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Re: HSC and women
In article <ghenDqntCA.LBJ@netcom.com>,
Balasubramaniam santhanam <santhan@ee.gatech.edu> wrote:
>
>1) Since the 4 vedas and the Gita are considered the pillars of
>Hinduism, let me ask again, is there any place in the 4 vedas
>or the Gita where it is said that shudras or women should not
>recite the vedas or take sanyasa? Does it say that
>that they cannot be born twice. It is then and only then
>that we can say that they are not allowed to do so by decree of
>the Hindu religion.
Regarding women, some Hindu scriptures mention that the female is doubting by
nature. In general, a doubting nature, according to Hinduism, can never
succeed to perfection. Some pundits might have interpreted this in a wrong way
to stregnthen their position in the society. But, if you look at Hindu
literature, women have been accorded due respect. For example, Hinduism is the
only religion where you will find godesses, e.g. Saraswati, Durga, Kali etc.
Regarding Shudras, the confusion arises when it is assumed that the caste
system is based on birth rather than on one's nature. In the Gita or
elsewhere, the caste system is not described to be based on birth, rather it
is based on one's own nature of being. It applies to all human race not
confined just to Indian society. Shudrya nature, by definition, is
characterstic of wickedness and the results produced by reciting of Vedas
(which is said to have produced miracles if recited properly) may be subjected
to misuse. (According to Hindu scriptures, this age is supposed to be
dominated by Shudras which means that most of us are Shudras. How true a
Christain thought - we are all born sinners!!!)
>
>2) Since the metaphysics of Hinduism are based on the fundamental
>assumption that we are souls and that this soul (jiva atma)
>does not have any attributes (no birth no death no sex no caste),
>a contradiction arises if Hinduism does not allow women and
>shudras to recite the vedas. Which is the more fundamental tenet?
I have not seen Hinduism not allowing women and Shudras to recite
Vedas. Ramakrishna Paramhans was a Shudrya. Purohit who recites Vedas during
katha is not accorded very high place in the Hindu society.
Atma can not exist without matter in the jivatma. There is no
individualism by pure atma. The individualism comes by association of atma
with matter which determines its nature or personality. The matter is
subjected to the influence of gunas producing multitude of personalities.
>
>4) If the shudra is a walking
>crematorum and that lower caste people cannot are not wothy of
>salvation then how is it that most people worship the
>low--caste God Krishna.
Because, caste by birth had no significance. It is baffling, isn't
it???
