Yasyam bhutam samabhavat
Yasyam visvamidam jagat
Tamadya gatham gasyami
Ya strivamuttamam yasah.
The Vedas are a rich matrix of knowledge and have a distinguished place in the world literature for various reasons historical philosophical linguistic and otherwise. But they are singularly un paralleled in that they accord the highest esteem to women as an individual and an equally respectful status as a member of the family and society. The vedic depiction of women not only portrays their role in the family and society but also their affinity with the cosmic creative process and their identity as symbols of power and glory needless to say that the vedic view of women is a holistic one in which male and female are internally complimentary none is better or worse half they are just two equal halves of the same substance two aspects of the same reality.
The dignified picture of women power that emerge from these enunciations are uniformly impressive and eternally enviable. As regards the content of the Vedas connoting the identity of the status of women we find there are three levels. The transcendent women in the form of deities invoked in Vedic hymns; the extraordinary gifted woman described as female seers of Vedic hymns; the ordinary women depicted as daughter, wife, mother, sister etc.There are more than 20 female deities andas many as 27 female seers in RigVeda alone. These deities are described as personified female charm grace and freedom. Eg. Aditi is etymologicaly explained as unbinding freedom of boundlessness and she is the mother of the Gods. She denotes the endless expanse of the infinite cosmic power.
Viewed from the point of view many rich refined and chiselled feminine images emerge from the Vedas in several shades; prominent among them Physical charm; Intellectual calibre; Familial rules; Social status; Spiritual strength:
Arthur Anthony Macdonell a professor of Sanskrit from Oxford says Usas is the most graceful creation of Vedic poetry and that there is no more charming figure in the descriptive religious lyrics of any other literature.
Usa the immortal goddess has shone in earlier days she shines today and she will shine hereafter never aging. Like a shining silver wheel she revolves ever anew effulgent in peerless beauty she does not give her light in discrimination but floods the entire world with her brilliant torch. Rising resplendent as from a bath showing her charms she approaches with light dispelling darkness.
The physical charm and feminine grace of a woman is so intricately woven in the Vedic diction of depiction of female goddesses that the poetic appeal of Vedas is also enhanced substantially.
Besides the beautiful goddesses of dawn Usa, the beautifully adorned bride Surya who is wearing a lovely garment embellished with the gatha song she has decorated herself in such a way that thought was the pillow of her couch and sight the unguent of her eyes. heaven and earth her treasure box.
Saraswathy is the perfect feminine personification of mental capabilities wisdom imagination and creativity, a purifying power and source fountain of flowing knowledge, a mighty ocean of intellect, inspires of sweet words, impeller of noble thoughts etc.
Clarisse Bader a French writer writes Has not a time arrived we repeat to refresh ourselves from mere life giving and generous sources: And only India has the hon-our of affording such sources, there is a sense of duty dominating affections a feeling of respect for family life, a love for ones neighbors a charity including even animals a spirit of sacrifice an act of strengthening the heart.
Yasyam visvamidam jagat
Tamadya gatham gasyami
Ya strivamuttamam yasah.
The Vedas are a rich matrix of knowledge and have a distinguished place in the world literature for various reasons historical philosophical linguistic and otherwise. But they are singularly un paralleled in that they accord the highest esteem to women as an individual and an equally respectful status as a member of the family and society. The vedic depiction of women not only portrays their role in the family and society but also their affinity with the cosmic creative process and their identity as symbols of power and glory needless to say that the vedic view of women is a holistic one in which male and female are internally complimentary none is better or worse half they are just two equal halves of the same substance two aspects of the same reality.
The dignified picture of women power that emerge from these enunciations are uniformly impressive and eternally enviable. As regards the content of the Vedas connoting the identity of the status of women we find there are three levels. The transcendent women in the form of deities invoked in Vedic hymns; the extraordinary gifted woman described as female seers of Vedic hymns; the ordinary women depicted as daughter, wife, mother, sister etc.There are more than 20 female deities andas many as 27 female seers in RigVeda alone. These deities are described as personified female charm grace and freedom. Eg. Aditi is etymologicaly explained as unbinding freedom of boundlessness and she is the mother of the Gods. She denotes the endless expanse of the infinite cosmic power.
Viewed from the point of view many rich refined and chiselled feminine images emerge from the Vedas in several shades; prominent among them Physical charm; Intellectual calibre; Familial rules; Social status; Spiritual strength:
Arthur Anthony Macdonell a professor of Sanskrit from Oxford says Usas is the most graceful creation of Vedic poetry and that there is no more charming figure in the descriptive religious lyrics of any other literature.
Usa the immortal goddess has shone in earlier days she shines today and she will shine hereafter never aging. Like a shining silver wheel she revolves ever anew effulgent in peerless beauty she does not give her light in discrimination but floods the entire world with her brilliant torch. Rising resplendent as from a bath showing her charms she approaches with light dispelling darkness.
The physical charm and feminine grace of a woman is so intricately woven in the Vedic diction of depiction of female goddesses that the poetic appeal of Vedas is also enhanced substantially.
Besides the beautiful goddesses of dawn Usa, the beautifully adorned bride Surya who is wearing a lovely garment embellished with the gatha song she has decorated herself in such a way that thought was the pillow of her couch and sight the unguent of her eyes. heaven and earth her treasure box.
Saraswathy is the perfect feminine personification of mental capabilities wisdom imagination and creativity, a purifying power and source fountain of flowing knowledge, a mighty ocean of intellect, inspires of sweet words, impeller of noble thoughts etc.
Clarisse Bader a French writer writes Has not a time arrived we repeat to refresh ourselves from mere life giving and generous sources: And only India has the hon-our of affording such sources, there is a sense of duty dominating affections a feeling of respect for family life, a love for ones neighbors a charity including even animals a spirit of sacrifice an act of strengthening the heart.
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