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== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

The Bharatiya Parampara enumerates various virtues as fundamentals or characteristics of dharma that should to be practiced by all. Among them, 'respect for women' was one of the most cherished values of life. Women were considered as divine treasures for family life. For, they are entrusted with the responsibility of motherhood by nature. An understanding 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 led to the evolution of a cultural value of regarding mother as a devata (divinity). Furthermore, as every woman is a potential mother, even small girls came to be addressed with respect as Ma, Amma etc., that mean mother. Once the value that 'every woman is motherly' is ingrained in the heart of an individual, immoral thoughts of committing any offence against woman gets destroyed. Thus, this value, cultivated and inculcated diligently in the hearts of individuals, acts as the greatest protection for women against the immoralities prevalent in the society.<ref name=":2" />

The Bharatiya Parampara enumerates various virtues as fundamentals or characteristics of dharma that should to be practiced by all. Among them, 'respect for women' was one of the most cherished values of life. Women were considered as divine treasures for family life. For, they are entrusted with the responsibility of motherhood by nature. An understanding 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 led to the evolution of a cultural value of regarding mother as a devata (divinity). Furthermore, as every woman is a potential mother, even small girls came to be addressed with respect as Ma, Amma etc., that mean mother. Once the value that 'every woman is motherly' is ingrained in the heart of an individual, immoral thoughts of committing any offence against woman gets destroyed. In fact, despite the declining moral values in recent years, this value, cultivated and inculcated diligently in the hearts of individuals, is acting by and large, as the greatest protection for women against the immoralities prevalent in the society. Thus, creating and maintaining this value has been one of the most valuable contribution of our ancestors.<ref name=":2" />

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.

Manusmriti, in the following verse, mandates that highest respect and regard must be extended to women. It says, <blockquote>यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः । यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः । । ३.५६ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ । yatraitāstu na pūjyante sarvāstatrāphalāḥ kriyāḥ । । 3.56 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning : Deities are pleased with the house in which women are respected. In that house in which women are insulted and are made to suffer, every thing done is sure to go waste.  

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

The importance given to this value of 'respect for womanhood' was ably exemplified by Shivaji Maharaj in his lifetime. It is said that having won the Kalyan province, Shivaji Maharaj acquired a lot of wealth. At that time, Abajipanth, who was the commander of the army that won the war, told him that a beautiful girl who was a member of the family of the Mughal Subhedar of Kalyan defeated in the war, had also been captured. And as he offered to present her to Maharaj, he said,<blockquote>''"You 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>''<nowiki/>''

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.

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 Bharata.

Manusmriti mandates in the following verse that highest respect and regard must be extended to women.<blockquote>"यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता: ||</blockquote><blockquote>यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रिया: ||</blockquote><blockquote>शोचंति जामयो यत्र विनश्यत्याशु तत्कुलम् |</blockquote><blockquote>न शोचंति तु यत्रैता वर्धते तद्धि सर्वदा ||</blockquote><blockquote>जामयो याति मोहानि संपत्य प्रतिपूजिता: |</blockquote><blockquote>ताति कृत्याहतानीव विनश्यंन्ति समन्वत: || " (Manu 3(56)-(57)-(58) )</blockquote>Meaning : Gods are pleased, with the house in which women are respected, in that house in which women are insulted and are made to suffer, every thing done is sure to go waste. If in a house daughter,1he daughter-in-law, and the sisters 'and other women suffer, that house is sure to be destroyed. The house in which such women live happily, secures wealth and happiness. The family in which the wife, the daughter, the sister and the daughter-in- law, etc, are not respected and in which they suffer from insult, is sure to be destroyed.

