Quote:
Originally Posted by
dogra
Clear gender equality is NOT enshrined in Hindu holy scriptures. This is obvious to anyone who understands vedAnta, because a fundamental concept is the acknowledgement of our inequality as a result of different karmas, all beginningless.
Sadly, some people equate acknowledgement of gender differences as somehow akin to encouraging rape. This is an obnoxious position with no relevance to reality.
The Vedas you quoted do not say anything about gender equality. Here are the verses, one-by-one.
White Yajur Veda 20.9:
Quote:
BIRTH PLACE of princely power art thou: centre art thou
of princely power.
Harm not thyself: do me no harm.
2 Varuna, Law's maintainer, hath sat down, etc., as in X. 27.
Save me from death. Save me from lightning.
3 Thee, by the radiant Savitar's impulsion, with arms of
Asvins, with the hands of Pûshan,
With leech-craft of the Asvins, I besprinkle for splendour,
for the lustre of a Brâhman;
With leech-craft of Sarasvatî, besprinkle for manly vigour
and for food to feed thee;
Besprinkle thee, by special power of Indra, for strength of
body and for fame and glory.
4 Thou art Ka. Noblest Ka art thou. Thee for the state and
rank of Ka.
Sumangala! Susloka! Satyarâjan!
5 My head be grace, my mouth be fame, my hair and beard
be brilliant sheen!
My breath be King and deathlessness, mine eye Sole Lord,
mine ear the Prince!
6 My tongue be bliss, my voice be might, my mind be wrath,
my rage self-lord!
Joys be my fingers, and delight my members, conquering
strength my friend!
7 Let my two arms be Indra's power, my hands be deed of
manly might, my soul and breast be princely rule! neck
8 My ribs be royal government, my belly, shoulders, neck,
and hips,
Thighs, elbows, knees, the people, yea, my members universally!
9 My navel intellect, etc., etc. ... ... ... ...
Duty am I in legs and feet, established King among the
folk.
10 I take my stand on princely power and Kingship, on cows
am I dependent, and on horses. on vital breath
On members I depend, and on the body,
dependent and on welfare, on heaven and earth and
sacrifice dependent.
White Yajur Veda 16.44:
Quote:
42 Homage to him who is beyond and to him who is on this
side, homage to him who crosses over and to him who
crosses back. Homage to him who is in fords and on
river banks, homage to him who is in tender grass and in
foam.
43 Homage to him who is in sand and to him who is in running
water, homage to him who is on pebbly ground and to
him who is where still water stands. Homage to him
who wears braided hair and to him whose hair is smooth.
Homage to him who is in deserts and to him who is on
broad roads.
44 Homage to him who is in herds of cattle and to him who
is in cow-pens, homage to him who is on beds and to
him who is in houses. Homage to him who is in hearts,
and to him who is in whirlpools, homage to him who is in
wells and to him who is in abysses.
45 Homage to him who is in dry things and to him who is in
green things. Homage to him who is in dust and to him
who is in vapour. Homage to him who is in inaccessible
places, homage to him who is in creeping plants, homage
to him who is in the earth and to him who is in good soil.
46 Homage to him who is in leaves and to him who is in the
falling of leaves. Homage to him with the threatening
voice and to him who slays, homage to him who troubles
and to him who afflicts. Homage to you arrow-makers
and to you bow-makers, homage to you sprinklers, to the
hearts of the Gods. Homage to the discerners, homage
to the destroyers; homage to the indestructible.
White Yajur Veda 10.26:
Quote:
23 All hail to Agni, Master of the Household! All-hail to Soma,
Sovran of the Forest!
All-hail to the great vigour of the Maruts! All-hail to the
effectual might of Indra!
Injure me not, O Mother Earth, and may I never injure thee.
24 The Hamsa throned in light, the Vasu in mid-air, the
Priest beside the altar, Guest within the house,
Dwelling in noblest place, mid men, in truth, in sky, born
of flood, kine, truth, mountain, be is mighty Law.
25 So great art thou: life art thou; give me life,
Mate art thou: thou art splendour; give me splendour.
Strength art thou: give me strength. I draw you downward,
two arms of Indra mighty in achievement.
26 Fair art thou, good to sit on, womb of kingship.
Sit on the fair one, sit on that which offers a pleasant seat:
sit in the womb of kingship.
27 Varuna, Law's maintainer, hath sat down among his people, he
Most wise, for universal sway.
28 Supreme Lord art thou. May these five regions of thine be
prosperous. Brahman! Thou art Brahman, Savitar art
thou, faithful in impulsion, Varuna art thou, he whose
power is real. Indra art thou, whose strength is of the
people. Rudra art thou, the very kind and gracious.
Rig Veda 10.191.3:
Quote:
1. THOU, mighty Agni, gatherest up all that is precious for thy friend.
Bring us all treasures as thou art enkindled in libation's place
2 Assemble, speak together: let your minds be all of one accord,
As ancient Gods unanimous sit down to their appointed share.
3 The place is common, common the assembly, common the mind, so be their thought united.
A common purpose do I lay before you, and worship with your general oblation.
4 One and the same be your resolve, and be your minds of one accord.
United be the thoughts of all that all may happily agree.
May I kindly request that all members consider checking sources before quoting them second-hand.
regards,