Just a few days ago, we all worshipped the Goddess as Maa
Durga and her other forms. Almost every different community in Indian
subcontinent paid their regards to the Goddess in one form or the other. Many
were busy feeding young girls and washing their feet – praying for their well
being. The young girls are manifestation of the Goddess herself. A few days
later, the wives observed fast for their husband’s long life. A wife is a
representation of the power of the Goddess working solely for the husband. She
represents Sita (in her submissive form) and Lakshmi (by the prosperity she
brings).
However, last month a news article from Delhi depicted a
shameful act being committed to two-year and five-year old girls. Apart from
this highlighted news article, there were many others smaller ones that said
the stories of innumerable crimes against women – Domestic violence or public
violence.
Why is that we worship the Goddess as the supreme being, yet
consider her human form as inferior? Why is that the male always tries to
dominate the female, prove his supremacy and many a times hurts her in the
process?
Have you ever watched an alpha male lion in the jungle or a
zoo? He is usually surrounded with female lionesses. He is seen to be
protective of them and roars at anyone who tries to come close to his females. Probably
he treats them as his property. But have you tried to ask the lionesses, if
they need the protection of the male lion? If you notice with a careful eye,
you shall see the similar behavior in other animals too; even humans!
The female form represents the matter as per the Hindu
philosophy. It helps us observe, feel or experience. Represented by the earth,
the cow, the river and the mother – the female form is seen as a provider for
material aspects to everyone without discrimination. Every seed that falls on
the earth has an equal chance to germinate. The earth does not discriminate
between the seeds as to what plants shall grow. It is the seeds that fight with
each other to be able to draw as much resources from the earth to grow. And
only the fittest survive – remember the life is a race? Similarly the cow
provides the milk without caring who is drinking. The river provides the water
to everyone on its way. The mother cares for all her offspring. Isn’t there a
famous saying – “the crying baby gets the most milk”?
Ever seen a peacock? It’s beautiful when dancing with all
his feathers sprung open. The peacock dances in fear. He displays his beauty to
attract female peacock to be able to mate. The female birds and animals often
choose their male partners based on their strength, beauty, vocal quality and
many other factors. Remember the lessons in botany? The flowers have one ovary
but many stamens to sprinkle the pollen through the distributive mechanism.
Thus it is the nature that has considered the female form as precious as
compared to the male form.
Interesting point is that it’s not just the animals, but
even gods in many different philosophies displaying similar behavior. The Greek
Mythology speaks of Gaia and how Uranus, Cronus and later Zeus handled her –
sidelining her to make sure of their own survival. The Inuit tribe talks of
Sedna – who later appears as mermaid – being maltreated by her own father to
rescue himself from angry seagulls. The Indian Mythology is filled with stories
of Indra and many others lusting after female form to satiate themselves and
sustain their glory. In every case, the female form is the provider who creates
the life irrespective of the way the life was conceived.
The male form creates the life or experiences the life only
through the provisions from the female form. In order for it to sustain the
life or enjoy the pleasures, the male form needs the female form. And this is
where the fear creeps in. what if the female form is lost tomorrow? Or what if
some other male steals the female? The selection of only the best male form by
the female form arises anxiety amongst the males. This fear gives way for the
males to regenerate themselves into alpha males. This fear gives rise to the
need for domesticating the females and tying them into the boundaries created
by the society and culture.
While raising the point of the violence against the females,
I have had been doing my share of thinking as well. I was raised with the
thought that the one who gives the life or sustains it is always greater than
the one who snatches it. Still, sometimes I feel lost in deciding who is better
– the male or the female? Or they are there to work in harmony? If so, why
violate each other? Why can the harmony not prevail? Have we become so
insensitive that we continue to ignore our own part that is needed for our
survival?
I shall end this with my favorite quote from the movie “3
Idiots” – Be capable, be worthy and success shall follow you.
My other related posts on this topic are - Is India shining?,
Violence - where does it all starts?, What happened to us, What happened to us– Contd.
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