(The Life & Age of Woman - Stages of Woman s Life from the Cradle to the Grave,1849)
Creation, or the projection of Brahman, has been called Dhara. This Dhara in order that it may ultimately merge into the creator adopts several paths; the path of work, the path of wisdom and the path of surrender. Since all the burden of creation is being borne by Paramatma, the former has been called Bharya and the latter has been called Bharta. The Lord who bears all the burden is called Bharta or one who bears the weight. It is in the confluence of Paramatma, the Purusha and the creation or the Bharya has been called devotion or the path of surrender. Prakriti has not the strength by which to bear its burden. In this context, the features of Prakriti have been given the name Abala, or one without strength. In common parlance this word connotes a woman.
An individual who is weak and who has no strength is called Abala, or woman. Every jiva, or every individual who is part of the created world, is in this sense a weakling or a woman. Hunger, anger, jealousy, ego are all common to men and women. Sorrow as well as pleasure are experienced in the same manner by men and women. The difference is only in name and form, but all other qualities are the same in men and women. Therefore, if we look at people from the point of view of qualities and ignore names and forms, all are women on earth. (SSB 1978, p. 110)
A woman is like a field, while man is just like a seed. If we do not have a field, the seed cannot sprout. For all life on earth, woman is responsible. Great people, great saints and even great avatars have come into the world because of the help given by a woman functioning as a mother. Thus the strength of a woman is really very sacred. The Gopikas were such that they provided lustre to the very womanhood. Whether in the matter of patience, or forbearance, or friendship, they showed exemplary conduct. (SSB 1978, p. 120)
It is said that while women are devoted, men are only wise. There is an inner meaning for this statement. That is why women get the right to enter the mansion where Paramatma lives. The men who parade their wisdom can enter and reach only up to the feet of the Lord when He is sitting on His throne. They cannot go further. Here, we should note that in order that the strength of simple and unsophisticated devotion as against the strength of wisdom may be shown to the world, Krishna had created this situation. Whenever we want to enter any sacred gathering or a temple, a woman always takes the lead. If we look at any instance in Bhagavatam or Bharatam, we see that it is woman who puts the man on the path of spirituality. The hearts of women are traditionally very tender. That is why, in the Bhagavad Gita it has been said that we should not let a woman shed tears of sorrow. In a house where the woman is made so sad that she sheds tears of sorrow, there will never be prosperity. This has been stated in the Vedas and the Vedas have placed this aspect of motherhood on a very high pedestal. When one gets hurt, one cries out ‘Amma’, and not ‘Appa’. Even our country is referred to as the motherland. We say, Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo bhava and not the other way round. The mother comes first. We say Sita Rama, Parvati Parameshvara, and not Rama Sita and Parameshvara Parvati. That is why, in a woman, Paramatma is found with seven types of strength and with sixteen different kalas. Because of this divine context in a woman, she can take the path of spirituality with ease. In order to show to the world this exemplary behaviour of women, the Gopikas were given a proper place. (SSB 1978, pp. 127-128)
Woman is the faithful companion of man, his fortune; since she is the concretization of the Will of the Lord, she is Mystery, Wonder, the representative of the protective Principle. She is the queen of man’s home, his beneficence, the illumination of his house. Women are no way inferior (to men) for they are repositories of the divine force. (SSP, p.45)
The Atma is devoid of all difference as between men and women. It is (Nitya),Suddha,Buddha, Svayajyotis; i.e. it is eternal pure consciousness itself and self-illumining. Woman can reach the status of those holy women only when they become aware of the nature of Atma. The patron deities of Vidya (Saraswati), of Wealth (Lakshmi) and Jnana (Parvati) are all women. (DhyV, p. 57)
The Feminine Principle is spoken of as the illusion imposed upon Himself by the Lord, as the energy with which He equipped Himself out of His own will. This is the maya, the feminine form. This is why woman is considered as the embodiment of the highest energy (Parashakti swarupa).
She is the faithful companion of man, his fortune; since she is the concretization of the will of the Lord, she is mystery, wonder, the representative of the protective principle, the queen of his home, his beneficence, the illumination of the house.
Women, who are the repositories of the embodiment of energy (shakti swarupa), are in no inferior; how full of fortitude, patience, and love is their nature! Their self-control is seldom equalled by men. They are the exemplars and leaders for men to tread the spiritual path. Pure selfless love is inborn in women.
Women who are full of knowledge, who are cultured, who are bound by love, and who are keen on discriminating whether their words and deeds are in conformity with dharma such women are like the goddess Lakshmi, bringing joy and good fortune to the home. That home, where husband and wife are bound together by holy love, where every day both are engaged in the reading of books that feed the soul, where the name of the Lord is sung and His glory remembered – that home is really the home of the Lord, Vaikunta! The woman who is attached to her husband by means of love is indeed a flower radiating rare perfume; she is a precious gem, shedding lustre in the family. A wife endowed with virtue is really a brilliant jewel.
