Treat our women with dignity and respect

THE letter by S Singh on discrimination against widows by priests refers. Singh writes: “... you don’t need scriptures, rather you need common sense to realise that the priest is only right.” Firstly, if Hinduism had to be followed purely on common sense, there would be much more confusion about Hindu practices and rituals. In following common sense on the matter of what widows can or cannot do (or for any other Hindu practice or ritual), whose common sense will we follow? The priests or men in society? The subjectivity in using common sense is obvious. Secondly, it is dangerous to ignore scriptures. Sri Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (16:24): Therefore, the scripture is your authority in determining what ought to be done and what ought not to be done, having known what is pronounced in scriptural ordinance you should perform action here. Singh also writes: “It’s an age old tradition that widows don’t do anything especially for a wedding.” Traditions ought to become outdated, especially if they no longer make sense to continue with them. It might have been a tradition (which in our view was wrong) to prohibit widows from participating in Hindu rituals such as weddings. Various traditions have been abandoned because they contradict scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita. In any case, we cannot continue with such discrimination. Widows are first and foremost human beings. They must therefore be treated with dignity and respect. To deprive them of participation in wedding rituals is to deny them that respect and dignity. Widows are our mothers, sisters, cousins – in short our own relatives. These same widows as our mothers, sisters, cousins, relatives and important members of society cook food for us, take care of us, take care of our children, work, and contribute to family income. How then can we deprive them of participating fully in a wedding? Let us be reminded of the wonderful words of Sri Krishna who in Bhagavad Gita (9:21) says: The same am I to all beings; to me there is none hateful or dear; but those who worship me with devotion are in me and I am also in them. The implication is that God is present in all, including the widow. How then can she bring inauspiciousness to her children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and relatives?

RISHI R MAHARAJH President: Shree Sanathan Dharma Sabha of S A Purohit Mandal