Women in Scriptures and Teachings of Sages
In general, whenever I wanted to refer to a Scripture or the Teachings of a Great Sage of India, for spiritual or practical guidance, I always found that women were given the least importance or priority. Whenever disagreeable things were advised to be shunned by devotees, it usually came as “women, wealth, fame” etc. To add to these disturbing things, I found that many deities were accompanied by more than one goddess as consorts, even though many of the things mentioned in Religion are symbolic and so they cannot be taken literally.
However, I also found that the same Scripture or Sage that seemed to imply that women are obstructions for spiritual progress, also venerated women as Supreme Shakti (Power), Valor, Wealth, Knowledge, Peacefulness and Bliss. For example, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa frequently mentioned that “The mind is wasted on ‘woman and gold’”, “The renunciation of ‘woman and gold’ is the true renunciation.” etc. But He also said “The Primordial Power is ever at play. She is creating, preserving, and destroying in play, as it were. This Power is called Kaali. Kaali is verily Brahman, and Brahman is verily Kaali. It is one and the same Reality.” In fact, He considered His Consort Sri Sharada Devi as a Goddess and worshipped Her.
Sri Aadhi Sankaracharya too offered great poetic works such as Soundarya Lahari. whose hundred and three slokas (verses) eulogize the beauty, grace and munificence of Goddess Parvati.
The usual tendency is to immediately give up the teachings of these Profound Scriptures and Enlightened Sages as “male chauvenists”. But I could not easily make this rash judgement, because I felt it was stupid to make decisions based on just on feelings without researching further. It raised some questions for me. Why would they insult women when at the same time they worship the Higher Power as a Goddess or Mother? It did not seem rational. So after some pondering over these discrepancies and ambiguities, I came to the conclusion that I have to take every Spiritual teaching in the “right context”. I guess the times and the nature of the society and people in those times have to be taken into consideration.
Whatever the case might have been, I have come to the conclusion that it would be unintelligent to give up the Good parts of a Scripture or Teachings of a Sage that are agreeable to me, just because there are some unpleasant mentions that are disagreeable to me. Besides, I have the unshakeable confidence that I do deserve to be benefited by these Scriptures and Gurus as much as men, if not more. Every individual, woman or man, has the right to pursue happiness and self-realizaiton. So I have decided to take what is useful and helpful to me in this regard, and leave the rest. And that’s exactly what the following simple, common quote means :
“Don’t throw the Baby out with the bath water”! It means to me – “Ignore the disagreeable, negative things, what you don’t like. Keep the good things that help you, what you like.”
But all this is a moot point to me, because I follow Ramana Maharshi and His Teachings, and there is absolute equality there. Many of His rich, insightful talks, and His kind and compassionate instructions, are adressed to women. He frequently shares his most meaningful counsel and heartfelt guidance in his conversations with women. Every word He speaks is free of any disrespect toward women, and every action of His is untouched by prejudice, reflecting only His purity, wisdom, and grace. Personally, I find these exchanges remarkably rational, deeply supportive and helpful to me in every possible way. And that’s why Ramana Maharshi means so much to me and why I consider Him my Best Friend.