Chastity
Chastity is the ideal for womankind. By the strength derived from that virtue, they can achieve anything. Savitri was able, through that power, to win back the life of her husband; she fought with the Lord of Death. Anasuya, the wife of the sage Atri and the mother of Dattatreya, was able to transform even the Trinity into infants. Nalayani, who was devoted to her leper husband, could by the mysterious force of her chastity, stop the sun in its course.
Chastity is the crown-jewel of women. That is the virtue for which she has to be most extolled. Its beneficent consequences defy description. It is the very breath of her life. By means of her chastity and the power it grants, she can save her husband from calamity. She saves herself by
her virtue and wins, without doubt, even heaven through her chastity. Damayanti burned to ashes a hunter who attempted to molest her, by the power of her ‘word’. She bore all the travails of lonely life in the jungle when her husband, King Nala, deserted her and she suddenly became the victim of cruel fate.
Modesty
Modesty is essential for woman; it is her priceless jewel. It is against dharma for a woman to overstep the limits of modesty; crossing the limits brings about many calamities. Why, the very glory of womanhood will be destroyed. Without modesty, woman is devoid of beauty and culture. Humility, purity of thought and manners, meekness, surrender to high ideals, sensitivity, sweetness of temper, the particular blend of all these qualities is modesty. It is the most invaluable of all jewels for women.
Through her innate sense of propriety, the modest woman will ever keep within limits. She becomes automatically aware which behaviour is proper and which is improper. She will stick only to virtuous deeds and behaviour. Modesty is the test of a woman’s grandeur.
A woman without modesty injures the interests of womanhood itself, besides undermining her own personality. She is like a fragrance-less flower, which the world does not cherish or honour, or even approve of. The absence of modesty makes life, for a woman, however rich in other accomplishments, a waste and a vacuum. Modesty lifts her to the heights of sublime holiness. The modest woman wields authority in the home and outside, in the community as well as in the world.
Some might interrupt and ask, ‘But women who have swallowed all the compunctions of modesty are being honoured today! They strut about with heads erect, and the world honours them not a whit less.’ I have no need to acquaint myself with these activities of the present-day world. I do not concern myself with them. They may receive honour and respect of a sort, but the respect is not authorized or deserved. When honour is offered to the undeserving, it is tantamount to insult; to accept it when offered is to demean the very gift. It is not honour but flattery that is cast on the immodest by the selfish and the greedy. It is like spittle, dirty and unpleasant.
Of course, the modest woman will not crave for honour or praise. Her attention will always be on the limits that she should not transgress. Honour and praise come to her unasked and unnoticed. The honey in the flower or lotus does not crave for bees; it does not plead with the bees to come. Since the bees have tasted the sweetness, they themselves search for the flowers and rush in. They come because of the attachment between themselves and sweetness. So, too, is the relationship between the woman who knows the limits and the respect she evokes.
If a frog sits on a lotus and proclaims that fact to the world, does it mean that it knows the value of the beauty or the sweetness of that flower? Has it tasted any of these? It may flatter the lotus, but has it at least recognized what it contains? The honour and respect given to woman today is of this type, rendered by people who do not know what to appreciate and how. They do not know the standards of judgement, they have no faith in the ultimate values, and they do not respect the really good and great. So how can we call the thing they offer ‘honour’ or ‘respect’? It can only be called ‘a disease’ or, at best, ‘etiquette’. That is all.
The principle of Atmic dharma will not allow the term ‘woman’ to be applied to ‘a woman without modesty’. Heaping respect and honour upon a person who does not follow Atmic dharma is like heaping decorations on a body that has no life in it. The soul that has left the body cannot enjoy the respect shown to the corpse. So too, if a person who is unaware of the Reality, who has not experienced the purpose of the Atma’s embodiment, is crowned with fame and glory, who derives joy therefrom? The modest woman will not care for such meaningless trash and tinsel; she will rather seek self-respect, which is much more satisfying. That characteristic makes her the Lakshmi of the home (Grihalakshmi). That is why the wife is referred to as Lakshmi of the home. If the wife has no such mark, the home becomes a seat of ugliness.
Woman: the prop of home and religion
The woman is the prop of the home and religion. She plants and fosters religious faith or dries up and uproots it. Women have natural aptitude for faith and spiritual endeavour. Women with devotion, faith, and meekness can lead men on the Godward path and the practice of holy virtues. They will get up early, before dawn, clean the home, and, after finishing their bath etc., sit for a while engaged in repetition of the name (japam) and meditation (dhyana). They will have in their homes one small room set apart for the worship of the Lord. There, they will place images of the Lord, as well as pictures of holy sages and of gurus and guides. They will consider the room specially sacred and fill the atmosphere with their prayers both morning and evening, as well as on holy days and festivals. A woman who is steadfast doing these will be able to transmute even her atheist husband, persuading him to join the prayers or engage in some good activity or some scheme of social service marked by the attitude of dedication to the Lord. Indeed, it is the woman who maintains the home; that is her mission. She is truly the representative of divine energy (shakti).
