಸದಾಕಾಲದ ವಿಸ್ಮಯ,ಅದ್ಭುತ
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