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== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

Respect for women was another most cherished value of life from times immemorial in Bharat. Women were not considered as an object of physical pleasure by man, but were regarded as divine treasures for family life. In view of the role assigned by nature to mothers, and in view of the fact that the mother is the dearest person on earth to an individual and in view of the intense love and affection of a mother for her children, and her readiness to make tremendous sacrifices for the sake of her children the mother came to be regarded as God incarnate (Mata Pratyaksha Devatha). Further, as every woman is a potential mother, the cultural value evolved was to treat mother as God and to treat every woman except one's wife, as mother. As a result, every woman and even small girls, are addressed as Ma, Amma etc., which means mother.

Respect for women was another most cherished value of life from times immemorial in Bharat. Women were not considered as an object of physical pleasure by man, but were regarded as divine treasures for family life. In view of the role assigned by nature to mothers, and in view of the fact that the mother is the dearest person on earth to an individual and in view of the intense love and affection of a mother for her children, and her readiness to make tremendous sacrifices for the sake of her children the mother came to be regarded as God incarnate (Mata Pratyaksha Devatha). Further, as every woman is a potential mother, the cultural value evolved was to treat mother as God and to treat every woman except one's wife, as mother. As a result, every woman and even small girls, are addressed as Ma, Amma etc., which means mother.

This value appears to have been created and cultivated assiduously as an antidote to the sexual propensity of man, for, once the value that every woman is mother is ingrained in the heart of an individual, immoral thoughts of committing any offence against woman gets destroyed. There can be no doubt that inculcating such a value in the hearts of individuals is the greatest protection against the immoral sexual desires of man.

 

The creation and maintaining of this value is really the most valuable contribution of our ancestors. In fact the main cause for the greatest wars fought on this land namely the Rama-Ravana war and rhe Pandava -Kaurava war was the onslaught on a woman,

This value appears to have been created and cultivated diligently. For, once the value that every woman is mother is ingrained in the heart of an individual, immoral thoughts of committing any offence against woman gets destroyed. There can be no doubt that inculcating such a value in the hearts of individuals is the greatest protection against the immoral desires of man.

Sita and Draupadi respectively. Despite declining moral values in recent years, by and large, the said value is still acting as the greatest safeguard against atrocities on women.

 

The creation and maintaining of this value is really the most valuable contribution of our ancestors. Despite declining moral values in recent years, by and large, the said value is still acting as the greatest safeguard against atrocities on women.

 

There is a glowing instance in the life of Shivaji Maharaj.

There is a glowing instance in the life of Shivaji Maharaj.

He won Kalyana province and acquired a lot of wealth. Abajipanth, who was the commander of the army who won the war told Shivaji that a beautiful girl had also been captured and he was presenting her to Maharaj. She was a member of the family of the Mughal Subhedar of Kalyan who was defeated in the war. Shivaji said, <blockquote>''"Y<nowiki/>ou say she is so beautiful, she is equal to my mother. So, I love and respect her. Moreover affording protection to women is Raja Dharma."''</blockquote>Having said so he got her decorated with jewels and rich dress, and she was restored to the defeated Subhedhar who was overwhelmed and realized the importance given to the value of respect for womanhood in this land.

He won Kalyana province and acquired a lot of wealth. Abajipanth, who was the commander of the army who won the war told Shivaji that a beautiful girl had also been captured and he was presenting her to Maharaj. She was a member of the family of the Mughal Subhedar of Kalyan who was defeated in the war. Shivaji said, <blockquote>''"Y<nowiki/>ou say she is so beautiful, she is equal to my mother. So, I love and respect her. Moreover affording protection to women is Raja Dharma."''</blockquote>Having said so he got her decorated with jewels and rich dress, and she was restored to the defeated Subhedhar who was overwhelmed and realized the importance given to the value of respect for womanhood in this land.