On the other hand, if the wife tries to pull the husband away from the Godward path, from the spiritual to the level of the sensual, or if the husband treats the wife who is disposed to seek joy from her spiritual endeavour as a person following the wrong track and tries to drag her away from it, the home is unworthy of that name. It is not a home but an inferno, where ghosts and evil spirits revel.
Really, woman should strive to achieve the knowledge of the soul and live every moment in the consciousness of her being only theAtma; she must evince always a desire to become one with the divine consciousness. The home where the woman is such and where the husband and wife are leading their lives in the shade of great ideals, where together they sing the glory of the name of the Lord and spend themselves in good deeds, where truth, peace, and love reign, where regular reading of holy books is done, where the senses are under control, and where there is equal treatment for all creation prompted by the knowledge of the basic unity of all creation – such a home is certainly Heaven on Earth.
A wife with such a nature is a wife worth the name. She must have real love towards the husband; only then can she be called housewife (grihini). Only then is she a dharmic housewife (dharma-patni, the bharya), the instrument and companion for dharma, wealth (artha), and desire (kama). She who knows the mind of her husband and speaks softly and sweetly is the real friend. Why, sometimes, when the wife has to point out the path of dharma to the husband, she takes on the role even of a father! And when the husband is down with illness, she is the mother.
A woman must accord first place to the service of her husband; that is true worship for her. Her prayers, worship, and spiritual exercises (puja) can wait. Without serving the husband, she cannot attain bliss in worship or meditation.
As a matter of fact, the Lord must be welcomed as represented by the husband, and all service rendered to him must be elevated to the level of worship; that is the path of genuine duty. If every act is done as if it is for the sake of the Atma and its merger with highest Atma (Paramatma), then activity becomes dedicated to the Lord. All such acts save; they do not bind.
It does not matter how bad or low the husband is; through love, the wife must bring him round, correct him, and help him gain the blessings of the Lord. It is not correct to feel that her progress alone matters and that she has no concern in his improvement or uplift. On the other hand, she must feel that the welfare of the husband, the joy of the husband, the wishes of the husband, the salvation of the husband are the panacea for her also. Such a woman will automatically receive the grace of the Lord, without special effort. Grace will be showered upon her; the Lord will always be by her side and be kind to her in all ways. By her virtue, she will ensure the salvation of her husband.
Education
Education is necessary for both men and women. But education for women has to be in accordance with their special needs. Educated women are really the promoters of dharma for the whole world. Parents must also cooperate in equipping women with proper education. Women should not be given freedom in certain matters. I will not approve of their being given such freedom. They must be made into ideal women; their education must be so shaped.
Unbridled freedom is destructive of dharma, and it also harms the woman herself. Mixing in society without any discrimination produces ruinous results. Of course there were educated women in the past, but they never gave up their dharma, they never forgot the goal of Atmic dharma. Education (vidya) must be built on the basis of discrimination (viveka). Sulabha, Savitri, Anasuya, Gargi, Nalayani, and other such models of chastity, devotees of the Lord like Meera, yoginis like Chudala, all were born in this country of God (Bharatadesa) and strengthened dharma by their adherence to it. Once, when Sulabha was discoursing on the Atma with all her scholarship and experience, even Janaka was astounded! It is through the example of such great and holy women, with their character and conduct inspired by devotion and spiritual wisdom, that even today simplicity, humility, and devotion shine in the hearts of the women of this country of God.
Today, women should draw inspiration from them; efforts must be made to live as they did in the past. The Hindu woman must always have before her as her guide the ideal of dharma and progress in spiritual discipline. She can master any subject related to the objective world that is prominent today, but the welfare of the spirit should not be forgotten; she must get interested in Vedantic study, which cultivates the inner vision. A woman without this training is a rock without support, a danger to herself and others, a very unbalanced individual. Sulabha and others who pursued such studies became expounders of Brahman (Brahmavadins) of great fame. India produced several such female saints and scholars. Learned scholars (pundits) and wise persons (vidwans) used to approach such women for inspiration and guidance.
Progress is based on proper education for women
On what is progress based? The progress of the nation, the community, and the family depends on the proper education of women. The country can be lifted to its pristine greatness only through women mastering the science of realisation of the Reality (Atmavidya). If the nation is to have lasting prosperity and peace, women have to be trained through an educational system that emphasizes moral conduct and moral qualities. The cause for the present fall in moral standards and absence of social peace is the neglect of this aspect of women’s education. The earth and sky are still the same; the change is in the ideal of education, from dharma to adharma.
