Degeneration of traditions brought out in DABH.

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UMDU

@UMDU

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#21

Originally posted by: June_Anne_Mary
UMDU ji wonderful post. You made me speechless. You should write in DKDM forum. Going out off topic. Bear with me, please. I've learnt that the discrimination and side-lining of women started by misinterpreting the following line from Manu Smriti.
pita rakshati kaumare
bharta rakshati youvane
putrau rakashati vardhakye
na stree swatantryam arhati.
It literally means a lady is to be protected by father in childhood, husband when in middle-age, son in her old-age and a lady is not allowed to be free.' These words only meant women should be protected every time, and the last line says she should never be left alone(swatantra) in any circumstances, not that she is restricted to enjoy her freedom (swatantrya). But the greedy & wicked ones simply bent this last line interpretting women are not allowed to be free in anyays & we have its result now.

I totally agree with every word you said. But I've a doubt regarding point 4. Wasn't that Sati who jumped into fire during Daksha Yaaga? Parvati is the re-incarnation of Sati. Am I right?

Thank you for your valuable comments. Why I used the name Parvati is because she is a more familiar name to the Hindus than DAKSHAYANI who jumped into the fire during Daksha yagya. Parvati is indeed a reincarnation of sati. It was basically to hammer a point.

Regarding protection by the father husband and son it is protection and not domination which is being emphasised here. The line between the two is thin so the men have taken advantage of this discrepancy. I have already through my post given the details of the twists and turns that have resulted in this state of affairs. The general problem with Vedas Puranas and the Manu smriti is it has been subjected to so many changes and interpretations that we are no longer sure of the original texts. The Vedas were for a long time orally transmitted from generation to generation and the written version came up much later.The Puranas also were written and interpreted many times in history and so have many contradictory statements.We have evidences in the early Vedic period of women like MATREYI, GARGI, LOPAMUDRA INDRANI,etc who participated in religious discourses during that phase and were fairly well educated. So the obvious conclusion would be that the suppression started after that and has nothing to do with our original texts.

Edited by UMDU - 13 years ago

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UMDU

@UMDU

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#22

Ami dear I will answer your question in detail but will take time. Bear with me.

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Brahmaputra

@Brahmaputra

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

#23

ami, well don't you know I'm well-versed in all three- mantra, tantra & kutantra.😆. Hmm... I don't know much about Shani or astrology. Also unaware about Hanuman as he is being worshipped rarely here as unlike in other parts of India.

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UMDU

@UMDU

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#24

Originally posted by: -SamiR-
wow! this was one of the most informative posts I have read. Thanks UMDU for enlightening us. I think this should be read by as many people as possible, and the teaching should be spread by those who have read it; this can do wonders in removing the ignorance in our societies today.

I for one found points # 3, 4, and 5 especially enlightening. I feel strongly about the way weddings are structured in our society nowadays (both hindu and muslim weddings; although I have not personally experienced many hindu wedding). They are plagued with financial irresponsibility and unreasonably excessive wastage of resources. Combined with the dowry system (as it is practiced today), these factors deter people from marriage. This deterrence can lead to very harmful social consequences. Moreover, the treatment of widows can be sickening at times. All these societal illnesses are primarily due to ignorance.

Like others have mentioned, I hope DABH reaches those who are in greatest need for change. After reading this thread, I have a new-found respect for the efforts of DABH in spreading the relevant social messages!

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. I have always believed that God has created us to be equal to men. The subsequent suppression happened due to misinterpretation and the acceptance of those rules by females without protest. With the passing of every decade the idea only got reinforced and we are now in a mess.The society is changing but a lot more needs to be done to fight Gender discrimination.

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UMDU

@UMDU

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#25

Shehjar Thank you so much for your words of encouragement.

Ladyterp Thank you for your words of encouragement.

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UMDU

@UMDU

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#26

Originally posted by: preeti73
Very enlightening post Umduji...

Even I have always believed that for their own domination, men over the centuries have moulded and disconfigured the great scriptures. I agree with all your thoughts and the degradation and downfall of women in our society is the result of the men who always wanted to be the superior power.

In India in rural areas all these so called traditions are still practiced with rigidity and that is what DABH is trying to show and how each little step can free us from these prejudices.

Thanks for creating such a thought provoking thread.👏👏

Thank you Preeti. I am glad you agree that the scriptures have been twisted to ensure male domination. DABH is definitely creating the required awareness.

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Brahmaputra

@Brahmaputra

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 13 years ago

#27

UMDU, thanks for the clarification. I've read your post in detail. No doubt on how women were side-lined. This misinterpretations are there in every religion. Still I've a doubt, off-topic. Hope you don't mind clearing it. When Sati did deha tyaga, Shiva was alive (well, he is eternal, no birth & death). Right? Then why ladies needed to jump in fire when husbands pass away?

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Shirin

@-Ayeshi-

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#28

Wonderful aunty...!!! 👏 I didn't know anything about these at all..!!! But after reading ur post I have not only understood the purpose of these rituals but also how people are misleading it 4 their own benefit...!!! And believe me not only in Hinduism, its happening with all culture n religion...!!! 😒 Thanks 4 the post...!!! Your post is the medicine 4 those people who r frustrated with the rituals n asking themselves why the rituals r made for when its harming people in many ways...!!! But at first the rituals were always made 4 people's good...!!! Its us who r practicing it so wrong that these r now became a curse 4 the society..!!!

Edited by ayeshi_101 - 13 years ago

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UMDU

@UMDU

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#29

Originally posted by: June_Anne_Mary
UMDU, thanks for the clarification. I've read your post in detail. No doubt on how women were side-lined. This misinterpretations are there in every religion. Still I've a doubt, off-topic. Hope you don't mind clearing it. When Sati did deha tyaga, Shiva was alive (well, he is eternal, no birth & death). Right? Then why ladies needed to jump in fire when husbands pass away?

JAM, Sati literally means chaste woman and you are right Shiva did not die but the interpretation of this mythological event in the later years by the kshatriyas was taken to be as the sacrifice of life for the sake of the husband .It is roughly during the Gupta period it starts ,but very much prevalent among Rajputs. Dakshayani had sacrificed her life unable to bear the humiliation of her husband so she was taken to represent a good wife. To cut the long story short women after wars committed Sati to avoid being taken by the invaders. In Bengal however it was mostly forced due to economic reasons.