By Radhikakrpa devi dasi
From a a speech I gave in ISKCON New Delhi in the audotorium on the invitation of an NGO where a minister from centre and other dignitaries were invited.
“Empower Women To Empower India” ;
This was the topic forwarded to me to speak on at a seminar held by one of the top NGO ‘s . Representing ISKCON I was expected to give a spiritual touch to the ‘so called weak position of women’. Blessed by Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaj ji at heart I, totally disagreed with this statement . However ,at the dias quite at ease I started my speech facing the crowd who unabashedly was glorifying the women political leaders ,top sportswomen , women holding top posts in bureaucracy ,some women from history and even holding in high esteem the women from ‘beauty paegents’.
Forgotten was our ‘ Vedic Culture ‘ in the speeches made by the honourable minister present, down to some renowned personalities who in their speeches were busy advocating solutions to the problems bereft of the presence of the ‘Soul’ in the’ Lifeless Society ‘; as Srila Prabhupada would quote without consulting the ‘brahamanas’ of the society the problems refrain to be solved at the core. .
I started my speech reminding the crowd of our long forlorn culture :-
Among many civilisations in the world the most venerating regard for the ‘ women ‘ has been found in the ‘Vedic Culture’. The Vedic tradition has held a high regard for the qualities of women and has retained greatest respect within its culture. Down the Vedic Era the women have been held in high esteem . The level of civility along with moral and spiritual standards in a society can be perceived by the respect it gives to its women.Not that it glorifies them for the role of a ‘progeny giver’ and provide them all freedom that men want ; so that they can be exploited and taken advantage of but that they are regarded in a way that allows them to live in honour for their importance in society with respect and protection. And providing the ‘women ‘ an opportunity to reach their real potential in life .
The Vedic Society being the ideal society is based on the principles spoken directly by the Supreme Power; Sri Krsna. It belives in giving ‘protection’ to women and ‘discriminating’ them.To save the degenerating society ‘safety for women’ should be the main concern. Father protects the girl child before marriage ,after marriage she becomes the resposibility of the husband for giving protection and on loosing the husband the son is liable to take care of; this is the real Vedic Society.
Vedic Society emphasise the role of women in all spheres. The Vedas for example designate ‘an ideal woman’ as:-
Aditi – as she is not dependant
Brhati – for she is large hearted
Chandra – for she is happy
Devakama – since she is pious
Kshama – for she is tolerant
Saraswati – for she is scholarly
Sumangali – for she is auspicious
Vishruta – for she is glorious
Yogha – for she is intermingled with man,she is not separate ; she is the ‘ardha – angini’.
There are many more qualities adorned by the women mentioned in the Vedic scriptures.
She is the core of the society; the pivot around whom the whole family revolves .The families together form the society which in turn lead to build the nation and the nations join in to form the world. She is the Caretaker of the new generation. The coming generation lies completely in her hands ; under her guidance.She is the first ‘guru’ ,a spiritual guide to her children. The Vedic scriptures being the ‘saksahad pramaan'(evidence) inform about Dhruva Maharaj and Prahalad Maharaj who followed the words of their mothers and became the most fortunate one’s to have ‘darshan'(audience) of the Supreme Lord;Sri Krsna just at the tender age of five and seven respectively.
Many women characters embedded in the scriptures exhibit various qualities rare to be found. Like Kunti Maharani ; the mother of five illustrious sons ,the Pandavas. Her spontaneous glorification of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna and her description of the spiritual path are immortalised in the ‘Bhagavata Purana’. Her prayers as said by His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada are simple and illuminating outpourings of the soul of a great saintly woman devotee. They reveal both transcendental emotions of the heart and the most profound theological penetrations of the intellect. Her words have been chanted, recited and sung by sages,devotees and philosphers for thousands of years.
She is the epitome of tolerance and devotion. She had the courage to pray for distress and shortcomings so as to remain in the shelter of the Lord
always.
“Draupadi” is yet another strong character imbibed with deep conviction whose faith never wavered in the Supreme Power even though she went through very difficult times. Her deep faith and strong love made even the Lord of the Universe to reciprocate .Her compassion and strength made her forgive the killer of her five sons. Only a woman so perfect could do this.
Nevertheless, the Creator of the spiritual and material worlds ;the emanator of everything the Supreme Personality Of Godhead Sri Krsna who governs all is governed by His Consort Srimati Radharani – His internal potency ; the Hladini sakti – the pleasure potency.
A devotee has to invoke Her compassion who recommends the devotee to Sri Krsna as Radharani can easily please Him.He controls all but She controls Him.He is the Supreme Power but She is the Most Supreme .
Even the material world of the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna is put under the control of His external energy ‘Mahamaya’ who maintains this ‘Mrtyuloka’ and provides all for sense gratification.
Ironically, this concludes that women are already empowered without any scope of empowering them. She has to recogonise her potential and derive inspiration from the ideal women of the ‘Vedic Times’ ; imbibing those qualities she empowers not only herself but the whole family; the whole society; the whole nation and the whole world.