The education of today is spoken of as vidya, but that is merely a way of calling it. It doesn’t deserve that name, if you consider the present actions of the educated and their personality traits. The educated person must be capable of imbibing the inner joy of the Atma, regardless of external circumstances; that person must have grasped the purpose of existence and must be aware of the discipline of realization.
In the old days, the grace of the Lord was the diploma that every student sought to secure. That diploma was awarded to those who were proficient in the cultivation of morality, the knowledge of the Atma, sublimation of instincts, good conduct, pure habits, control of the senses, restraint of the mind, and development of divine qualities. Today, however, things are different. Diplomas can now be gained by mugging up a few books! One cannot acquire moral and spiritual training through modern schooling.
Every woman must be given education in a well-planned manner. She must be able to understand the problems of the country. She must render such service and help as she can, within the limits of her resources and capacity, to the country, community, and family. No nation can be built except on the culture of its women. The coming generation is shaped by the mothers of today; this generation is so full of a-dharma and injustice because their mothers were not vigilant and intelligent enough. Well, what is past is past. To save at least the next generation, women have to be warned in time and guided to take the ancients as their model. Past, present, or future, for all time, women are the backbone of progress, the heart of the nation, the very breath.
They play the chief role in the dharma of life here below, a key role that is charged with holiness. The woman’s mission is to lay down the canons of rightness and morality. She must provide children with moral and spiritual training. When the mother is imbued with dharma, the children get the benefit and get similarly saturated. When she is skilled in morals, the children learn to be moral. Therefore, the level of education among women decides whether a country is to prosper or decline. Her acts and conduct are crucial factors.
The responsibility of the elders and the parents is very great in this. Take the students of today. No trace of culture can be seen in them; matters of the spirit and talk of the Atma raise laughter among them! A mastery of words, a servitude to tailoring, these have become the fashion. This is not genuine culture. The educated women of today are helpless when it comes to managing a home. Home to them is but a hotel, they are so helplessly dependent on the cook and the maid. The educated woman is but a painted doll, decorating the modern home; she is a handicap to the husband, a weight around his neck. He is squeezed by her insistent demands for spending money on all kinds of objects. She does not share in the tasks of housekeeping, so by sheer idleness, eating, and sleeping without exercise, she develops illness that leads her quickly to death.
The wanton behaviour of women has enveloped the world of today in an atmosphere of declining dharma. Women are harming themselves by running after fleeting pleasure, disregarding the need to develop good character and elevating qualities. They are enamoured of pseudo-freedom, which feeds their conceit. To get fixed up in a job, to earn degrees, to move about with all and sundry without distinction and discrimination, to discard respect for elders and give up fear of sin and evil, to overlook the claims of the good and the holy, to force the husband to dance to one’s tune, to deny the tribute of repentance to one’s errors – are these the signs of education? No; they are all the monstrous shapes of un-education (a-vidya), the uneducated egotistical attitudes that make a person ugly and repelling.
If the wife feels that the husband’s home is sacred, then that home itself will endow her with every skill and qualification. There is no place anywhere that excels such a home for her. One saintly poet sang that the home is her temple, her school, her playground, her political arena, her field of sacrifice, her hermitage.
Study and society not harmful in themselves
Educated women can do useful service to the community around them according to their skill, taste, inclination, desire, character, educational status, mode of living, discipline, or scholarship. But they should avoid tarnishing the reputation of their parents, their family, or themselves. A woman without a good character is as bad as ‘dead’; so, women must be ever vigilant when they move about in the world. They should avoid flippant talk or free mixing. The discriminating woman will engage only in acts that will add to the lustre of her husband’s fame and honour, never an act that will tarnish it. That is why it is said that ‘virtue (sadguna) is the sign of the educated person, the thing that makes education worthwhile.’
I do not declare that women should not be educated or should not move in society. Wherever they move, if they are endowed with good qualities and if the good qualities are accompanied by good actions, good habits, and adherence to the eternal (sanathana) dharma and spiritual discipline (sadhana), then their study is really worthwhile and society is indeed benefited. Study and society are not harmful in themselves; they react with the nature of the people who make use of them and yield good or bad results. The cat holds the kitten as well as the rat in the self-same mouth, but with what a difference! The kitten, it fondles; the rat, it kills. The bite is neutral, it is the rat or kitten that decides how it behaves.
So too, knowledge can develop discrimination, inspire the springs of service, prompt inquiry into the Reality, promote the search for the Absolute, and even pave the way for becoming a sage (paramahamsa). On the other hand, it might feed and strengthen the roots of falsehood, hypocrisy, cruelty, and injustice; it might teach people newer means of deceit and ruin the career of people on earth. It might turn love into poisonous hatred and truth into a bone of contention.
