সমৃদ্ধি সেখানে আছে যেখানে নারীদের সম্মান আছে। কর্ম সেখানে কাঙ্ক্ষিত ফল আনে না যে সমাজে নারীরা অসম্মান পায়। (মনু)
১৮৯৩ সালে আমেরিকা তে স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ কে জিজ্ঞেস করা হয়েছিল,”ভারতে কি নারীরা পুরুষের সমান অধিকার পায়? ”
স্বামীজি বলেছিলেন,”না।”
একটু চুপ করে থেকে তিনি ব্লেন,””ভারতে মেয়েরা ছেলেদের চেয়ে বেশি সম্মান পায়।”
এটাই বৈদিক সমাজের মাহাত্ত। দুর্ভাগ্যবশত ১০০০ বছরের দাসত্ব আমাদের আরব, তুর্কি লুটেরা প্রভু এবং ইংরেজদের কাছ থেকে যত বর্বর আচার শিক্ষা লাভ করেছি। আমরা নারিকে ভোগবিলাসের পণ্য বানিয়ে ফেলেছি।
সমগ্র বিশ্বে একই অবস্থা। নারীরা নির্যাতনের শিকার। কতটা এগিয়েছে এই সভ্যতা?
শুধু জ্ঞানবিজ্ঞানে অগ্রসর হলেই হবে? বস্তুবাদী সভ্যতা আমাদের মনের কোন উন্নতি করাতে পারে নি।
স্ত্রী সন্তানদের নিয়ে বেদের মহান শিক্ষা স্মরণ করলেই, তা মেনে চললেই সভ্যতা উন্নত হতে পারবেঃ
চলুন ঘুরে আসি বেদের পাতা থেকেঃ
1-.तेS वदन् प्रथमा ब्रह्मकिल्विषे S कूपार: सलिलो मातरिश्वा ! वीडुहरास्तप उग्रं मयोभूरापो देवी: प्रथमजा: ऋतस्य !! ऋ10/109/1, अथर्व 5/17/1 “In the beginning three devataas viz. akoopaar, salilo and matarishwa, (Solar energy, the primordial soup and the moving winds laden with microbes) - that had taken part in creation of the physical humans, te awadan- deliberated among themselves. To brahmkilvishe - plan for preventing degradation of human society by Veeduharaastapugram - defeating the fires of strong dominating commandeering forces, of ugliness, violence, gross selfishness and over confidence uncivilized behavior, by mayobhoorapo dousing these fire with cool waters. For this prathamaaja devee first born female was conceived by ritasya – by God almighty’s wisdom. (Invincible Samson was cooled off by Delilah in bible) Vedas are in fact giving the same allegorical interpretation, but in a more comprehensive and scientific form, as follows.
These three Ved mantras also occurring in different places explain the same three stages in the development of the female temperament. In the beginning is what modern science refers to the age before formation of 'the blood brain barrier' in the children i.e. up to about 4 years age. According to our Shastras the girl child is under the guardianship of Soma. Vedas elaborate on Soma as god of intellect and poetically describe Soma being the first husband of the females during their infancy. (Modern science tells us that that DHA (Decosa Hexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Ecosa Pentaenoic Acid) are the two fatty acids that power the human brain in all its activities related to human faculties. DHA is particularly associated with eyesight. Both DHA and EPA are made in the human body from ALA the Omega 3 fatty acids. In young females capacity for conversion of dietary Omega 3 to DHA is nearly 20 higher and EPA is nearly three times higher than males. Thus it is the female of the species that has been given the extra responsibility to ensure good brains, eye sight, the intellectual strength for the human progeny. Nature has thus provided the females with a far superior role in building a human society than men, because to start with only sharp and farsighted brains ensure a sustainable happy society. This fact is borne out by the observation that in modern society not only in India but even in the Ivy league colleges in USA, girls are regularly obtaining the academic laurels far ahead of boys. This is no different from Indian experience. Girls are seen to be snatching the top scholastic positions in all examinations in India. This is the scientific basis of the unique Vedic Culture that addresses the girl child as an object of veneration and the females to be accorded high position and treated with respect in society. In the second stage till the age of puberty around 12/13 years, during adolescence the girl child is possessed by Gandharvas. Gandharwas represents aesthetics, all that is beautiful, delicate, sensitive, empathic and virtuous in this world. In visuals the talent for appreciation of beauty, in nature, arts, physical forms, and ability to replicate the same in paintings/sculptures and such visual art forms. In audiovisual areas gandharwas, would represent good sounds, music, dance forms and drama, good vocal abilities, creative writings. Sensitivity for harmonious relations and peace loving attitudes, delicacy, creativity are the gifts to humanity of the Gandhrwas. A girl child through her teens remains preoccupied with these artistic pursuits. These natural traits of females must be given full opportunities to develop. Females thus become the embodiment of these qualities for the human race. Poetically Vedas describe the Gandhrwas as the second husbands of the females.) In the third stage, with development of physical body functions, in Vedic language female body is as if afire with – the flesh gets stronger - by कामाग्नि. Female becomes ready for taking on her role of a wife by being married to a human being. And thus bring forth good progeny for progress and continuation of human society.
3-हस्तेनैव ग्राह्यआधिरस्या ब्रह्मजायेयमिति चेदवोचन् । न दूताय प्रह्ये तस्थ एषा तथा राष्ट्रं गुपितं क्षत्रियस्य॥ ऋ 10-109-3अथर्व 5-17-3 But it is also said that at this age to prevent the young females from being led astray, they require protective hand holding, just like a nation whose safety and security is ensured by the Kshatriyas.
