Question about Hindu Mythology

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bewafa

@bewafa

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

Hey guys!

I'm new to the forum, but have found it very friendly, so I thought I will try and post this question up.

I hope I don't offend anyone by the question.

In Hindu Mythology, we have seen Mahadev lose Sati and then get her back as Parvati...we have seen Ram lose Sita and then not get married (because it was his fault Sita died)...I don't know other examples as I do not know as much as you guys.

Anyway, those two are examples of a husband losing his wife.

Are there any examples of a wife losing a husband? Like, a goddess losing a god?

Also, the whole 'vidhwa' route...which is still followed in remote areas, the whole...you wear white, keep away from jewellery and pretty things, keep away from celebrations and you are cursed/ashub. Where did that come from?

From a story in Hindu Mythology?

These are just some questions I had which had been annoying me, and I hope these questions haven't hurt anyone's sentiments.

Hopefully someone can answer them for me.

Thanks! 😊

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bewafa

@bewafa

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

Originally posted by: samana17
I think what people meant in the olden days was women whose husband died couldn't wear the things related to marriage like mangal sutra, sindoor etc but later on people modified this and they even didn't let widows wear red or any other colour than white! Its the people not the gods who have brought these traditions to this land!

Even in sati's case, sati gave up her life because she was angry and couldn't tolerate the words of her father against her husband. But people later on modified this and made widows forcefully jump into the funeral pyre of their husbands. Do you think this was what gods wanted to teach us? No, its not the gods its us.

Durga, saraswati, kali all are goddesses who show the power of feminity. But the same people who believe in these goddesses and their powers, do not respect women. So its the people, gods aren't the ones to teach us these things.

So, that is what I would like to know...if this vidhwa thing wasn't started by Gods...how did it start? I guess like you said, it turned into "couldn't do anything" over time. I am just curious as to how these things started, because usually, things stem from the past scriptures right?

Sati started during the Rajput times right? When the castle would get captured, the wives, instead of being raped by the captors, would jump into fire to save their honour?

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Vibhishna

@Vibhishna

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 13 years ago

bewafa, welcome.

The story of Rathi is an example for the question you have posted.

Rathi is Kamadeva's (God of Love) wife. Kama and Rathi were told (by Indra, other Gods) to disturb Lord Shiva from his trance (or penance) so that he would notice Parvathi serving him. The two of them tried to sing and dance around Lord Shiva so that he would wake up but it was of no use. Eventually, Kama had to shoot his arrow (an arrow that would induce romantic feelings) on Shiva. For a moment, Lord Shiva's trance was disturbed and he noticed Parvati's beauty. The next moment, he was furious that Kama Dev had done such a thing and reduced him to ashes opening his third eye.

Rathi was grief stricken and implored Devi Parvathi to restore her husband. Rathi was promised (by whom differs in different versions) that her husband would be born on the Earth as Lord Krishna's son through Rukmini and Rathi will be reunited with him.

There's more to the story but eventually Rathi and Kama Dev were reunited when he was born as Pradymna (Krishna's son).

Edited by Vibhishna - 13 years ago

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bewafa

@bewafa

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

Originally posted by: Vibhishna
bewafa, welcome.

The story of Rathi is an example of the question you have posted.

Rathi is Kamadeva's (God of Love) wife. Kama and Rathi were told (by Indra, other Gods) to disturb Lord Shiva from his trance (or penance) so that he would notice Parvathi serving him. The two of them tried to sing and dance around Lord Shiva so that he would wake up but it was of no use. Eventually, Kama had to shoot his arrow (an arrow that would induce romantic feelings) on Shiva. For a moment, Lord Shiva's trance was disturbed and he noticed Parvati's beauty. The next moment, he was furious that Kama Dev had done such a thing and reduced him to ashes opening his third eye.

Rathi was grief stricken and implored Devi Parvathi to restore her husband. Rathi was promised (by whom differs in different versions) that her husband would be born on the Earth as Lord Krishna's son through Rukmini and Rathi will be reunited with him.

There's more to the story but eventually Rathi and Kama Dev were reunited when he was born as Pradymna (Krishna's son).

Thank you for that! That is right, I have heard of that story, but just didn't put two and two together 😆

Some places say that that arrow was to arouse the feeling of lust in Shiv? So, does that mean he was aroused by lust...then saw her beauty...but when did he fall in LOVE with Parvati? Love isn't dependent on beauty naturally.

Sorry, this is another question lol

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mnx12

@mnx12

Channel Moderator

+ 16

Posted: 13 years ago

As a result of that Kamadev was burned to ashes, due to Shivji's anger. He didn't want to marry anyone after Sati's death. parvati had to do severe penance to get him as her husband. so this act of Kamadev, suggested by the Devas actually had failled. Indirectly Shivji telling him, Don't mess with me. Post all your questions in "The Doubts & Discussions about Lord Shiva" thread.

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bewafa

@bewafa

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

Originally posted by: mnx12

As a result of that Kamadev was burned to ashes, due to Shivji's anger. He didn't want to marry anyone after Sati's death. parvati had to do severe penance to get him as her husband. so this act of Kamadev, suggested by the Devas actually had failled. Indirectly Shivji telling him, Don't mess with me. Post all your questions in "The Doubts & Discussions about Lord Shiva" thread.

Oh ok thanks for that. So it didn't work.

Yes see, I saw that thread, but my original question didn't really concern Shiv
I just saw someone mention something about him in this thread, so thought to clarify it within this thread itself

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Blukitten

@Blukitten

Sparkler

+ 4

Posted: 13 years ago

This vidhwa custom was a cultural thing...
It happens in all religion when a section of society becomes too powerful they start wrong practices in the the name of religion it has happened in europe during the middles ages when clerics became too powerful they started this practice of witch burning...In Islam when mullas became too powerful they started instigating people for jihad and terrorism.
Similarly during the middle ages the hindu priests became too corrupt and this combined with foreign attacks led to many superstitions like sati system...untouchability..and vidhwa system.
Hindu scriptures never say tht widows are unlucky.
Since most of the people were illitrate and couldnt read sanskrit they used to follow whatever the clerics said.
They twisted the rules which led to practices like sati and all.
It was not started by Gods...the mytholgical stories of Ram and krishna are actually's God's leela to show mankind how to lead a good life.
After social reformers condemed these practices...now sati has has been banned.and Widow remarriage is also possible.People's mindset is changing and apart from remote village which is still not modernized its not followed anywhere.In my own family there has been several widow remarriages.

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246851

Hibernated

Posted: 13 years ago

Just wanted to add a bit to all that has already been added,

In Hindu mythology the Goddess or the shakti is given supreme importance. It is said she is the root of everything, the power of everything. So usually its the Gods who end up losing their shaktis and then do penace to get them back. I think tirupati balaji also has some similar stories.

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