Empowerment of Women Based on Sanskrit Texts (original) (raw)
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WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN HINDUISM WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN HINDUISM
Darsana, 2024
Hinduism is an Indian religion and dharma, or way of life. It is the world's third-largest religion with over 1.25 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global population, known as Hindus. The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma, "the eternal way" which refers to the idea that its origins lie beyond human history, as revealed in the Hindu texts. Another, though less fitting, self-designation is Vaidika dharma, the 'dharma related to the Vedas.' Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world with an estimate of 851 million people identifying themselves as Hindus. It is the dominant religion in India, Nepal, and South Asia, and it is very diverse in that it does not have a single founder or holy text, and that there are many different branches of Hinduism. Since Hinduism is one of the biggest religions of the world it is significant to explore the role that women play in developing and practicing this religion. In order to understand this role, Hinduism first needs to be explained a little bit more. As mentioned before, there is no single text that Hindus use. In fact, there are many Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. The four main classic Vedas are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. These collections consist of hymns, rituals, and philosophical works. These Vedas are consulted in order to obtain liberation from the cycle of birth and death and for the worship of deities. Hindus recognize a single supreme deity or God and view other Gods and Goddesses as manifestations of that supreme deity. The most common deities are Vishnu, Shiva, and the Goddess, who appeared later on as the first female supreme deity. The Goddess plays a significant role in the development and worship of Hindu women since it is portrayed as a powerful and supreme female. It is not surprising that women in India are often described as having two sharply contrasting aspects. In a region famous for goddesses with multiple visages, identities, and functions, the first facade is of the serene, primordial mother Great Goddess (Devi), Primal Energy (Shakti), and Nature (Prakriti), a gentle boon-giver who also slays demons. The other is the clouded face of the domestic handmaiden trailing behind men in life expectancy, nutrition, health, education, pay, and other rights on the subcontinent. However, behind this colourful essentialization of Indian women lies the complex reality of myriads of feminine facades in a sea teaming with self-sacrificing heroines like Sita in the epic Ramayana, modern feminists in the guise of Shakti, and the victims of gender, religious, caste, and class inequalities. This chapter try to give as more clarity on the role and position of women in Hinduism. The first chapter deals with the different Hindu text and the position of women in them. This chapter mainly discuss about the role of women in Ramayana Mahabharata manusmrithi and Vedas. In the second chapter deals with the women in the Hindu society here, one is able to understand the situation of the brahmin, Nair and Ezhava women and especially on the slave castes women. This also discusses some of the social institution of that time such as the caste system, samba hum, samartavicharam, davathas, and marrmukkaythajam systems are examined to make an evaluation of the status of women in Hinduism. The final chapter deals with the necessity of empowering the women and this chapter analyses some of the drawbacks that cause disempowerment of women hood through the concept of discrimination through female feticide and other violent against women. Then further it discusses the economic, educational and social status of women and try to emphasis some of the remedy to empower women in Hinduism through different means.
Empowerment of Women in India- Historical Perspective
2015
It is often said that the status and position of women in society are the best way to understand a civilization, its progress and its shortcomings. In case of India, women have come a long way from women sages and scholars in the Rig Vedic period to women in the armed forces, IT sector, politics, industry and other significant areas while balancing their role as a daughter, wife and mother. This journey towards modernization has not been easy. Women have had to fight the traditional Indian male-dominated society to emerge as stronger and independent entities. While all these are positive developments, cases of rape, harassment at workplace and dowry deaths are rampant. Illiteracy and ignorance about their rights are still prevalent among a majority of the women. It is in this background this paper lays stress on the evolution, status, development of women and their empowerment in India from a historical point of view.
STATUS OF WOMEN IN ANCIENT SANSKRIT LITERATURE
Prajna bharati, 2017
Another important year of the twenty-first century is going by. Development and opulence are the hallmarks of human civilisation today. Mankind is exploring space, healing the scars of the Cold war and combating the demons of Hunger, Terrorism and Global Warming like never before. All these are sure signs of wellness. However, there still remain some ghastly ghosts of desolation which erode our progress and curse our enthusiasm and ethos. Here I allude to the plight of that section of our society which still lags behind due to centuries of discrimination, injustice and exploitation-our womenfolk. A rape every two minutes, rampant domestic violence, female foeticide, women trafficking, glass ceiling in career advancement….the list of abuse towards them seems endless. Despite all our honest and genuine efforts to usher in equality and empowerment, nightmares like Nirbhaya's continue to remind us that India shining is still a distant dream.
Empowerment of Indian Women: Important Constitutional and Legal Provisions
The paper reveals the concept of empowerment as well as the status of Indian women. Important constitutional, legal and other provisions are also described in a systematic way. The paper covers the status of women during different historical periods such as at earlier time as on today specific gender was getting equal status. But they had faced some difficulties during post-Vedic and epic ages. Many a time they were treated as Goddesses and at other times merely as a slave. From early 20th century (national movement) their status has been changed slowly and gradually. After the independence of India, the constitutional makers and national leaders strongly fought for equal status of women with men. As a result, the women occupied the respectable positions in all walks of the fields. Yet, they have not absolutely freed some discrimination and harassment of the society. Absolute numbers of women have not been able to establish their potentialities.