Furthermore, it is said that,<blockquote>शोचन्ति जामयो यत्र विनश्यत्याशु तत्कुलम् । न शोचन्ति तु यत्रैता वर्धते तद्धि सर्वदा । । ३.५७ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>जामयो यानि गेहानि शपन्त्यप्रतिपूजिताः । तानि कृत्याहतानीव विनश्यन्ति समन्ततः । । ३.५८ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''śocanti jāmayo yatra vinaśyatyāśu tatkulam । na śocanti tu yatraitā vardhate taddhi sarvadā । । 3.57 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''jāmayo yāni gehāni śapantyapratipūjitāḥ । tāni kr̥tyāhatānīva vinaśyanti samantataḥ । । 3.58 । ।''</blockquote>''<nowiki/>''

Meaning: If, in a house, the daughter, daughter-in-law, sisters and other women suffer, then that house is sure to be destroyed. The house in which such women live happily is the one that secures wealth and happiness. The family in which the wife, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, etc. are not respected and in which they suffer from insult, is sure to be destroyed.

Hence, men who seek (their own) welfare should always honour women on holidays and festivals with gifts, good attire and dainty food,<blockquote>"स्त्रियां तु रोचमानायां सर्वं तद्रोचते कुलम् |</blockquote><blockquote>तस्यां त्वरोचमानायां सर्वमेव न रोचते |</blockquote><blockquote>सुवासिनी: कुमारंश्च रोगिणो गर्भिणी: स्त्रिय: |</blockquote><blockquote>अतिथिभ्योग्र एवैतान् भोजयेदविचारयन् || " (Manu-III-62-114)</blockquote>Meaning : The house in which women folk are decorated with dress and jewellery, shines, otherwise, the house is sure to suffer. Recently married daughters, as well as daughter-in-law, young girls as also pregnant women should be served with meals even before the guests.

Hence, it is said that, men who seek (their own) welfare should always honour women with gifts, good attire and dainty food.<blockquote>स्त्रियां तु रोचमानायां सर्वं तद्रोचते कुलम् । तस्यां त्वरोचमानायां सर्वमेव न रोचते । । ३.६२ । ।</blockquote>''striyāṁ tu rocamānāyāṁ sarvaṁ tadrocate kulam । tasyāṁ tvarocamānāyāṁ sarvameva na rocate । । 3.62 । ।''

The above verses impress that any person who wants happiness at home and who desires that his family should prosper, and should secure enjoyment of life, must respect women always, There can be no doubt that the house in which husband and wife have mutual love and affection always secures happiness and good results and is really equal to heaven; the house in which women are insulted and harassed, becomes a hell.

Meaning : The house in which women folk are decorated with dress and jewellery shines. Otherwise, the house is sure to suffer.  

The above verses also indicate the utmost consideration given to women in Manusmriti. The normal duty of Grihastashrama{the state of the house holder) is to feed guests first and only thereafter the owner of the house, his wife and other members of the family have to have food. The above provision shows that a young daughter who had been recently married and a young daughter-in-law as also young girls and pregnant women were given such an importance and priority in that they were to be provided with meals even earlier than the guests. This indicates the highest concern shown to women in view of their great importance to the happiness of the family.

In fact, the Manusmrti goes ahead to say that, <blockquote>सुवासिनीः कुमारीश्च रोगिणो गर्भिणीः स्त्रियः । अतिथिभ्योऽग्र एवैतान् भोजयेदविचारयन् । । ३.११४ । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''suvāsinīḥ kumārīśca rogiṇo garbhiṇīḥ striyaḥ । atithibhyo'gra evaitān bhojayedavicārayan । । 3.114 । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: Recently married daughters, as well as daughters-in-law, young girls as also pregnant women should be served with meals even before the guests.

This indicates the utmost consideration given to women in Manusmrti. For, the normal duty of Grhasthashrami (Householder) is to feed guests first and only thereafter, the owner of the house, his wife and other members of the family have food. However, the above provision shows that a young daughter or daughter-in-law who has been recently married, as also young girls and pregnant women were given such an importance and priority that they were to be provided with meals even before the guests. This indicates the highest concern shown to women and the acknowledgement of their great importance to the happiness of the family. On the whole, the above verses impress that any person who wants happiness at home and who desires that his family should prosper and secure enjoyment of life, must respect women always.<ref name=":2" />

== Western Distortion of Dharma and its status of women in Vedic Bharat ==

== Western Distortion of Dharma and its status of women in Vedic Bharat ==