The Role of Woman in Building Cultural Heritage of India

Abstract

In our Hindu Law Manu had made such a remark: To him, gods rejoice there where women are duly honoured. He also added in this connection that if women in the society lament and are tortured, the whole kingdom will suffer owing to this leading to its complete annihilation. At the moment we do not want to judge the justifiability of such statements in details, but at best it can be said that the position of the women in ancient society was not totally neglected as it is commonly thought of. We come across the icon of Ardhanārīśvara, which is in fact a combination of half male and half female. Such an icon is of very much significance on the ground that it indicates the role of woman in our life. If a woman wants to exercise her freedom, nobody will go to resist her. Historical account shows that in India there were many women who exercised their freedom in a full-fledged manner. It is believed in Indian culture that the Divine Energy (Śakti) is manifested as the Ultimate female power in Hindu cosmology. She creates, destroys and exhibits a fierce power over all of creation. If they have such a confidence, power given to them will be utilized for the welfare of the women as well as the country. I am personally looking forward towards this ‘dawn’ of their own glorious identity lost now-a-days due to various socio-political problems.