Gayatri Mahima

[Guest guest]

Q.5. What are the basic reasons for the anti-women stance of some sects in

India?

 

Ans. During the medieval period there occurred overall degeneration and

corruption in Indian society. Resources and power were usurped by a handful of

corrupt rulers who ruthlessly exploited the poor and the downtrodden to fulfill

their coffers and maintain a high style of living. It was the period of high

tide of corrupt practices. Bonded labour, keeping concubines, abduction, feudal

wars, mass-murders and so many other vices took deep roots in the society. The

scholars dependent on the feudal lords were force, or to write and insert

spurious verses in the ancient scriptures to please their masters. Women, too,

could not escape this oppression. To exploit their youth, physical and

intellectual capabilities, the social codes of conducts were modified and she

was systematically brainwashed and subdued. The rulers, along with the so-called

scholars, gave a religious justification for the traditions established by them.

The women and the " untouchables " in India thus continuously suffered from dual

oppression, from within the country and from the foreign invaders. Woman was

made to accept the `virtues' of `purdah' (veil) and submissively follow the just

and unjust demands of her `God-husband'. She was even compelled to commit

suicide by forced immolation on the funeral pyre of her dead husband (the

ancient tradition of sati). Depriving a woman from worship of Gayatri was also

part of this conspiracy.

 

Ancient Indian history and scriptural disciplines provide ample evidence to show

that the religion in India did not permit any discrimination whatsoever between

the rights of men and women. On the contrary, woman was always considered

superior to man and worthy of reverence. In ancient times, the Rishikas (nuns)

participated as equal with men in all religious rituals. When Gayatri herself

has been symbolised as a female deity, what is the logic in denial of right of

Gayatri worship to a woman?