Adhere to the dictates of dharma
Therefore, whatever subject a woman might have studied and mastered, whatever the degree she has won, whatever the status of her husband or of herself, she must hold fast to these truths: real charm consists in good character; morality is the very breath of woman; modesty is the very life force; adherence to truth is her daily duty. She must plant the seedlings of fear (of sin, of the Lord) in her heart and cultivate the charm of humility. In the religious, moral, and physical fields, she must adhere to the strict dictates of dharma and take that as the essence of all education (vidya). She must be prepared to sacrifice even her life for the sake of maintaining honour; she must nourish and preserve her chastity and her adoration of the husband. This is the chief dharma of woman. This is the reason for her very birth as woman. (DV, pp. 30-46)
Women are the bulwarks of spiritual culture. But, as is evident from the attitude and behaviour of educated women of today, they are fast succumbing to the flimsy attractions of froth and frippery, cheap and shoddy literature and sensual films. (SSSm Vol.3, p. 55)
The Vedas extolled the woman asSatyavati,Angavati, Anyavati and Nidanavati, which are the attributes given for women deities while performing rituals. Satyavati declares that God is present everywhere in the universe as the unseen butter in milk. God is not different from nature. The very embodiment of Prakriti and Purusha is divinity. Therefore, Vedas proclaim that just as butter is all over the milk, Divinity pervades the entire creation (Prakriti). This is the true meaning of Satyavati.
Next is Angavati. There are five elements in nature, earth, water, fire, air and sky. Although these five elements are present equally everywhere, each one of them is subtler than the other. The Vedas proclaim that though these five elements differ, they are an aspect (body) of God. This is called Angavati.
The third one is Anyavati. The Vedas declare that whatever type of work or service is done, that will bring its own reward, depending on the symbolism of the deity propitiated. For example, Shiva has a trishul; He has three eyes also. The one who has conch, wheel, mace and lotus is Vishnu. The one who has the peacock feather is Krishna. The one who has bow and arrow is Rama. Anyavati worship (Aradhana) teaches different types of worship depending on the symbol of the presiding deity.
The next one is Nidanavati. The Angavati Veda declares that Nidanavati can be acquired through a variety of worships. Nidanavati can be worshipped in the nine different forms – shravanam (hearing), kirtanam (singing the glory of God), smaranam (thinking of the names of God), Pada Sevanam (service), vandanam (prostration), archanam (worship), dasyam (servitude), sakhyam (friendship), and Atma nivedanam (surrender). This Veda declares that it is easy to obtain God through these nine types of devotion.
Satyavati, Anyavati, Angavati, Nidanavati are supposed to be the embodiments of the woman in the ancient Bharatiya literature. The names may be different but divinity is one. The goal is the same but the paths are different. We should not think that the feminine principle is something ordinary. The feminine principle has been worshipped in many ways from ancient time. Yatra Naryanam Punyathe, Varchathe Tatra Devathanam - Wherever the woman is worshipped, revered and respected, there will manifest all the forms of divinity.
It is unfortunate today that respecting the woman is considered a shame. They think that it is something very small and insignificant. This is a kind of ignorance. We should not think in this manner at all. Woman is the Lakshmi of the house. She is Ardhangini - occupying half of the man’s body.
People become very proud when they get titles like Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan. These are very insignificant titles. The women have titles. The women have titles, which are eternal. The house becomes a forest when the woman is not there. Men have to think today that they should not make the women shed tears. They should respect and revere them. Then only there will be prosperity and happiness. Wherever the women shed tears, that house will go to ruin. Men have to carry on their lives by respecting and revering women to the extent possible. The woman with nine different powers is the very embodiment of Adi Shakti. Shabda brahmamayi, characharamayi, jyotirmayi, vaagmayi, Nityanandamayi, niranchanamayi, tattvamayi, chinmayi, Tattvatitamayi, parathpara mayi, mayamayi, srimayi, are the names given to women. This principle is nectarine. So the women has got the worthy name Stri. (DTB Vol.4, pp. 2-4)
The Bhagavad Gita says that a woman has seven qualities, whereas a man has only three. So, never look down upon women. They are most virtuous. They are the very embodiments of Nature.
