A woman makes a man, she becomes her strength, her weakness, her passion and her love for a lifetime. Be it in any form, a mother, a sister, a daughter or a wife, she completes a man and becomes her companion for life. As per Hindu culture, women are worshipped in various forms like Durga, Kali, Saraswati and laxmi, but the Sanatan Hindu Dharma lays down certain rules and guidelines which she should follow and refrain from in her lifetime.
- Women should not learn to chant the Vedas as it is a full time job, instead she can learn sanskrit, grammar, civil laws, philosophical content of the Vedas and so on.
- The only vedic ritual which a woman is allowed to perform on her own, without her husband’s company is the Aupasana. The Pauranicvratas and pujas as per Hindu Shastra, other than this, that she can perform all belong to another category.
- Women are considered to be a part of the Adishakti, Durgamata and Laxmimata and hence she represents a sign of prosperity
- Kanyadaan is considered to be the biggest and highest form of donation that a man can ever give. However, a woman is not something useless which can be cast off and gotten rid off as per the Hindu culture. A daughter is closest to the heart of her father who gives her away to a suitable suitor with a heavy heart at the time of marriage.
- A mother is revered as a demi-God who is worthy of being served in all ways and at all times
- A wife is regarded as ‘Dharam-patni,’ a partner for life who accompanies a man through his journey called life on the path of Dharma and stands by him in every thick and thin. According to Hindu Dharma, no vedic ritual can be carried our successfully without the presence of one’s wife. Hence she is not just a Kamapatni, i.e. one who satisfies the carnal desires of a man.
- Women, be it the wife or the mother, play a pivotal role in shaping the psychological development of a child and hence are indirectly responsible for moulding the society, state nad country as a whole.
- Hinduism believes that a woman who is pure of heart and soul can save her husband even from the clutches of Yama, the God of death. Such is the power of her chastity that she can raise her husband from hell to heaven
- It is believed that the 50% of the fruits of the good deeds done by a man goes to his wife but it is not vice-versa, in fact, it is the wife’s purity, chastity and devotion that protects her husband from all evils
- Wife is called the ‘Grahini, meaning the queen of the house, while husband is simply addressed as a ‘Grihastha’ meaning a householder
- As per the Parasharasmriti, a woman whose husband has passed away or has left her permanently can remarry.
- A wife remains devoted to a husband, a husband remains devoted to his Guru and the Guru remains devoted to God. Hence, a husband too is bounded by his commitments towards his family, primarily his wife and children
- Last, but not the least, women, children and cows should never be disrespected as per our Manusmritis and Parasharasmriti