[Advaita-l] women reading the Vedas

[Sarma KV]

Vijaya ji,


Are women prohibited from even listenning to and understanding a pravachan
of Vedanta? By Vedas do we mean Vedanta? ie. Is even listenning and
understanding the philosophy of the Upanishads is prohibited to them??

1. *vEda* and *vEdAnta* are not the same. *vEdAnta* is subset of the
*vEda*(their meaning, actually.) But, the non-
*vEdAntic* part of *vEda-artha* is ritualistic detail (and such things) and
so, it is not for meant for "common public." Some parts of the
*vEda-artha*(as is the
*vEda* itself) is 'accessible' to women, who are engaged in the rituals like
the *yajna*-s.
2. Among the general public (esp. women), there are some restrictions on who
should and when to listen and when not to, the *vEda-mantra*-s. When in
menstruation, women should not listen to any mantra-s. Why - is a different
topic and a big digression. *aruNam* should not be heard by pregnant women.
Some such other restrictions are there. Some should not be even chanted
post-lunch. Some should not be chanted after sunset.
3. There are no restrictions on listening and understanding the 'meaning' by
way of *pravachanam*-s etc., especially of *upanishat*-s. *Sradhdha* should
be there, that's all.


Surely there is no restriction on a woman attending a talk on the
upanishads??? or even imbibing that learning in her life?????

Such listening (with proper intent and *Sradhdha*, of course) and "imbibing
the learning in her life" is not only allowed, it is highly encouraged.
We would have done true justice to the *vEda*-s (and hence to ourselves)
only when the restrictions are properly followed. "*aachaara heenam na
punanti vEdaaH*" (even the *vEda* doesn't uplift those that don't follow the
restrictions.)

*vEdOnityamadheeyataam*
-Syam

On Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 8:34 AM, vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk <
vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:

>
>
>
>
> Dear Satish and advaita request list,
>
> Sorry but I am not entirely clear.
>
> Are women prohibited from even listenning to and understanding a pravachan
> of Vedanta? By Vedas do we mean Vedanta? ie. Is even listenning and
> understanding the philosophy of the Upanishads is prohibited to them??
>
> Chanting is difficult for most people and so it is understandable that
> there are restrictions on who does the chanting. However, vedanta
> (pravachans on Upanishads) seem to be widely available for all to listen to,
> understand and enjoy these days.
>
> Surely there is no restriction on a woman attending a talk on the
> upanishads??? or even imbibing that learning in her life?????
>
> Thanks
>
> Vijaya.
> ----Original Message----
> From: satisharigela at yahoo.com
> Date: 23/09/2009 11:21
> To: <vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk>
> Subj: Re: women reading the Vedas
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >So vedas can be read by one who is physically male or female so long
> >as they have full consciousness of the play of the three gunas within
> >them.
>
> I have tried in vain to understand why some people insist that some groups
> should learn the veda when it is clarified in hundreds of works that they
> are not meant to say the veda.
>
> There are like thousand spiritual options for these groups(like women
> shUdra-s) mentioned in the purANa-s and Agama-s. Why this fixation with
> chanting only that which is forbidden and leave all the other options that
> the tradition provides?
>
> To me this is simply a case of attraction towards that which is forbidden.
> Like in the story where "the doctor advises the patient not to think about a
> monkey... and for the next couple of hours the patient could only think of
> the monkey". :)
>
> >Thats what I feel is OK in todays world.
>
> Somebody else might feel puruShamedha is ok in today's world based on some
> vague references and ritually slaughter the guy next door...So you or me
> feeling something does not make it right. He will be sent to jail for man
> slaughter...so is it with women saying the veda-s..
>
> I find it really hard to understand this:...why when many many religious
> options are given and said do not chant the veda-s but you are free to
> follow any of those thousand options....still people yearn for the one
> things which is forbidden leaving all legitimate options???
>
> --- On Wed, 9/23/09, vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk <
> vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
> From: vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk <vijaya1.kambhampati at tiscali.co.uk
> >
> Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] women reading the Vedas
> To: advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
> Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009, 4:14 AM
>
>
> Dear Advaita request list,
>
> Sorry to go back to a few weeks ago. But there was a question
> regarding whether women should read the Vedas or not.
>
> I have been told by a source that the word 'STRI' can be split to SA +
> TRI  meaning one wedded to the three gunas. This could refer to one who
> is physically male or female.
>
> So vedas can be read by one who is physically male or female so long
> as they have full consciousness of the play of the three gunas within
> them.
>
> Thats what I feel is OK in todays world.
>
> Also there have been instances of Sages teaching women the Vedas and
> of women being well versed in the Vedas.
>
> Women brahmacharinis exist in may hindu organistations doing excellent
> work from a good understanding of the hindu religion.
>
> Vijaya Kambhampati.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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नगुरोरधिकं नगुरोरधिकं नगुरोरधिकं नगुरोरधिकम्।
शिवशासनतश्शिवशासनतः शिवशासनतश्शिवशासनतः ।।

Best Regards,
Syam
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