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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.

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>''<nowiki/>'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>Having said so he got her decorated with jewels and rich dress, and she was restored to the defeated Subhedhar who was overwhelmed and realised 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>"

''<nowiki/>'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>Having said so he got her decorated with jewels and rich dress, and she was restored to the defeated Subhedhar who was overwhelmed and realised the importance given to the value of respect for womanhood in this land.

Manusmriti mandates in the following verse that highest respect and regard must be extended to women.<blockquote>'''<nowiki>;</nowiki>= uk;ZLrq iwT;Urs jeUrs r= nsork%AA ;=SrkLrq u iwT;Urs lokZLr=kQyk% fØ;k%AA'''

Manusmriti mandates in the following verse that highest respect and regard must be extended to women.<blockquote>"

'''<nowiki>;</nowiki>= uk;ZLrq iwT;Urs jeUrs r= nsork%AA ;=SrkLrq u iwT;Urs lokZLr=kQyk% fØ;k%AA'''

''''kkspafr tke;ks ;= fou';R;k'kq rRdqyeà u 'kkspafr rq ;=Srk o/kZrs rf) loZnkAA tke;ks ;kfr eksgkfu laiR; izfriwftrk%A rkfr ÑR;kgrkuho fou';afUr leUor%AA'''

''''kkspafr tke;ks ;= fou';R;k'kq rRdqyeà u 'kkspafr rq ;=Srk o/kZrs rf) loZnkAA tke;ks ;kfr eksgkfu laiR; izfriwftrk%A rkfr ÑR;kgrkuho fou';afUr leUor%AA'''

'''MANU 3(56)-(57)-(58)'''</blockquote><blockquote>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.

'''MANU 3(56)-(57)-(58)'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

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.

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.

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.

Hence, men who seek (their own) welfare should always honour women on holidays and festivals with gifts, good attire and dainty food,</blockquote><blockquote>'''fL=;ka rq jkspekuk;ka lo± rnzksprs dqyeà rL;ka Rojkspekuk;ka loZeso u jksprsA lqokfluh% dqekja'p jksfx.kks xfHkZ.kh% fL=;%A vfrfFkH;ksxz ,oSrku Hkkst;snfopkj;uÃA'''</blockquote><blockquote>'''MANU-III-62-114'''</blockquote><blockquote>The house in which women folk are decorated with dress and jewellery, shines, otherwise, the house is sure to suffer.

Hence, men who seek (their own) welfare should always honour women on holidays and festivals with gifts, good attire and dainty food,</blockquote><blockquote>"

'''fL=;ka rq jkspekuk;ka lo± rnzksprs dqyeà rL;ka Rojkspekuk;ka loZeso u jksprsA lqokfluh% dqekja'p jksfx.kks xfHkZ.kh% fL=;%A vfrfFkH;ksxz ,oSrku Hkkst;snfopkj;uÃA'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

'''MANU-III-62-114'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

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.

Recently married daughters, as well as daughter-in-law, young girls as also pregnant women should be served with meals even before the guests.

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.

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.

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

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

However, there is a verse on the basis of which Manu Smriti is criticized and condemned as being against women. It reads:<blockquote>'''firk j{kfr dkSekjs HkrkZ j{kfr ;kSousA j{kfUr LFkfojs iq=k u L=h LokrU«;egZfrAA'''</blockquote><blockquote>'''MANU-IX-3'''</blockquote><blockquote>The father protects the girl in her childhood, the husband protects her after marriage and her sons protect her in old age. At no stage should a woman be left free.

However, there is a verse on the basis of which Manu Smriti is criticized and condemned as being against women. It reads:<blockquote>"

'''firk j{kfr dkSekjs HkrkZ j{kfr ;kSousA j{kfUr LFkfojs iq=k u L=h LokrU«;egZfrAA'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

'''MANU-IX-3'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

The father protects the girl in her childhood, the husband protects her after marriage and her sons protect her in old age. At no stage should a woman be left free.

On the basis of the last part of the above verse, without reference to the earlier parts and other verses in Manu Smriti, referred to earlier, the criticism levelled against Manu Smriti is that it wanted women to live like slaves of man through out their life.

On the basis of the last part of the above verse, without reference to the earlier parts and other verses in Manu Smriti, referred to earlier, the criticism levelled against Manu Smriti is that it wanted women to live like slaves of man through out their life.

