Sai message for the day

[Guest guest]

Swami! We hear many funny statements in present day society. People

speak about Women's Liberation Movement. Some say that women have not

been given their due place since times immemorial. They complain that

there has always been discrimination on grounds of gender and never

was a fair deal given to a woman. Women now fight for equal rights

with men. We pray to you to describe to us the role of women in our

society?

 

Sai Baba: This is not true, spiritually speaking. There is a physical

difference, but Atma or the spirit is one. However, each one has to

discharge duties expected of him or her. In a social order, man and

woman are like the two hands, the two eyes, and the two feet. One is

the positive, while the other is the negative for the current to flow

and operate. Lord Siva is called ardhanaris'vara, androgynous God

(half of his body being that of a woman) to explain this unity. Man

and woman are like matter and energy. A woman is described as

adis'akti, par a s'akti -Supreme Power, Infinite Power.

 

You also notice in the history of Bharat the place given to women.

Many of them are known today for their sacrifice, wisdom, devotion,

and many of them could give better and sane advice to their husbands.

Characters like Savitri, Mandodari, Sita, Anasuya, Tara, Damayanti,

Madalasa, and Draupadi are very well known. Draupadi served her five

husbands most faithfully, never said `no' to whatever work was

assigned to her, and led a life of contentment. When there was a

debate between Adi Sankara and Mandanamisra, it was the wife of

Mandanamisra, Ubhaya Bharati, who played the role of a judge and

pronounced Adi Sankara winner at the end. In ancient times, Gargi and

Maitreyi were known for their outstanding scholarship and spiritual

excellence. In recent times, have you not heard of the role played by

the mother of Emperor Sivaji and of Gandhi, the Father of the Nation,

in moulding their character and personality? They learnt lessons of

life in the lap of their mothers! It was due to the love and

inspiration of Kausalya and Sita towards their respective sons, Lord

Rama and the twins Lava and Kusa that the latter could earn undying

reputation and stand till today as ideals to the entire world.

 

In our daily prayers we say matr devo bhava, Mother is God. Don't you

see the names of women come first and those of men next in compounds

like Sita-Rama, Gauri-Sankar, Lakshmi-Narayana and so on? In the

past, there never was an instance of women being humiliated,

neglected or treated with disrespect. Don't you hear words like

`motherland', `mother tongue' that speak highly of women?

 

The Bhagavad gita refers to seven types of power enjoyed by women as

a matter of right. She has quite a few titles that underscore her

contribution to the family and her special role. A housewife is

called illalu, the one who takes care of the house or illu. She is

described as sahadharma carini, the one who guides her husband along

the path of Dharma. She is praised as gr halaks mi , the very

embodiment of the wealth, peace and prosperity of the family. She is

called ardhangi, representing a half of man, the better half.

 

Woman stands for patience, sacrifice, forbearance, respect, humility

and obedience, the qualities, which are usually missing among men. A

woman is prepared to die for her child or husband. She slogs and

struggles for the progress and the well being of the family. She is

the backbone of the country. She is the light and the delight of the

family.

[Guest guest]

> In the

> past, there never was an instance of women being humiliated,

> neglected or treated with disrespect.

 

what an absolutely ridiculous statement.

 

 

> One is

> the positive, while the other is the negative for the current to

flow and operate.

 

> She is

> called ardhangi, representing a half of man, the better half.

 

> Woman stands for patience, sacrifice, forbearance, respect, humility

> and obedience

 

patriarchal, dichotomous ways of construing reality; limited,

either-or thinking patterns.

 

 

> Draupadi SERVED her five

> husbands most faithfully, never said `no' to whatever work was

> ASSIGNED to her, and led a life of contentment [did she say this, or

was it assumed?].

 

> She has quite a few titles that underscore her

> contribution to the FAMILY and her SPECIAL role.

 

> the very

> embodiment of the wealth, peace and prosperity of the FAMILY

 

where in all of this is the woman's voice and choice?? one cannot be

an equal being if one is ground underfoot OR placed upon a pedestal.

both forced positions serve to solidify, and attempt to legitimize,

the power-over of the oppressors.