Sai Manifesto For Women

Bharat, Land of Women of Sanctity and Chastity

“In this country of Bharat was born Savitri, the woman of chastity, who would fight with Yama, the God of death and bring back to life her dead husband. 

In this country was born Chandramati, a paragon of virtue, who brought down a huge forest fire by her power of chastity.

 Sita, the divine daughter of mother earth, who demonstrated her chastity by coming out of a blazing fire unscathed, was born in this land of Bharat.

 Dhamayanti, also a woman of pristine purity and chastity who could put down the wicked people, was born in this sacred Bharat. 

This Bharat is the land of sanctity and chastity which has given birth to such great women of exceptional character.”

(Telugu poem)

Gayatri Mantra, Adored In Four Ways

In Bharat the sacred power of woman has been promulgated since very ancient times. Gayatri, the mother of the Vedas, which are held as the most ancient and authoritative scriptures of wisdom. (Gayatri Chandasaam Mata) and the primordial and potent Mantra, originated in this holy land. The glory of this Gayatri Mantra has spread all over the world and is worshipped by different names eliciting limitless grace of the Divine. The people of Bharat have been worshipping Gayatri in several ways and have redeemed their lives. Gayatri comprises four parts, namely (1) Satyavati (2) Angavati (3) Anyavati and (4) Nidhanavati. All the four are equally sacred.

The first one, Satyavati, signifies the existence of atma in every being, just as butter is manifest to every drop of milk. It proclaims “Ekatma sarvabhutantaratma.” One atma (God) is present in all beings. There is only one “sat” (truth), which is spoken of in many ways by the wise.

The second one is Angavati, which signifies the five elements present in all beings and also the five senses of sound, touch, vision, taste, and smell. There is nothing in this world which is not composed of the five elements. This Angavati is Pancha Bhuta Swaroopa or the embodiment of the five basic elements.

The third one is Anyavati, which refers to the different names attributed to different aspects of the Divine. For example, Lord Shiva is associated with the trident, three eyes, and so on. Vishnu is always described as having a conch, a discus, a mace, and so on. We call him “Sankhachakra gadhapani.” Ganapati is identified by his elephant face and big stomach. He is the first to be worshipped in all rituals. Saraswati is described as one with a veena in hand, through which she is teaching the Divine sound principle as Nadabrahma. Thus Anyavati signifies the different constituents of the forms of the Divine.

Nidhanavati, the fourth, teaches the nine types of worship, namely, shravanam (hearing), kirtanam (singing the glory of God), Vishnu smaranam (thinking of the name of God), pada sevanam (service), vandanam (prostration), archanam (worship), dasyam (servitude), sakhyam (friendship), and atma-nivedanam (self-surrender).

Women Take Precedence In Vedic Culture

The world is symbolised by these four forms of Gayatri. That is why it is described as Nature (prakriti), a female form (stri). We refer to our native country as motherland. Even while mentioning the names of the Gods and Goddesses, the name of the Goddess precedes the name of the God like Lakshmi-Narayana, Parvati-Parameswara, and Radha-Krishna. Radha is prakriti (dhara - world) and Krishna is Paramatma (Supreme Lord). This is the esoteric interpretation. As a matter of fact, all are embodiments of prakriti.

People generally speak of women as the weaker sex. At least now Bharatiyas recognise that women cannot be considered as weak. The woman in charge of the home plays the main role in bringing good name and fame to the home. Not only in respect of individual homes but also in the good name of the country and the world woman plays the main role. From ancient times, woman has been held in high esteem as Grahalakshmi. The woman is always ready to sacrifice her own comforts and even her life for the sake of upholding the honor of the home and family.

Seven Auspicious Qualities of Women

A woman has seven good qualities: Satya (truth), prema (love), dharma (righteousness), shanti (peace), sahana (tolerance), ananda (bliss), svanubhuti (spirituality). She is the woman of the home, ‘Illalu’, who is behind the good reputation of the home. Similarly, women play a major role in upholding the prestige of the state or country and even the world.