</blockquote>Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is a matter of common knowledge that in most of the families, except those of people who are uncultured and who fall into bad habits, particularly those who have become alcohol addicts, the women are not only respected most, their advice in every matter concerning the family prevails and even now it is so. They shape the fortunes of the family. Therefore, the true meaning and purpose of the above verse is that a woman requires and is entitled to protection in every stage of life. Correspondingly it is the duty of the father, .the husband and the sons to look after the daughter, the wife and the mother respectively. It is the duty of the father to look after his daughter with all care, educate her having due regard to her aptitude including in arts

</blockquote>Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is a matter of common knowledge that in most of the families, except those of people who are uncultured and who fall into bad habits, particularly those who have become alcohol addicts, the women are not only respected most, their advice in every matter concerning the family prevails and even now it is so. They shape the fortunes of the family. Therefore, the true meaning and purpose of the above verse is that a woman requires and is entitled to protection in every stage of life. Correspondingly it is the duty of the father, .the husband and the sons to look after the daughter, the wife and the mother respectively. It is the duty of the father to look after his daughter with all care, educate her having due regard to her aptitude including in arts

The above illustrations are not exhaustive. There are many situations in which the women/girls require greater care, protection and security.

The above illustrations are not exhaustive. There are many situations in which the women/girls require greater care, protection and security.

It is such a difference flowing from the nature of women, who are vulnerable to various kinds of onslaughts when left unprotected which is the basis for the above verse of Manu Smriti, It does not mean that woman must be kept without freedom. Such an

It is such a difference flowing from the nature of women, who are vulnerable to various kinds of onslaughts when left unprotected which is the basis for the above verse of Manu Smriti, It does not mean that woman must be kept without freedom. Such an

interpretation runs counter to the verse, which says that the house in which women are insulted and shed tears gets destroyed. The above true meaning of the verse becomes more clear when it is read with another provision in Manu in which the highest respect is required to be given to women.<blockquote>'''mik/;k;kUn'kkpk;Z vkpk;kZ.ka 'kra firkA lgL=a rq fir`Uekrk xkSjos.kkfrfjP;rsAA'''</blockquote><blockquote>'''MANU II-145'''</blockquote><blockquote>The acharya is more venerable than a Upadhyaya (teacher). father is more venerable than an acharya. But the mother is more venerable than the father.

interpretation runs counter to the verse, which says that the house in which women are insulted and shed tears gets destroyed. The above true meaning of the verse becomes more clear when it is read with another provision in Manu in which the highest respect is required to be given to women.<blockquote>"

'''mik/;k;kUn'kkpk;Z vkpk;kZ.ka 'kra firkA lgL=a rq fir`Uekrk xkSjos.kkfrfjP;rsAA'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

'''MANU II-145'''</blockquote><blockquote>"

The acharya is more venerable than a Upadhyaya (teacher). father is more venerable than an acharya. But the mother is more venerable than the father.

</blockquote>A combined reading of the verses quoted above indicate that women were placed at a higher position. The above verse in Manu indicates that while the teacher is to be placed at a higher level, the father is to be respected more than the teacher and no place, no status which is higher than that of the mother is given to any one. These verses should be read with the earlier verse. ''So the real meaning is, the women should be honoured and protected.'' It is a humane and a duty-oriented provision, the mandate to provide security. This should not be misunderstood as making her life insecure. She should not be left open to attack by men with evil propensities, it does not mean her freedom should be jeopardised. Any meaning given to the verse to the effect that women should be denied freedom at every stage is perverse as it would be totally inconsistent with the other verses. For, if women are denied freedom and they are kept under subjugation they are bound to be in grief and tears, and as a consequence the happiness of the family disappears. Hence, a meaning consistent with the above verses alone is appropriate.

</blockquote>A combined reading of the verses quoted above indicate that women were placed at a higher position. The above verse in Manu indicates that while the teacher is to be placed at a higher level, the father is to be respected more than the teacher and no place, no status which is higher than that of the mother is given to any one. These verses should be read with the earlier verse. ''So the real meaning is, the women should be honoured and protected.'' It is a humane and a duty-oriented provision, the mandate to provide security. This should not be misunderstood as making her life insecure. She should not be left open to attack by men with evil propensities, it does not mean her freedom should be jeopardised. Any meaning given to the verse to the effect that women should be denied freedom at every stage is perverse as it would be totally inconsistent with the other verses. For, if women are denied freedom and they are kept under subjugation they are bound to be in grief and tears, and as a consequence the happiness of the family disappears. Hence, a meaning consistent with the above verses alone is appropriate.