Guest guest Posted May 26, 2005 Report Share Posted May 26, 2005 Namaste. Women and Scriptures The following selection of verses are from Laksmi Tantra, Chapter 43, on the subject of women and their status in the Pancaratra tradition. na samret kamini nindam karmana manasa gira yatraham tatra tattvani tatraham tatra devatah (62). A yogin should never abuse a woman, either in deed, speech or thought. Wherever I (Lakshmi) am, the realities are where ever I am the gods too are. yo bhinindati tam narim laksmima bhinindati yo bhinindati tam laksmi trailokyama bhinindati (64) He who abuses women abuses Laksmi herself; He who abuses Laksmi abuses the entire three worlds. jyotsnam iva striyam drstva yasya cittam prasidati napadhyayati yatkincit sa me priyatmano matah (66) He whose heart is gladdened by the sight of women, like moonlight, and who never entertains evil thoughts about them, he is most dear to Me. aruna hyapaga yadvattatha simantini vara yadasmi janani nama trayanam jagatamaham (69) As also the Aruna river, so too are all women revered as being sinless. mattanurvanita saksad yogi kasmanna pujayet na kuryad vrjinam naryah kuvrttam na smaret striyah (71) Knowing women as my direct manifestation, how can a yogi refrain from revering them? Women should always be worshipped and treated with affection The Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Section XLVI Bhishma said: "Respect, kind treatment and everything else that is agreeable, should all be given unto the maiden whose hand is taken in marriage. Her sire and brothers and father-in law and husband's brothers should show her every respect and adorn her with ornaments. If they be desirous of reaping benefits, for such conduct on their part always leads to considerable happiness and advantage. "Women should always be worshipped and treated with affection. There where women are treated with respect, the very deities are said to be filled with joy. There where women are not worshipped, all acts become fruitless. If the women of a family, in consequence of the treatment they receive, grieve and shed tears, that family soon becomes extinct. Those houses that are cursed by women meet with destruction and ruin as if scorched by some Atharvan rite. Such houses lose their splendor. Their growth and prosperity cease. Women are disposed to accept the love that is offered to them, and devoted to truth. Women deserve to be honored. "Do ye men show them honor. The righteousness of men depends upon women. All pleasures and enjoyments also completely depend upon them. Do ye serve them and worship them. Do ye bend your wills before them. The begetting of offspring, the nursing of children already born, and the accomplishment of all acts necessary for the needs of society, behold, all these have women for their cause. "By honoring women, ye are sure to attain to the fruition of all objects. Deities of prosperity are women. The persons that desire prosperity should honor them. By cherishing women, one cherishes the goddess of prosperity herself, and by afflicting her, one is said to afflict the goddess of prosperity." continued on the next... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 27, 2005 Report Share Posted May 27, 2005 Namaste. Here is a beautiful and enlightening article about the 'womanhood of all souls'. Awakening the Inner Woman - Bhakti and the Doctrine of Love Article of the Month - December 2004 http://www.exoticindia.com/article/bhakti It was the early sixteenth century. A distinguished scholar named Jiva Gosain was head of the Vaishnavas in Vrindavana. At the same time Mirabai, the great woman saint of medieval India, too resided in the holy city. Once, the pious lady sent forth a message to Jiva Gosain that she wanted to meet him and have his darshan. He declined, saying that he would not allow any woman in his presence. Mira retorted: "O virtuous one, every one in Vrindavana is a woman. Only Krishna is Purusha (Male). Today only have I come to know that there is another Purusha besides Krishna in Vrindavana" Jiva Gosain, jolted into accepting the profundity of her statement immediately rushed to Mira's side and paid her due respects. The intense passion of Mirabai, which sought to model itself on the fervent ardor of the gopis of Vrindavana, suggests that the lord can be worshipped very effectively if the devotee imagines himself to be a woman. Read the rest of the article at: http://www.exoticindia.com/article/bhakti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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