Basant: There was a derogatory article written by someone who alleged that in Indian culture women are disrespected. It also said that women also mistreat women cruelly.
Swami Ram Swarup: I was very much busy to perform sixty-four days Yajyanushthan and just after completion of the pious Yajyen I had to go out of station to record Vedic, spiritual songs for preparing audio Cds. Thus, I’ve come back only yesterday. I meant to say, due to extremely busy schedule, I could not pay my attention on all question sets, properly and hence the delay.
But still I would like to say that not only women but also men have become cruel and compared to woman several men are more cruel. For example murderers, rapists etc., disgracing, physically torturing females, dowry demanders etc. Yet cruel heart of man has no hesitation to start firing bullets from AK 47 and 57 rifles etc., on women, men, children, aged, youngsters etc. The reason behind is the lack of eternal knowledge of Vedas which makes heart of all human beings (men and women) kind and justiciable. I also paste my relevant articles in this regard:-
DO VEDAS DISREGARD FEMALES ?
The projection of views giving priority to males over females is totally false and against the Vedic culture. Such views must be condemned because it is an attempt of arrogant to destroy the eternal Vedic culture. In Vedas, there are several prayers to fulfill pious desires. By doing Yajyen, the desires are fulfilled by God. The idea of Atharvaveda mantra 6/11/3 quoted by you is that if a woman takes nutritive diet properly and desires to protect the public then she gives birth to a male baby. In the mantra there is a word “Prajapati” which means she desires to protect the praja i.e., public. Second word is “Anumati” which means her desire is same as desire of her husband. Another word is “Seeniwali” i.e., she takes nutritive diet. “Prajapati” i.e., protection of public is only possible by male child because he has to become a warrior to fight against the enemies to protect the nation. If in the Mantra, the word “Prajapati” had not been mentioned then the meaning could be other. Secondly, God has made the universe and in Atharvaveda God states, “Istri Hee Brahma Babhoovitha” i.e., Women is like a Brahma. Brahma creates universe in which women and men both take birth. So is woman who gives birth to both men and women under the law of Almighty God. If Brahma had generated only male members in world in non-sexual creation then there was no question of male or female and uptil now the human race could have been finished, due to lack of existence of new generation by women. But as per eternal law of Vedas, vide Rigveda mantras 10/129/1, 2, 3,4,5,6 the creation is also eternal comprising of males and females, together. Rigveda also states that mother is equivalent to God which is the highest respect of women. But in all Vedas, father (man) have not been told to be equivalent to God. Atharvaveda Mantra number 2/3/23 quoted by you is not in the Atharvaveda, please.
VED MANTRAS NEVER AIM AT DEGRADATION OF WOMEN
The idea of Rigveda mantra 8/33/17 doesnot indicate that the mind of a lady is unintelligent, brooks no discipline etc. But the idea of the said mantra is that if a learned husband realises that the thoughts of his wife are not compatible with him then as per next mantra the responsibility of the learned husband is more than the lady to cooperate with his wife. Actually, in mantra 8/33/17 it is pointed out that if the wife in any case is not capable to meet with the requirements of her learned husband then next mantra quoted above states that to maintain compatibility, the responsibility lies on the husband. In no case, the wife has been declared unintelligent in Vedas. On the contrary, in next Rigveda mantra 8/33/19 it is stated-
“ISTREE HI BRAHMA BABHOOVITH”
i.e., the woman, in the house of her husband, is placed at the status of Brahma. Here, it shall not be out of place to mention that in Atharvaveda God states that he who steals away a small portion of any Ved mantra, he is punished. I mean to say, now it is time to channalize India’s concentration towards study of four Vedas completely and not in pieces. At one stage, Vedas state that Vedas are afraid of the man/woman who do not study the Vedas completely. As a result, they misinterpret Vedas. Our country was called as “VISHWAGURU” i.e., spiritual master of entire world, based on Vedas’ knowledge only.
