India stands largely alone in its
celebration of the feminine aspect of divinity; the goddess figures prominently
in the religious landscape of the country and her divine manifestations
permeate the religious consciousness of the nation in a way that marks India
out for its devotion to the supreme feminine. Hindu theology itself paves the
way for a sacred feminine archetype by regarding the goddess as the embodiment
of all material energy, or Shakti.
Interestingly, at least where puranic Hinduism
is concerned, the gods themselves are often paired up with feminine
counterparts who serve as the mediums by which devotees can approach their
deities.
You would have thought, that culturally at
least, all of this would have translated into a deep and profound sense of
respect for women in India. Unfortunately, as the Guwahati molestation episode
in the subcontinent makes clear, the treatment of women serves as a shocking
and repugnant departure from the consciousness that guides the veneration of
goddesses in India. The mentality that gives rise to such neglect and disregard
of women appears to be so deeply embedded in the cultural and social fabric of
the country that many legitimately question how far the country can succeed in
reforming its ways.
The article below, from The Guardian, highlights the extent of the problem.
No comments:
Post a Comment