Changes

== 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, sinful 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.

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,

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,

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.

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.

=== Misuse or dependence of the property of women prohibited ===

=== Misuse or dependence of the property of women prohibited ===

<blockquote>"न कन्याया: पिता विद्वान्गृहणीयाच्छुल्कमण्वपि |</blockquote><blockquote>गृह्यञछुल्कं हि लोभेन स्यान्नरोऽपत्यविक्रयी ||</blockquote><blockquote>स्त्रीधनानि तु ये मोहादुपजीवन्ति बान्धवा: |</blockquote><blockquote>नारीयानानि वस्त्रं वा ते पापा यान्त्यधोगतिम् || " (Manu III-51-52)</blockquote>Meaning : No father who knows (the law) must take even the smallest gratuity for his daughter; for a man who, through avarice, takes a gratuity, is a seller of his offspring. But those (male) relations, who in their folly live on the separate property of women, (Ex: appropriate) the beasts of burden, carriages, and cloths of women, commit sin and suffer a downfall.

<blockquote>"न कन्याया: पिता विद्वान्गृहणीयाच्छुल्कमण्वपि |</blockquote><blockquote>गृह्यञछुल्कं हि लोभेन स्यान्नरोऽपत्यविक्रयी ||</blockquote><blockquote>स्त्रीधनानि तु ये मोहादुपजीवन्ति बान्धवा: |</blockquote><blockquote>नारीयानानि वस्त्रं वा ते पापा यान्त्यधोगतिम् || " (Manu III-51-52)</blockquote>Meaning : No father who knows (the law) must take even the smallest gratuity for his daughter; for a man who, through avarice, takes a gratuity, is a seller of his offspring. But those (male) relations, who in their folly live on the separate property of women, (Ex: appropriate) the beasts of burden, carriages, and cloths of women, commit papa (पापम्) and suffer a downfall.

In view of the greater chances of exploitation of childhood and youth resulting in moral and material abandonment indulged in by those who care only for earning money through unhealthy and obscene magazines and books and audio visual equipments, now it is becoming clear only women can save childhood and youth from such exploitation. It is this aspect which is the basis of the verses in Manu.

In view of the greater chances of exploitation of childhood and youth resulting in moral and material abandonment indulged in by those who care only for earning money through unhealthy and obscene magazines and books and audio visual equipments, now it is becoming clear only women can save childhood and youth from such exploitation. It is this aspect which is the basis of the verses in Manu.