If we want to spread peace and international brotherhood, then sure we will have to revert back to study of Vedas. Vedas is eternal knowledge that emanates direct from God and not from any Rishi-Muni, man-woman, saint etc. Then only shall we be able to respect the ladies, maintain justice, destroys sins, corruptions, atrocities and blind faith.
In Yajurveda mantra 23/19 there is no mention about women. So degradation of women doesnot arise. The devta of this mantra is Ganpati i.e., Almighty God. So description in the mantra relates to God and not women. The misunderstanding can arise due to wording i.e., “PRIYANNAM PRIYAPATIM TVA HAWAMAHEY” where the meaning of pati is lord/master of universe. So, meaning will be Oh! God (PRIYANNAM) amongst the loved ones you are ‘PRIYAPATIM’ the supreme, loving lord/master. So, we (HAWAMAHEY) accept (TVA) you. (TVAM) you (AJASI) HOLD (GARBHADHAM) the Prakriti in the shape of womb, from where the universe is generated (non-alive matter is generated).
So, I may (AJANI) know (GARBHADHAM) the said Prakriti. Hence, idea of the mantra is that we must worship the Almighty God who creates, nurses and gives glory, who is lord of Prakriti and who holds all the seeds (i.e., matter from which universe is originated).
Similarly, idea of Yajurveda mantra 23/20 is that when relation between king and praja (public) is established as father and son, then only peace is maintained and Arth (finance), Dharma(righteousness), Kaam(fulfillment of pious desires) and Moksha(final liberation) is attained. So, the king, who is justiciable, must make effort to increase pleasure/happiness and enhance strength/power of public. Also, public should make efforts to increase the same in respect of king. Now, the idea of Yajurveda mantra 23/21 is that the king should do justice to men and women and the bad charactered or cruel man/woman must be punished badly (should be hung upside down) to obliterate the worm of sensuality along with root. You may be knowing that eternal knowledge of Vedas emanates direct from Almighty, formless God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe. The said knowledge is originated in the heart of four Rishis of non-sexual creation, as stated in Rigveda 10/181/1, 2. The said knowledge at that time emanates direct from God in non-sexual creation and not sexual creation. Therefore, we may say that God Himself has given His unlimited divine names in the Vedas.
There also exist other names of God in pious holy granths like Quran sharief, containing the qualities of formless God. So, I think there is no difference in Allah, Om etc.
However, the meaning of Rigveda mantra 2/1/11 is under:-
“TVAMAGNEY ADITIRDEV DASHUSHEY TVAM HOTRA BHARATI VARDHASEY GIRA,
TVAMIDA SHATHIMASI DAKSHASEY TVAM VRITRAHA VASUPATEY SARASWATI.”
Oh! (DEV) enlightened (AGNEY) learned dignitary (TVAM) you are (ADITIHI) Aditi- A light of wisdom like the celestial bodies emitting light (DASHUSHEY) for the disciples who donate. (TVAM)You are (BHARATI) becoming like an enlightened learned female teacher (HOTRA) you deserve to be accepted. Thus, you (VARDHASEY) get progress (GIRA) from the beautiful education and voice of Vedas. (TVAM) You (ASI) are (IDA) like a learned female teacher who is praiseworthy. Oh! (VASUPATEY) lord of wealth (TVAM) you are (VRITRAHA) like a sun who kills the clouds to cause rain. And (SARASWATI) like a supreme, divine voice of Vedas.
Idea- The learned acharya who is philosopher of Vedas and has done hard practice of Ashtang Yoga and thus has controlled his five senses, perceptions and mind, teaches his disciples like a mother who nurses her baby well. Thus, the disciple becomes learned one day.
RIGVEDA MANTRA 3/30/10-
“ALATRINNO BAL INDRA BRAJO GOHO PURA HANTORBHAYAMANO VYAR,
SUGANPATHO AKRINNONNIRAJEY GAHA PRAVANVANNEEHEE PURUHOOTAM DHAMANTEEHEE.”
