Ancient Hindu tradition revers Shakti -the feminine. Since the dawn of times, Hindus have venerated the feminine element under its different manifestations like Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, Mahasaraswati, Maheshwari. India is regarded as “Bharata Maatha” or “Mother India.”

Hindu tradition provides, even at the conceptual level, male and female working together, hand in hand, as equal partners in the universe. This concept is carried further to its logical climax in the form of Ardhanaareeswara, of Shiva and Shakthi in one body, each occupying one half of the body, denoting that one is incomplete without the other. One might laugh at it, not believe in it – but what is to be appreciated is the underlying concept of providing equality to women even in a physical body.

Perhaps, many know the commonly recited slokham “Yakundentu Dusharahaara… ” . Just  one line in it is enough to show how Goddess Saraswathi is worshipped by  “Yaa Brahma Achyuta Sankara Prabhrudibihi Devaissadaa Poojithaa”, which means, ‘Saraswati who is always worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other Gods’.

In the Vedic literatures mother Earth is personified as the Goddess Bhoomi, or Prithvi. She is the abundant mother who showers her mercy her children. We have not only the feminine as divine but also numerous saints that are women. Even today, many living woman saints are respected and command international following. Maatha Sarada Devi, Maatha Amrutanandamayee, Maatha Karunamayee are some examples.

The Manu Smriti places women on a high pedestal as evidenced by the following sloka:

यत्र नार्यस् तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः।

यत्र एतास् तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास् तत्र अफलाः क्रियाः ॥

Roughly translated, it means:

“Wherever women are given their due respect, even the deities like to reside, and where they are not respected, all action remains unfruitful.”

Manu Smriti says more about the role of women in the following verses:

“Women must be honored and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands and brothers-in-law, who desire their own welfare.” (Manu Smriti III, 55)

“Where women are honored there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored no sacred rite yields rewards,”  Manu Smriti (III.56)

“Where the female relatives live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers.” (Manu Smriti III, 57)

“The houses on which female relations, not being duly honored, pronounce a curse, perish completely as if destroyed by magic.” (Manu Smriti III, 58)

“Hence men who seek their own welfare, should always honor women on holidays and festivals with gifts of ornaments, clothes, and dainty food.”  (Manu Smriti III, 59)

Perhaps, the idea of equality amongst men and women is most forcibly expressed in the Rig Veda (hymn 61. verse 8) that says: “The wife and husband, being the equal halves of one substance, are equal in every respect; therefore both should join and take equal parts in all work, religious and secular.”

There are numerous women who acquired the Vedic wisdom. They include Aditi, Apala, Gargi, Ghosha, Maitreyi, and many others. They demonstrated that women were no less than men when it came to matters of  spirituality.

A man’s wife is called ‘Saha-Dharmini’ – one who shares the following of dharmic deeds. Without a wife, a man does not have the authority to perform many rituals.

To my knowledge, no other culture in the world has given women such great respect and high status in society.

Please see pictures taken at the recent meetings of the defence and foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). You will find only two women in this galaxy of distinguished ministers. They are India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. It indicates the highest status accorded to women in India.