The woman at home is termed as the Goddess of the house “Grahalakshmi.” When her husband faces difficulties, she readily shares the burden and is prepared to do anything, undergo any suffering, or even sacrifice her life for the welfare of her husband and family. The woman is the embodiment of sacrifice. Though the male counterpart also may sacrifice, it will be with a selfish tinge, while a woman’s sacrifice is absolutely selfless. Therefore, we should be proud of our women. If Bharat is living up to expectations, in spite of having faced many foreign invasions and crises, it is in no small measure due to the womenfolk. As the earlier speaker, Dr. Geetha Reddy, pointed out, women shine as soldiers with the weapon of Satya and Dharma. They will not normally tell lies. There may be occasions when a few of them may do so unknowingly. But, by and large, they as a class, uphold truth and righteous conduct. They follow the vedic injunction “Satyam vada, Dharmam chara” (speak the truth and practice righteousness).

Women Held In High Esteem In Ancient Days

Once King Janaka conducted a discussion regarding the most suitable scholar from whom he should get his degree of honor. Even though there were great sages and highly learned scholars like Yajnavalkya in the assembly, he decided that Gargi was the fittest person from whom he should receive it. This is an example to prove how women have been held in high esteem even from ancient times by ordinary citizens and kings too. Gradually, the males started disrespecting women. Even some sanyasis (renunciants) denied proper recognition for women.

When sage Matanga wanted to admit the great woman devotee Sabari into his ashram many of his disciples who were renunciants raised objection. But the noble Matanga recognized the extraordinary merit of Sabari’s chastity, sincere devotion, and dedication to the pursuit of liberation and admitted her into the hermitage. She finally proved to the world her devotion. She met Lord Rama and got liberated after worshipping Him, true to what sage Matanga had told her before leaving his mortal coil.

Because of the evil influence of modern education, people consider women as toys and tend to treat them as puppets. The women have very auspicious and noble qualities but men treat them as cooks confined to the four walls of the house considering them to be “Illalus”, that is only fit to be home-birds. What they forget is that the woman of the home not only manages the affairs of the family but also looks after the health and well-being of all members of the household. Now, the Government is conferring the honorific titles of Padmashri, Padmabhushan, etc., to its chosen citizens. But women have had more respectable and valuable titles of Grahalakshmi, Dharmapatni, Ardhaangi, etc. (Wealth of home, partner in righteous deeds, the sacred half of husband). They had these titles because of their good qualities and spirit of sacrifice.

Primary Role Of Women In Modern Age

They raise questions, such as who will look after the home if women go to offices, who will teach her children if the mother goes to school to teach other children, and so on. Some say that though the woman goes to work to solve the financial problem, bigger problems may have to be confronted by her going to work. But, in the modern world, it is necessary for a woman to share the burden of maintaining the family with her husband, and so the woman also should study and practice, sharing the burden of making both ends meet. It will be a smack of selfishness if the males prevent them from going to work, for which they have acquired the requisite qualification. Women can control the whole world by themselves, by virtue of their inherent qualities of love and spirit of sacrifice (prema bhavam and tyaga bhavam). Anger is alien to women and it is more rampant in men.

Though there may be instances when a woman may give vent to anger, such occasions are few and far between, while in men, the converse is the case.

Savitri won over the God of Death (Yama) and succeeded in getting her husband back to life. Can you find any instance in the scriptures or history where a husband is prepared to sacrifice for his wife? If the wife is dead, he is ready to have a second marriage. Such unfair things are happening in the world concerning women. That is why it was decided to celebrate not only 19th November of the year, but 19th of every month as ‘Mahila Day’ (Women’s Day).

Women, Torch-Bearers Of Culture And Patriotism

Women are participating in large numbers enthusiastically in activities such as helping the women of weaker sections to learn some useful trades like tailoring, etc., so that they can earn some money for the family and also spend their time usefully. If such activities are taken up all over the country, the country will prosper. This sacred work is typical of the culture of our ancient country. Women are heirs of the ancient culture. Culture means refinement. Women are the torch-bearers of refinement and they are toiling for the emancipation of the nation.

Geetha Reddy spoke about the exploits of great women in the battlefield like Rani Padmini of Jhansi who fought a terrific battle and gave up her life rather than surrendering to the foe when she was overpowered. She lived up to the teaching of the veda that only by sacrifice one can attain liberation. In this Kali age, there may be some exceptional cases where women may not be following Satya and Dharma. But mostly, they live up to these ideals. They are not encouraged to show their ability. Even in the family, she has to face obstacles and confrontations. If only the women are given due recognition and encouragement, they will shine with brilliance in all fields and will serve the house, country, and the entire world gloriously, contributing to the welfare of entire humanity.

