Worshiped in temples as Goddess Durga (strength, power), Saraswati (knowledge, wisdom) and Lakshmi (wealth, prosperity) but ogled, accosted and harassed at home, office and streets. We call our country 'Motherland' but dishonour the mother in every woman daily. Required at every puja (religious prayers and ceremonies) and sacred function and essential for continuation of lineage and tradition but unceremoniously discarded, dumped and ignored thereafter. The object of lust in every male conversation but never the subject of love. The most beautiful and wonderful creation of Nature yet the most vulnerable and emotionally exploited.
Those Men who act as Lion at home roaring at their unfortunate halves forget that Durga rides a Lion & Kali holds a sword to decimate evil. Goddesses are shown with multiple arms no doubt a tribute to their multi-tasking skills and acknowledgement that even Gods depend on their feminine counterparts to sustain the Universe.
Looking at the beauty, grace, elegance and inspiring sculptors of Ancient India, I wonder what could have been and think, where did we come from and where are we going. If past is any indicator, we have a lot catching up to do to place our women at the same pedestal, position and footing they so deserving enjoyed a millenia ago, as aptly captured in the Sanskrit shloka (verse) below.
यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।
यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ॥
yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ|
yatraitāstu na pūjyante sarvāstatrāphalāḥ kriyāḥ ||
The divine are extremely happy where women are respected;
where they are not, all actions (projects) are fruitless (Manusmriti, 3.56)
Those Men who act as Lion at home roaring at their unfortunate halves forget that Durga rides a Lion & Kali holds a sword to decimate evil. Goddesses are shown with multiple arms no doubt a tribute to their multi-tasking skills and acknowledgement that even Gods depend on their feminine counterparts to sustain the Universe.
Looking at the beauty, grace, elegance and inspiring sculptors of Ancient India, I wonder what could have been and think, where did we come from and where are we going. If past is any indicator, we have a lot catching up to do to place our women at the same pedestal, position and footing they so deserving enjoyed a millenia ago, as aptly captured in the Sanskrit shloka (verse) below.
यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।
यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफलाः क्रियाः ॥
yatra nāryastu pūjyante ramante tatra devatāḥ|
yatraitāstu na pūjyante sarvāstatrāphalāḥ kriyāḥ ||
The divine are extremely happy where women are respected;
where they are not, all actions (projects) are fruitless (Manusmriti, 3.56)
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