The Position of Womanin India and Necessity of Woman's Empowerment
The position of women during ancient time was quite intricate due to some of the contradictory affirmation in various other religions doctrine. Not only in religious book but the views of woman differ indifferent states and cities. In some areas woman was considered to be equal to men but the other states woman was treated in hatred and burden for the nation. This is the real reason the country India is still a developing nation and some sociologists faces difficulty in assessing the position of women in India. This paper will discuss about the position of women during ancient time and woman"s empowerment. In this paper it will illustrate about the woman empowerment India and its issues and impacts of empowerment. In this present scenario where men and women is walking hand in hand in all aspects of fields. Thus, the issue of woman empowerment is an acute matter to be looked upon. As still now the position of women is delusion and misconception in actuality. One can see how women is treated and tortured by the evil hands of society but no-one has taken a concrete steps to protect the woman. Though the rights and duties of women is clearly enshrined in the books of constitution. The constitution grants and guarantees rights and equality to woman but it also authorises the nation take effective steps towards constructive intolerance 1. But now the position of women has somewhat changed as woman come and participate in the decisions of Parliament. Men of present generation also upholds their women as a superior element in all matters of their life. Woman are a supporter and guider to the nation. Woman also plays a significant role in the conservation of environment. As woman was considered to be a 'Prakriti' which means nature through the Indian philosophy. As the woman is a cultivator and nourisherwhich supports a bud to bloom into the new society. Therefore, the woman is the one who strongly believe in to conservation and protection of environment as environment is one of the essential aspect which needs to be taken care of. In recent times some brave ladies named MedhaPatekar who was a socialist, Maneka Gandhi who was an environmentalist are actively participating in the safeguarding and protection of environment. India cannot flourish until and unless the woman is not participated in the political, social, economic and environmental issues. It is basic responsibility of the nation to include the women in every aspect of life. Therefore, attempts have been made to increase the status of women in the society. Therefore, this paper is surrounded by the position and role of woman in India. As woman is the real being who can make, destroy and create the nation to attain success 2 .
Women Empowerment –Problem and Potential with special reference in Indian context
The basic point in the discourse regarding women empowerment is that women empowerment will flourish and enhance in the fertileness and friendliness of societal climate rather than just any law and regulation or policy. The present paper strives to look over glimpse of women empowerment in context of India. The present paper strives to scrutinize the status of women and their position in contemporary time. And in doing so I endeavor to examine the issue of women empowerment through the lens of Gender equality and societal constructs rules and norms; Freedom, right, and Violence; issue of Missing women; Property rights and the role of State in post independence era. India being the believer and advocator of democratic society believes that gender inequality is biggest impediment for creating an egalitarian and just society. To change the status of women position and empower them is not just lies with state policy institution, their policy or feminist movement rather a broader social attitude is utmostly needed.
“Women Empowerment in India: Issues and Challenges”
IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2016
This paper endeavors to break down the status of Women Empowerment in India and highlights the Issues and Challenges of Women Empowerment. Today the strengthening of ladies has ended up a standout amongst the most imperative worries of 21 st century. Be that as it may, for all intents and purposes Woman Empowerment is still a deception of reality. We see in our everyday life how Women get to be defrauded by different social wrongs. Woman Empowerment is the key instrument to extend Women's capacity to have Empowerment of ladies is basically the procedure of upliftment of monetary, social and political status of Women, the customarily underprivileged ones, in the general public. It is the way toward guarding them against all types of viciousness. The study depends on absolutely from optional sources. The study uncovers that ladies of India are generally disempowered and they appreciate to some degree lower status than that of men regardless of numerous endeavors embraced by Government. It is found that acknowledgment of unequal sex standards by ladies are as yet winning in the general public. The study finishes up by a perception that entrance to Education, Employment and Change in Social Structure are just the empowering components to Women Empowerment.
Indian women’s agency through Indian women’s literature
: The Routledge Handbook of the History of Women’s Economic Thought Routledge., 2018
This chapter discusses the various ways in which Indian women have engaged with dominant institution from the fifth century bce till colonial times. It provides Amartya Sen's construct to identify the well- (or ill-) being of women as it is represented in their own writings, and go further to identify their exercises of agency in effecting welfare. The chapter looks at sample of the surviving and accessible literature produced by Indian women through recorded history. The vicious cycle of gender discrimination is illustrated through women's reports of their lived experiences. The Therigatha verses, and Bhakti poetry show women as being constrained to domestic responsibilities and as not having, or not being perceived as having, the skills required to survive outside the house. An important characteristic that all Bhakti poets share is that they composed in the vernacular with the explicit aim of reaching the most people, intending to demonstrate that the language of the Gods was not exclusive.
Women's Empowerment Revisited: In Contemporary Societies of India
International Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Scope
Although numerous female writers have researched there has become a topic of great concern lately, their piece analyzes the changing perceptions of women's writing. The pattern is moderately dependable all-over the stand for enlightenment. Their research examines the theoretical basis of the evaluation of female reinforcement and designs the results to analyze the current clue situation identified in the most recent evaluation. I will not only propose and present a new set of indicators, as the approach is intended to replace the traditional methods. It also examines how friendly, financial and political changes affect assessments of women's empowerment, and discusses the effects of assessing women's empowerment in other settings.
Women Empowerment in India from Prehistoric to Present
Women empowerment is hot talk discussed everywhere but not achieved fully. Oppression of women and violence against women still exist in this patriarchal society. Women status was equal to men during Vedic period but deteriorated during post Vedic period. Women were denied of education, property rights, feminization of poverty and health especially maternity health. Women empowerment will take place if gender gap in education is reduced, poverty is tackled, and feminization of poverty is removed. There are international and national organization working on it but goal is not achieved completely. Whole society should undergo change may be revolution should take place in order to change the situation. Oppression of women is not biological but social problem and should be tackled accordingly.