Dr. Sneh Kalia

September 20, 2005 Hindu- Dialogue-Series 1

Dr. Sneh KaliaDr. Sneh Kalia

Professor of Physics Saint Cloud State University


Hinduism And Hinduism And Women Women


Ancient History: instances of women scholars and women rulers.

Stories from mythology and folklores prove that women in India have always been honored and respected.

India was one of the first countries of the world to give women the right to vote.

The Indian constitution guarantees equal right to men and women.


India is the original India is the original home of the home of the

Mother GoddessMother GoddessThe complementary nature of male and female energies is valued in Hindu society and deemed essential to achieve balance within the gods and within mortals.


Lord Brahma and Lord Brahma and SaraswatiSaraswati


Goddess SaraswatiGoddess SaraswatiIs the consort or wife of Lord

Brahma and possesses the powers of speech, wisdom and learning

She has four hands representing four aspects of learning:

Mind, Intellect, Alertness, Ego


Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu and LakshmiLakshmi


Goddess LakshmiGoddess LakshmiGoddess Lakshmi is the consort

or wife of Lord Vishnu and is the goddess of prosperity, purity, chastity and generosity.

http://www.hindunet.org/god/Gods/vishnu/index.htm


Lord Shiva and ParvatiLord Shiva and Parvati


Goddess ParvatiGoddess ParvatiGoddess Parvati is the wife

(consort) of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine (both friendly and fearful) forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms are Durga (goddess beyond reach) and Kali (goddess of destruction).


Mother Nature: Mother Nature: Prakriti Prakriti MaMa

Mother Earth: Mother Earth: Prithvi MaPrithvi Ma

Mother Land: Mother Land: Bharat Bharat MataMata


Devi Annapuurnaa –is presiding deity of Food grains

Ganga Devi, Yamuna Devi, and so on have been manifested as rivers to feed mankind.

Forests that provide us with so many resources are said to be presided over by Vandevi.


Chipko MovementChipko Movement

“Hug The Trees”The first chipko action took place

spontaneously in 1973The village women embrace the trees,

saving them by interposing their bodies between the and the contractor’s axes


Maneka GandhiManeka Gandhi

Minister and Environmental Crusador


Vandana ShivaVandana Shiva

Physicist, Ecologist, Activist


FAMOUS FAMOUS INDIAN WOMENINDIAN WOMEN


Sarojini NaiduSarojini Naidu

Freedom Fighter


Rajkumari Amrit KaurRajkumari Amrit Kaur

First Woman Cabinet Minister


Vijay Lakshmi Vijay Lakshmi PanditPandit

First lady President of UNGA


Indira GandhiIndira Gandhi

First lady Prime Minister of India


ArtistsArtists


Leela SamsonLeela Samson

Bharat Natyam


M.S. SubbalakshmiM.S. Subbalakshmi

Carnatic Music


Sanjugta PanigrahiSanjugta Panigrahi

Odissi


Beauty QueensBeauty Queens


Aishwarya RaiAishwarya Rai

Miss World 1994


Sushmita SenSushmita Sen

Miss Universe 1994


Yukta MookheyYukta Mookhey

Miss World 1999


Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra

Miss World 2000


Lara DuttaLara Dutta

Miss Universe 2000


AchieversAchievers


Anna ChandyAnna Chandy

First Indian Woman Judge


Captain Durga Captain Durga BanerjeeBanerjee

First Indian Woman Pilot


Kiron BediKiron Bedi

First Indian Woman IPS Officer


Jhumpa LahiriJhumpa Lahiri

(Left) 2000 Pulitzer Prize Winner


The tender love and care of a mother for her children is the subject of various Vedic verses.

She is considered the first teacher of every child, and is regarded as the highest Guru.

While father is superior to ten Brahmin priests well-versed in the Vedas, a mother is superior to ten such fathers.


Since God could not appear everywhere to take care of us, He created mother


As wives, they have provided the locus around which family and social life revolves.

As daughter they have taught us compassion.

As our guides, they have made many men great human beings.


Faces of Faces of Indian WomenIndian Women


Lost in Deep ThoughtLost in Deep Thought


Light Heart Cures Light Heart Cures PovertyPoverty


Rani Lakshmi Bai of Rani Lakshmi Bai of JhansiJhansi


What are some of the What are some of the problems facing the problems facing the

women in India?women in India?The problems Indian women

face are same as those faced by their counterparts in other nations. Additionally, there are some unique problems in India for women.


The Dowry systemThe Dowry system prevalent prevalent in in India calls for a large sum of money to be paid India calls for a large sum of money to be paid to the groom at the time ofto the groom at the time of marriage. Brides marriage. Brides that cannot meet the husband's expectations are that cannot meet the husband's expectations are sometimes harassed after the wedding.sometimes harassed after the wedding.Marriage dowries originally were managed by Marriage dowries originally were managed by women and were intended as collateral in case women and were intended as collateral in case of emergency. of emergency.


Desire for male progenyDesire for male progeny has caused has caused natural imbalance and numerous problems natural imbalance and numerous problems for women.for women.


Ill treatment of widowsIll treatment of widows -- -- many many families blame the untimely death of a families blame the untimely death of a husband to the misfortune of thehusband to the misfortune of the woman.woman.

Some communities disapprove of widow Some communities disapprove of widow remarriage, while others attach no stigma remarriage, while others attach no stigma to widowhood and allow women recourse to widowhood and allow women recourse to easy divorce and remarriage. to easy divorce and remarriage.


Unequal share of inheritanceUnequal share of inheritance -- -- in most Hindu families, only the sons in most Hindu families, only the sons inherit the wealth of the parents as inherit the wealth of the parents as married girls are considered no longer married girls are considered no longer part of the family. part of the family. During Vedic time women had property During Vedic time women had property ownership rights.ownership rights.Some remnants of Vedic-matriarchy exist Some remnants of Vedic-matriarchy exist in southern part India.in southern part India.


The holy dot or bindi is an auspicious makeup worn by Hindu women on their forehead.

The term is derived from bindu, the Sanskrit word for a dot or a point.

It is usually a red dot made with vermilion (finely powdered bright red mercuric sulphide).


Considered a blessed symbol of Parvati, a bindi signifies female energy (shakti) and is believed to protect women and their husbands.Traditionally a symbol of marriage it has now become a decorative item and is worn today by unmarried girls and women of other religions as well. No longer restricted in color or shape, bindis today are seen in many colors and designs and are manufactured with self-adhesives and felt.


What is the status of What is the status of women in Indian women in Indian

society?society?


The answer is a complex one -- The answer is a complex one -- women are both abused as well as women are both abused as well as revered in the Indian society; revered in the Indian society; sometimes within the same sometimes within the same household.household.


The Hindu religion calls for The Hindu religion calls for worship of the womanhood, and worship of the womanhood, and several rituals are conducted in several rituals are conducted in honor of women.honor of women. At the same time, it denied such At the same time, it denied such privileges as performing the last privileges as performing the last rites and equal share of rites and equal share of inheritance.inheritance.


The conditions of divorced The conditions of divorced women and widows need women and widows need substantial improvement.substantial improvement.


What Do Indian What Do Indian Women Like to do?Women Like to do?


Wear JewelryWear Jewelry


Apply MahendiApply Mahendi(Henna)(Henna)


Just have Have Just have Have FunFun

Dr. Sneh Kalia

Documents

Transcript of Dr. Sneh Kalia