Some women may think that they would have enjoyed greater freedom had they been born as men. This is a wrong notion. In fact, women are more powerful than men. With all the sacred feelings in your heart, respect women and be respected. Respect your mother, obey her commands. Mother protects her children in many ways. Even after death, she comes back and helps you in various ways. Never disrespect your mother or disappoint her. Do not hurt her feelings. Try to satisfy her in all respects. Only then the seed of devotion will sprout in you. Everyone should follow the dictum, Matru Devo Bhava in letter and spirit, and be a recipient of his mother’s love. (SSS Vol.32 Part I, p. 204)
Messengers of Sathya Sai
The 75th Birthday of this body is approaching. The Messengers of Sathya Sai have chalked out elaborate plans for the 75th Birthday and have already started executing them. They have purchased 1000 bags of rice for free distribution of food for 10 days to the devotees during the 75th Birthday celebrations. There are nearly 3000 members in their organization. Their faith is unwavering and their devotion for Swami is becoming stronger and stronger day by day. They are preparing to distribute 75,000 Saris. As they want all the Saris to be of same design, they gave an order in this regard. Such devotion and sincerity are more present among the women than men.
In fact, women symbolize Bhakti (devotion) and men stand for Jnana (wisdom). The one with devotion has the right to enter even the inner chambers of the divine palace, whereas the one with wisdom has access only to the audience hall of God. You may be aware that kings of yore would convene meetings in their royal audience hall where only men would assemble. Men had no entry to the Antahpura (inner chambers of the palace). Only the women who symbolize devotion have access to the Antahpura of God. What is Antahpura?
Antaratma (indwelling spirit) is the Antahpura. It is only devotion, not wisdom that leads to Antahpura. Most of the men who have assembled here today are here only because of the inspiration of women. Women are responsible for men to tread along the path of devotion. In My opinion, the Messengers of Sathya Sai should take the lead in spreading the divine message throughout the country. It is mainly by the effort of women that the country will make progress. Not only Bharat, the whole world should progress. The ancient culture of our country should be revived. (SSS Vol.32 Part II, pp. 212-213)
It is worth mentioning that women have been responsible whether at home or abroad to bringing peace and harmony in the country. There have been emperors who have ruled the world. But nobody has ruled like Queen Victoria. She ruled the kingdom with so much of courage, justice and righteousness. There was no complaints during her regime. Even in India, Indira Gandhi ruled with courage. Whatever might be the circumstances, she sacrificed even her life to get a good name of our country. Only Indira Gandhi ruled as Prime Minister for 12 years. Many people ruled just for one, two or three years.
So many types of problems are arising. Women have the strength of mind and the courage to fight for the country and bring about harmony and peace. So Valmiki who described women in many ways said that women are the very embodiment of sweetness. What is the main reason for this sweetness? It is the quality of sacrifice in her that makes it sweet. The mother is prepared to go any length and sacrifice for the sake of the children. She will sacrifice even her life to protect her children. This sense of sacrifice is there only in the women. The father will say it is allright when the children are suffering from some disease. The mother tries hard to protect them. The quality of sacrifice makes her to be known as the embodiment of sacrifice. Men do not have the sense of sacrifice that woman have. The men come forward with initial courage. They are only showy, but the woman takes it up from the start to the end. So Valmiki said that women are the embodiment of devotion. Men he said are the embodiment of Jnana - knowledge.
Those who follow Jnana have access only to the door of God’s durbar hall. They cannot go any further inside. Women, the embodiment of devotion, can go right into the harem. Devotion has got so much of right. If we analyse things from the past literature and history, we realise that so much value is given to women. (DTB Vol.4, pp. 5-7)
In this country of Bharat was born Savitri, the woman of chastity, who could fight with Yama, the God of death and bring back to life her dead husband. In this country was born Chandramati, a paragon of virtue, who brought down a huge forest fire by her power of chastity. Sita the divine daughter of mother earth, who demonstrated her chastity by coming out of a blazing fire unscathed, was born in this land of Bharat. Damayanti, also a woman of pristine purity and chastity who could put down the wicked people, was born in this sacred Bharat. This Bharat is the land of sanctity and chastity, which has given birth to such great women of exceptional character. (SEKH, p. 41)
Women are the makers of the home, the nation and the world. You are the mothers who shape the generations. (SSS Vol. 15, p. 3)
Unfair things happen in the world with respect to women. That is why we decided to celebrate not only November but the 19tth every month as Women’s Day. (SSP. p.41)
If the women of a country are happy, healthy and holy, the men of the country will be hardy, honest and happy. (DBG, p. 254)
We do not know when this word Adollu or Adavallu (for ladies in Telugu) has come. Doolu is a little drum and it is said that wherever the women are, they are like the drum. You have all been sitting here for a long time. There is more noise from the women than men. Not that all women make noise. Today we are celebrating Ladies Day, from tomorrow onwards the women should lessen their talking. Not only here, even in the Bhajan Hall, it is the women who talk. (DTB Vol.4, p. 14)
Women are given to excessive talking. They should treat even their daily chores as a form of consecrated work. If they are unable to attend a Satsanga on account of household duties, they should not feel miserable on that account. Discharge of duties at home is as sacred as attending a satsanga. Only if you do your duties at home properly will you be able to render proper service outside. In whatever work you do at home, whether sweeping the floor or preparing chappathis, convert it into a form of spiritual exercise. Infuse every action with love of the Divine and dedicate it to God. (SSS Vol.22)
Women must emerge from this college (Anantapur Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning) armed with deep-rooted virtue and firm faith in the ideals of womanhood; laid down in the sacred texts. Then only can they, as mothers, mould their children as bright, beautiful, virtuous, strong Citizens of the world. This is the only way out of the horror in which the world is simmering. When women are true and brave, kind and compassionate, virtuous and pious, the world can have an era of peace and joy. (SV90, p. 151)
It is the women of Bharat who have protected and sustained this country since ancient times. They are in fact, the very life of Bharat. They are the very embodiments of truth and righteousness. And truth and righteousness have, in turn, protected Bharat always. How much respect and reverence we must show towards women! On the contrary, there are several people today who put them to untold suffering. Due to bad habits and bad company, people lose their sense of discrimination and ill-treat women. No woman should be put to any suffering. They must be revered and respected and protected in all ways. Women in Bharat have always been held in high esteem. There are many chaste and noble women in Bharat. Still Bharatiyas are undergoing difficulties. What is the reason? Whose fault is this? It is only because the Bharatiyas are never giving proper respect and place to women in society. The fault lies squarely with men.