4-यामाहुस्तारकैषा विकेशीति दुच्छनां ग्राममवपद्यमानाम् । जाया वि दुनोति राष्ट्रं यत्र प्रापादि शश उल्कुषीमान् ॥ अथर्व-5-17-4 (It is at this stage here that this first Veda mantra is added by Atharwa Veda as a further elucidation of the subject.) Symbolized like unkempt hair of neglected deprived women, are the grown up undisciplined-unprincipled and ignorant females. When they bear children they propagate ignorance and lack of wise counsel to their young offspring. This brings to bear upon the society as a great scourge, like the destructive thunder bolts falling from the sky.
5-ब्रह्मचारी चरति वेविषद्विषः स-देवानां भवत्येकमङ्गम् । तेन जायामन्वविदद्बृहस्पतिः सोमेन नीतां जुह्वं ने देवाः ॥ ऋ 10-109-5 अथर्व 5-17-5 Brahmcharis the young well educated learned youth have ability to take even the fallen women and bring them to flower, their hidden potential to bear good progeny for intellectual progress of the human race as originally the Gods had desired.
6-देवा वा एतस्यामवदन्त पूर्वे सप्तऋषयस्तपसे ये निषेदुः । भीमा जाया ब्राह्मणस्योपनीता दुर्धां दधाति परमे व्योमन् ॥ On this subject, based on the observation and experience of the elders through Saptrishis –The seven observers. (SevenRishis are named Kashyap,Atri,Bharadwaj, Jamadagni, Gautam. The seven sensory organs two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and mouth are also described as representing these Seven Rishis) i.e. basically what could be called 'media reports', it was expressed that women who are led astray by kidnapping or enticing, bring to bear upon the society very heavy social calamities, and it is the duty of the media to highlight such issues.
7- ये गर्भा अवपद्यन्ते जगद् यच्चापलुप्यते। वीरा ये तृह्यन्ते मिथो ब्रह्मजाया हिनस्ति तान्॥ अथर्व 5-17-7 Even female fetuses that are destroyed bring forth in the society an atmosphere of rampant violence where chivalrous, strong men start violence and fights among themselves. This is seen as the curse of female fetuses destroyed.
8-उत यत् पतयो दश स्त्रियाः पूर्वे अब्राह्मणाः। ब्रह्मा चे द्वस्तमग्रहीत् स एव पतिरेकधा ॥ अथर्व-5-17-8 But a fallen woman even if she has been exploited by tens of men, finally gets accepted in a proper marriage to a good virtuous man, she is rehabilitated as being married to one man.
9-ब्राह्मण एव पतिर्न राजन्यो3 न वैश्यः। तत् सूर्यः प्रब्रुवन्नेति पञ्चभ्यो मानवेभ्यः ॥ अथर्व 5-17-9 Like the illuminating light of the sun on the entire earth, this fact should also be very well known in the world that all people must develop their intellect. Merely on the strength of acquiring a higher status of a ruler over men, or a big warrior or a big moneyed person in life, no body acquires the qualification to be a good parent to father a progeny by taking a wife. 10-पुनर्वै देवा अददुः पुनर्मनुष्या उत । राजानः सत्यं कृण्वाना ब्रह्म जायां पुनर्ददुः ॥ ऋ 10-109-6 अथर्व 5-17-10 In case of any female if kidnapped or exploited, it becomes the duty of the state to rescue her and rehabilitate her in the society with due respect.
11-पुनर्दाय ब्रह्मजाया कृत्वी देवैर्निल्बिषम् । ऊर्जं पृथिव्या भक्तवायो रुगायमुपासते ॥ ऋ 10-109-7 अथर्व 5-17-11 Such women are considered innocent of any crime, and if need arises their rehabilitation should be at state expense.
12-नास्य जाया शतवाही कल्याणी तल्पमा शये । यस्मिन राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्या ॥ अथर्व 5-17-12 Even the ruler protected/surrounded by hundreds of security force does not feel secure enough, to have a sound sleep in his chamber, in a Nation where females are commandeered/forced upon against their free will.
13-न विकर्णः पृथुशिरास्तस्मिन्वेश्मनि जायते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्या ॥ अथर्व 5-17-13 That nation/society becomes deaf/ignorant to the voice of the people and no intellectual scholars grow, where females are commandeered/forced upon against their free will.
14-नास्य क्षत्ता निष्कग्रीवः सूनानामेत्यग्रतः । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्या ॥ अथर्व 5-17-14 Chivalrous strong men do not show up in nations, where females are commandeered /forced upon against their free will.
15-नास्य श्वेतः कृष्णकर्णो धुरि युक्तो महीयते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्या ॥ अथर्व 5-17-15 By not being able to mount the horses in their chariots - to perform Aswamedh yagna - That nation/state loses face and influence in the world, where females are commandeered/forced upon against their free will.
16-नास्य क्षेत्रे पुष्करिणी नाण्डीकं जायते बिसम् । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्या ॥ अथर्व 5-17-16 Water bodies do not sport lotus flowers and the lotus flowers do not bear seeds to propagate themselves, - The environment suffers, where females are commandeered/forced upon against their free will.
17-नास्मै पृश्नि वे दुहन्ति ये ऽस्या दोहमुपासते । यस्मिन् राष्ट्रे निरुध्यते ब्रह्मजायाचित्या ॥ अथर्व 5-17-17 Cows are no longer able to provide good quantities of milk, where females are commandeered /forced upon against their free will.
18-नास्य धेनुः कल्याणी नानड्वान्त्सहते धुरम् । विजानिर्यत्र ब्राह्मणो रात्रिं वसति पापया ॥ अथर्व-5-17-18 Neither the cows bring welfare to society nor oxen get yoked, and without active participation of the women in the society, men are given to crime in night life.
