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Showing posts from April, 2009

Hindu Marriage - Promises, Duties, Responsibilities

“Yatra nariyastu poojayante ramante tatr devah” (Manu Smriti : Chapter 3, verse 56) – Gods dwell where woman is worshiped. Here Worshiped means – respected, paid gratitude, adored, loved and cared. Vedic philosophy believes in the Ardha-Nar-Ishwara (Ardha – Half, Nari – female, Ishwar- God), the Godly Other Half of the Man. This concept believes that a wife is that person a man weds, with whom he entrusts his life and soul. She is his counterpart in every walk of his life whether spiritual or worldly. Vedas requires married men to perform religious rites, ceremonies or sacrifices only with his wife. Here the wife being the Sahadharmacharini – the Spiritual Helpmate. In the absence of Sita during the Ashwamedha Yagya, Lord Rama had to construct a life like gold sculpture of Sita in order to perform the rites. This simply demonstrates how inseparable a man and woman truly is. A wife in Vedas have several names such as Ardhangini “the other half”, Samrajani “Queen of the Household”,

A Vedic Woman's Designations

Found this from somewhere, thought its neat! Aditi, because she is not dependent (Nirukta, 4/22) Aghnyā, for she is not to be hurt (Y.V. 8/43) Bŗhatī, for she is large hearted (Y.V. 11/64) Chandrā, because she is happy (Y.V. 8/43) Devakāmā, since she is pious. (A.V. 14/1/47) Devī, since she is divine (A.V. 14/1/45, Y.V. 4/23) Dhruvā, for she is firm (Y.V. 11/64) ā Havyā, because she is worthy of invocation (Y.V. 8/43) Idā, for she is worshippable (Y.V. 8/43) Jyotā, because she is illuminating, bright (Y.V. 8/43) Kāmyā, because she is lovable (Y.V. 8/43) Kshamā, for she is tolerant/indulgent /patient (A.V. 12/1/29) Mahī, since she is great (Y.V. 8/43) Menā, because she deser