The truthful character of the women is really their Tapas (penance). Therefore, such noble women must be encouraged and honoured. If you put this one great principle into practice, your life will be sanctified. Those who ill-treat their wives can never be happy and prosperous. If men cannot protect their wives who are prepared to sacrifice even their lives for the sake of their husbands, what for is their existence? Women are really the presiding deities of their homes. Our primary duty is to protect them. Where women shed tears, those homes will be ruined in no time. Women set ideals to society. They are the epitome of idealism. Never cause them to distress.
Men should lead a life of truth and righteousness. Only then can they protect the country and become worthy of being called real men. Otherwise, how can they consider themselves worthy of the status of human beings? Several people go to temples. When they visit a temple, they must make a vow that they would respect and protect women. Only then will they be protected. It is only when women are safe, the whole world will be happy. Therefore, if you wish to protect Dharma in the world, you must first protect your Dharma in the world. You must first protect your Dharma towards women.
Imagine a situation wherein you are in the role of women and some men torture you. How miserable and helpless you would feel! Women are prepared to sacrifice even their lives for the sake of their husbands. But, men do not have such spirit of sacrifice. Men should also cultivate such a spirit of sacrifice, like women. Only then will you be fit to be called men. Otherwise, you will be men only in form, but lacking in masculinity. You consider women as Abala (weak). But the truth is they are embodiments of shakti (power).Only I know the plight of women who have lost their husbands. It is our duty to protect such women. If you can discharge this duty properly, you will be happy throughout your life. (SSS Vol.37)
Men say a man is known by his job, as though only male can do jobs. This is a misnomer. Women are now doings all work equal to men. In fact, women work more sincerely and with more dedication. Recently, a director of the Indian Telephone Industries came to see Swami. Swami questioned him about the percentage of women employed in the industry. He said 99 percent of those employed there were women; he added that women performed ten times better than men. Women do not stop or step out until the allotted work is completed. They have a better ethic than men. (SSP, p. 47)
It is not my view that women should not get educated. They should have education. You may also take up jobs. But you should live up to the obligations and glory of womanhood. (SSP, p. 49)
People generally speak of women as the weaker sex. Bharatiyas recognise that women cannot be considered weak. The woman in charge of the house plays the main role in bringing good name and fame to the household. Similarly, women play a major role in upholding the prestige of the state, country and even world. (SSP, p. 49)
Men do not have the same spirit of sacrifice as women. If any problem arises, men come forward with initial enthusiasm, but it is only women who resolutely fight until success is achieved. (SSP, p. 50)
In this phenomenal world, whatever pleasures and satisfactions one may derive elsewhere. If there is no joy at home, it becomes a veritable hell. The home is heaven itself. It is the duty of women to maintain it as such. (SSP, p. 51)
The child should grow with the mother for the first five years of life. Many children do not know what the love of the mother is like. The mother should not hand over her responsibility during these years to some one else and be called simply ‘Mummy’ as if she is some doll with which the child likes to play. Now, the children of rich and ‘educated’ parents are severely handicapped. They are deprived of the care and love of the parents. They are handed over to the care of ayahs and they grow up in their company and learn their vocabulary and habits and styles of thought. This is very undesirable. (SSP, p. 51)
Women are endowed with exceptional strength. Even in the spiritual field women displays their boundless capacity. It is in her role as mother that there is the highest expression of woman’s strength. The mother is the first teacher of speech, the first steps in movement and every other primary lesson in behaviour. (SSP, p. 56)
If only women were given their due recognition and encouragement, they would shine with brilliance in all fields and would serve the house, the country, and the entire world gloriously, contributing to the welfare of all humanity. (SSP, p. 58)
Embodiments of Love! Among human beings, it is a privilege to be born as a woman… all the great sages and saints, heroes and warriors were born to women who made them great. It is obvious that feminine birth is admirable, adorable and sublime. (WLMG, p. 179)
Today people are conferred various titles like Padmashri, Padma Vibhushan, etc. But the titles conferred on women such as Grihalakshmi, Illalu, Dharmapathni, Ardhangini, etc., are very high and sacred. How can women with such exalted titles to their credit be inferior to men? But, unfortunately, today due to the effect of Kali Age, men look down upon women and treat them as mere servants. This is a big mistake. The more you respect women, the more you will be respected. (SSS Vol.33, p. 181)
At first, Chandramati was fear-stricken by the raging forest fire. She along with her husband and son was surrounded by flames of wild fire. Nobody could say how they were all of a sudden surrounded by the raging flames. This, in fact, was a divine play. Ultimately, when Chandramati utilized her power of truth and chastity, the fire, the fire was extinguished in a trice. As Chandramati prayed, there was a heavy downpour. On one side, there was raging fire and on the other side started a heavy rain, and ultimately the fire was completely extinguished.
