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Our ancestors also laid stress on the principle that God is one despite the fact that people belonging to different religious faiths call him by different names and therefore by whatever name god may be addressed in offering obeisance the destination is the same. This principle has been forcefully expressed in the following verse:<blockquote>आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् | सर्वदेवनमस्कारः केशवं प्रति गच्छति ||</blockquote><blockquote>''ākāśāt patitaṁ tōyaṁ yathā gacchati sāgaram | sarvadēvanamaskāraḥ kēśavaṁ prati gacchati ||''</blockquote>Meaning: Just as the rain water corning down to the earth from the sky reaches the same ocean, obeisance to God by any name reaches the same destination - The one God by whatever name He is called.
 
Our ancestors also laid stress on the principle that God is one despite the fact that people belonging to different religious faiths call him by different names and therefore by whatever name god may be addressed in offering obeisance the destination is the same. This principle has been forcefully expressed in the following verse:<blockquote>आकाशात् पतितं तोयं यथा गच्छति सागरम् | सर्वदेवनमस्कारः केशवं प्रति गच्छति ||</blockquote><blockquote>''ākāśāt patitaṁ tōyaṁ yathā gacchati sāgaram | sarvadēvanamaskāraḥ kēśavaṁ prati gacchati ||''</blockquote>Meaning: Just as the rain water corning down to the earth from the sky reaches the same ocean, obeisance to God by any name reaches the same destination - The one God by whatever name He is called.
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The following prayer incorporated in the Upanishads, discloses the lofty ideals evolved in our culture from ancient times :
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The following prayer incorporated in the Upanishads, discloses the lofty ideals evolved in our culture from ancient times :<blockquote>सह नाववतु | सह नौ भुनक्तु | सह वीर्यं करवावहै | तेजस्वी नावधीतमस्तु | मा विद्विषावहै | ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः |</blockquote><blockquote>''saha nāvavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha vīryaṁ karavāvahai | tējasvī nāvadhītamastu | mā vidviṣāvahai | oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ |''</blockquote>Meaning: May He (God) protect us both together; may Re nourish us both together; may we work conjointly with great energy; may our study be vigorous and effective; may we not hate anyone. Let there be peace, peace and peace.
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saha naa vavatu
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Again in Bhagavadgita, Chapter XII-13-14, Lord Krishna lays down the proper code of conduct by saying that a person who observes such a code of conduct is dear to Him. It reads:<blockquote>अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च । निर्ममो निरहंकारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ॥१२- १३॥</blockquote><blockquote>संतुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः । मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ॥१२- १४॥<ref>Bhagavad Gita, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE/%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 12].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''advēṣṭā sarvabhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa ēva ca । nirmamō nirahaṁkāraḥ samaduḥkhasukhaḥ kṣamī ॥12- 13॥''</blockquote><blockquote>''saṁtuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yōgī yatātmā dr̥ḍhaniścayaḥ । mayyarpitamanōbuddhiryō madbhaktaḥ sa mē priyaḥ ॥12- 14॥''</blockquote>Meaning: The person who hates none, who is friendly and has compassion for all, who has no selfishness and ego, who , maintains balance of mind in pain and pleasure, who has contentment, is steady in meditation, self controlled, and firm in his decision, who is dedicated to me, and who is my devotee is dear to me.
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May He (God) protect us both together; may Re nourish us both together; may we work conjointly with great energy; may our study be vigorous and effective; may we not hate anyone. Let there be peace, peace and peace.
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Every one of the qualities indicated is general in nature. Surely cultivation of such qualities, elevates the individual to a higher level of humanity. The above mentioned provisions in the Smritis, the Upanishads and the Geeta indicate that secularism par excellence has been one of the elements of the basic structures of Raja Dharma, our constitutional law, from times immemorial.  
Again in Bhagavadgita, Chapter XII-13-14, Lord the Krishna lays down the proper code of conduct by saying that a person who observes such a code of conduct is dear to Him. It reads:
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=== RESPECT FOR WOMANHOOD ===
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Respect for women was another most cherished value of life from times immemorial in Bharat. Manusmriti mandates in the following verse that highest respect and regard must be extended to women. <blockquote>यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः । यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः । । ३.५६ । ।</blockquote><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">Manusmrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 3].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''yatra nāryastu pūjyantē ramantē tatra dēvatāḥ । yatraitāstu na pūjyantē sarvāstatrāphalāḥ kriyāḥ । । 3.56 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''śōcanti jāmayō yatra vinaśyatyāśu tatkulam । na śōcanti tu yatraitā vardhatē taddhi sarvadā । । 3.57 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''jāmayō yāni gēhāni śapantyapratipūjitāḥ । tāni kr̥tyāhatānīva vinaśyanti samantataḥ । । 3.58 । ।''</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.
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The person who hates none, who is friendly and has compassion for all, who has no selfishness and ego, who , maintains balance of mind in pain and pleasure, who has contentment, is steady in meditation, self controlled, and firm in his decision, who is dedicated to me, and who is my devotee is dear to me.
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If in a house daughter, the 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.
Every one of the qualities indicated is general in nature. Surely cultivation of such qualities, elevates the individual to a higher level of humanity. The above mentioned provisions in the Smritis, the Upanishads and the Geeta indicate that secularism par excellence has been one of the elements of the basic structures of Raja Dharma, our constitutional law, from times immemoriRESPECT
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== SAMANATA (EQUALITY) ==
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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.
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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 । तस्यां त्वरोचमानायां सर्वं एव न रोचते । । ३.६२ । ।</blockquote><blockquote>सुवासिनीः कुमारीश्च रोगिणो गर्भिणीः स्त्रियः । अतिथिभ्योऽग्र एवैतान्भोजयेदविचारयन् । । ३.११४[१०४ं] । ।<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>''striyāṁ tu rōcamānāyāṁ sarvaṁ tadrōcatē kulam । tasyāṁ tvarōcamānāyāṁ sarvaṁ ēva na rōcatē । । 3.62 । ।''</blockquote><blockquote>''suvāsinīḥ kumārīśca rōgiṇō garbhiṇīḥ striyaḥ । atithibhyō'gra ēvaitānbhōjayēdavicārayan । । 3.114[104ṁ] । ।''</blockquote>Meaning: The house in which women folk are decorated with dress and jewellery, shines, otherwise, the house is sure to suffer.
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Recently married daughters, as well as daughter-in-law, young girls as also pregnant women should be served with meals even before the guests.
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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.
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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.
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An analysis of many other provisions concerning women in the Smritis indicate that special provisions had been made in favour of women in many respects. They are:
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==== Rights of women members of joint family ====
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==== Misuse or dependence of the property of women prohibited ====
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==== Right of Wives ====
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==== Right of mothers ====
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==== Rights of daughters ====
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==== Stridhana ====
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==== Exception to women's property from the law of adverse possession ====
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==== Special provision in favor of women regarding quantum of penalty ====
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=== SAMANATA (EQUALITY) ===
    
The Vedas constituted the primordial source of Dharma. The Charter of Equality (Samanta) incorporated in the Rigveda, the most ancient of the Vedas, and in the Atharvanaveda are worth quoting.
 
The Vedas constituted the primordial source of Dharma. The Charter of Equality (Samanta) incorporated in the Rigveda, the most ancient of the Vedas, and in the Atharvanaveda are worth quoting.

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