In this Rigveda mantra there are words “ALATRINNO AND INDRA” the meaning of which is Oh! (INDRA) giver of supreme glory or Almighty (ALATRINNAHA) the final destroyer of universe. Definitely, these are the names of God containing the said divine qualities.
RIGVEDA MANTRA 9/67/30-
“ALAYAYASYA PARSHURNANASH TAMA PAVASVA DEV SOM,
AKHUN CHIDEV DEV SOM.”
In Rigveda mantra 9/67/30 there is a word “ALAYAYASYA” the meaning of which is of the omnipresent enemy. In the mantra, there is a prayer that Oh! (SOM) God (DEV) full of unlimited divine qualities (PARASHUHU) there is a weapon of (ALAYAYASYA) omnipresent enemy (TAM) may the weapon (AKHUNCHITTA) which is complete annihilator (NANASH) be destroyed. (DEV) Oh! God (PAVASVA) purify me.
Hence, the above explained ved mantras neither contain any proper noun nor project any degradation of women in society
I would also like to advise you to read my book “Vedas -A Divine Light Part III” wherein duties of wife and husband have been described based on Vedic philosophy. But I know, such articles would not be fruitful until public starts listening to Vedas herself.
B: Aapne pichle uttar mein kaha tha- “……. Isliye asan to seekhney hee chahiye
nahin ti Patanjal Yog darshan sutra 2/46 mein rishi kai kathin asan ke naam na likhate aur un asan ko karne kee prerna na deitey.” Yah asatya lagta hai kyonki sutra 2/46 kahta hai ‘STHIR SUKHAM AASANAH’ .ab ap bataiye ki is sutra mein ‘kathin aasan’ ka varnan kahan hai?? Is sutra mein to kya pure yog sutra mein sheershaasan aadi mudraon ka varnan nahi hai!
Swami Ram Swarup: Patanjal Yog Darshan Sutra 2/46 mein asan ka varnnan nahin hai parantu is sutra kee vyakhya mein Vyas muni nein kai asan ke vishey mein kaha hai. Sutra ka bhi sanket kai asan kee taraf hai kyunki sutra 2/46 ka bhaav hai kee asan to kai hain lekin jis asan par beith kar sthir sukh prapt hota hai ussey asan kehtey hain. Atah sab ko kai asan siddh karne chahiyein. Weh labhkari hai. Vyasmuni nein apnee vyakhya mein Padmasan, Veerasan, Bhadrasan, Swastikasan, Dandasan aadi kai asanon ke bhed kahe hain.
Isliye kisi bhi baat ko bina pramann ke kripya asatya na kahein. Ye bahut hee bhadda lagta hai. Hum apnee marzee se yeh kehne mein samarth nahin hain ki Yog Shastra mein kahin bhi asan aur mudraoin ka varnnan nahin hai kyunki Rishi mantra drishta hotey hain aur ved shastron mein kaha-“ Proksha Priya Hee Devaha” (Brihadarranannyakopnishad shloka 4/2/2) arthat vidwan , rishi-muni jan “Proksha” arthat baat ko indirect kehna hee pasand karte hain.
Isliye Rishiyon ke kis sutra kee gehrayee mein kya chchipa hai yeh koi Yogi hee jaan sakta hai, sadharann manushya jisne kabhi na ved suney , na Rishiyon ke paas gaya, na matha teika, na sewa kee, na yogabhyas kiya, who kaisey yah jaan sakta hai?
Aaj rishiyon ke likhit shastron aur Rishiyon ka apmaan karke hee to ved-shastra virodhi apnee dukaan chala rahey hain. Agar aapko thoda samay ho to Yog shastra kee sampoornna vyakhya Ishwear kripa se maine kee hai, usey padein to aapke sab sanshaye door ho jayeinge.
Yask Muni kahtey hain-“ Manushyaha Anritam Vadanti” arthat manushya hee jhooth boltey hain aur “Devaha Satyam Vadanti” Vidwan- Rishi Muni to sadaa satya hee boltey hain.