No doubt, there may be a few who may not have the good qualities characteristic of a woman. But in any class of society, this is inescapable. Take, for example, the orange fruit. In order to enjoy the juice, you have to peel the outer skin. You have to remove this and weed out the seeds of bad qualities so that you can taste the sweet juice inside.

Women are more sincere and efficient workers than men. God is described as “Raso Vai Sah” the sweet ambrosia. If man also follows the example of the woman of sacred and sacrificial qualities, the world will definitely improve. They say, “Udyogam Purusha Lakshanam”, as though only males can do jobs. It is a misnomer. Women too are doing all jobs equal to men. In fact, women do work more sincerely with dedication. Recently Swami questioned the Director of the Indian Telephone Industries when he came to see Swami, about the percentage of women employed in the industry. He said 99% of the employees were women and added that women do better work than men. They do not stop or step out till the allotted work is completed. They have the work culture better than men. It is nowhere stated in any sacred text that woman should only cook and not do work like men.

As a matter of fact, even a man has to learn cooking and housekeeping to help his wife in times of need. Awareness is life. Awareness means total knowledge and not partial knowledge. This enthusiasm is full in women and men should emulate such qualities. Women have hidden power immanent in them. You have to encourage them to exhibit their talents. Swami narrated how an Army Commander who makes all sepoys in the Army shiver before him and when he reaches home, he shivers before his wife when she confronts him. Similarly, the Principal of an institution before whom the students shiver with fear, when confronted by his wife as to why he came late is submissive.

The Four Goals Of Life Apply Equally To Men And Women

Generally, the term “Purusha” is taken to mean only males, basing on the physical form. This is not correct. It represents the “atma” or “chaitanya” all of which is in the body from top to toe. Purusharthas (prime goals of life) are four, namely, Dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. This does not apply only to males. It is common to both males and females. Actually, women follow the fundamental Dharma truly, while men act selfishly. One who realises Divinity is Purusha. Svadharma means only atma-dharma, not the dharma pertaining to the body, which is paradharma. This is explained in the Bhagavad Gita. This was the ideal followed by the ancients.

Artha does not merely mean wealth or money. It means wealth of wisdom. Both men and women have the right to experience the truth of non-duality which is the real wisdom.

Karma is the desire not for worldly objects but for God.

Moksha, which is the fourth objective of life, is to have the desire for liberation; this desire is common to all, whether man or woman. Moksha is mohakshaya or shedding of bodily attachment. Do not follow the senses or mind; instead, follow your conscience, you can progress towards moksha or liberation.

In order to teach the subtleties of the scriptural texts and encourage women to play their role in society, the 19th of every month is fixed as women’s day or Mahila’s Day. Dharma can be made to occupy its due position in society and restored to its pristine glory only by women. But men also have equal rights, and they should participate together in this mighty and sacred effort so that the country will prosper. Even if men do not actively participate, they should at least let the women do the work without interference.

God Makes No Distinctions

God has declared that He will liberate those who surrender to Him, without any distinction of sex, creed, or nationality. He has also promised to look after the welfare of all those who think of Him with devotion, without dissipating their thoughts on worldly things. This is the import of “ananyaschintayanta.” God makes no distinctions. You should also practice this principle of equality.

God is everywhere. You cannot restrict him to your narrow limits as though he is confined only to the form contained in a small picture frame. It is a folly to think so. He has thousands of forms and names. When you are doing sahasranama archana (chanting of the thousand names of the Lord) you mention each of the thousand names and offer a flower. All the flowers are offered to only that one picture and not to thousands of pictures. All names refer to one God only. You may say Allah, Yesu, Rama, or Krishna and so on. But all refer to only one God. If you say that the form you worship only is God, you are then limiting the infinite to a narrow finite entity.

You should give up all religious differences. There is only one religion, that of love. There is only one caste, that of humanity. There is only one language, that of the heart. I (Baba) spoke earlier of the four parts of Gayatri and five elements. All are divine. They have no caste or creed or any such difference. If you realize the unity, you get purity and divinity. You are forgetting this and breed feelings of enmity and community. God has no such distinction of community, gender, nationality, or sex. In ancient times, they did not have such differences. Do not give room for any such feelings. God is one and everyone in this world has an equal right to enjoy His Grace.

Bhagawan concluded His discourse with the bhajan “Bhajana Bina.”

(From Divine Discourse on 19th April 1998 at “Sai Sruti”, Kodaikanal)