Savitri was also endowed with great power of penance and chastity. She could even stop Yama (Lord of death) from taking her husband’s life. She argued with Yama and told him, ‘The life of wife depends upon her husband and that of the husband on his wife. So, if you want to take my husband’s life. We are not separate from each other. It is my primary duty to safeguard my husband’s life.’ Ultimately, Lord Yama had to revive Savitri’s husband. Is there any country or region in this world where one can find a woman like Savitri who could bring her dead husband back to life? Such divine power is latent in every human being. Man should draw this power from within himself, which he can utilise not only for himself but for others also.
During those times, wife considered her husband as her very life and vice-verse. But, unfortunately, the situation is not the same today. In this sacred land of Bharat, many women likeDamayanti, Savitri performed intense penance. They were all women of great chastity. But today we do not find such chaste women.
Develop Unity and Harmony in the Family
A Pativrata (chaste women) is one who considers her Pati (husband) as her life and depends entirely on him. She does not talk back to her husband, and has not even a little defect in her. She does not have any selfish desires. All that she does is for the sake of her husband. She would not even look at any male other than her husband. Only such a woman can be called a true Pativrata.. But modern ladies do not follow their husbands. They do not listen to what their husbands say. When the wife follows her husband and husband follows his wife and both lead a life of harmony, then the entire country will attain peace and prosperity. It is due to the differences between the husband and the wife and disunity in the family that the country is subjected to one trouble after the other. Both husband and wife should develop perfect understanding and should adjust with each other. When the wife obeys the command of her husband and the husband fulfils the desires of his wife, then the future of the family will be safe and secure. If they act contrary to this, the family will be subjected to great suffering. Sometimes, both husband and wife may conduct themselves in a decent manner when they are in their house. But when they go out of the house, they may indulge in all sorts of evils. This is not good. If there is unity and harmony between the wife and her husband, there is no use of undertaking spiritual practices like Japa, Dhyana (chanting, meditation) etc. When the wife follows her husband and the husband follows the wife, there is great happiness in the family. Strive to achieve that unity and harmony in your family. Then, your entire life will become happy and peaceful without any worries whatsoever. All your worries are of your own making. They are not given by God. God is not at a distant place. He is immanent in man. You should have unwavering faith in this truth. Then not only the individual will be happy, but there will be happiness in society also. Pure heart is the the temple of God. Therefore, develop love in your heart. Then you will attain everything in life.
There will be peace and happiness in the family when both husband and wife share the same views. A Pativrata is one who has no other thought of anybody except that of her husband. A woman who leads her life with such unflinching faith in her husband can achieve everything in her life. When both husband and wife follow different paths, then there can be no peace and happiness in the family. You should not allow your mind to waver this way and that way. You should totally focus on God. Contemplation of God is the basis unity and harmony in the family. When the wife prays to God the husband will become a good person.
Chaste women of yore like Sita and Damayanti had single-minded devotion towards their husbands. Sita was held captive in Lanka for ten months. But never even once did she look at the face of male person. She spent all her time in the contemplation of Rama, sitting under a tree in Ashoka garden. She did not move out at all. As she was such a great chaste women she could prove her purity through Agni Pariksha (test of fire). A pativrata who strictly obeys the command of her husband can do anything. If she prepares food for her husband with saline water of the ocean, it will be changed into sweet water. (S S December 2010 p.403/406)