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Is Hinduism sexist?

One must differentiate between common Hindu social practice and the Hindu Scriptures. What people do is sometimes very different and even the contrary to what the Scriptures teach.

One of the major problems with Hinduism is the ignorance of the priests. I being a Sudra have discovered that I know more about the Shastras than most Brahmin priests I’ve encountered! The other problem is most of the preachers and teachers are monks and nuns (sanyāsis) and avoid all reference to the householder life (grihastha) and focus only on Liberation (mokṣa).

To be honest there are many scriptural passages that are misogynistic and many that are pro-women. The Hindu scriptures were written by hundreds of different authors and they provided a panoply of teachings and instructions based on their own interpretations and biases.

Social Justice Warriors today search out the most atrocious sayings in the texts and triumphantly present them as “Hinduism.” In accordance with Gender Politics and Victimology they then appoint women as the victims of patriarchy and perpetual oppression by menfolk in order to foment social revolution and undermine Hinduism.

It is no doubt true that there IS oppression and subjugation of women, domestic violence and rape in Hindu society which is not being addressed with the vigour that it should be — the reasons are many and not the scope of this specific rant!

I generally refrain from long-winded answers but this area needs urgently to be addressed. No gain is achieved by focusing on the negative, but rather promoting and broadcasting the positive injunctions of the Scriptures regarding women we can empower them and their supporters to bring about change in social attitudes and the full emancipation of women. So here we go and these quotes are by no means exhaustive there are still hundreds more like them (nothing like this can be found in the Sacred texts of the 3 Middle Eastern religions!):–

Women in the Mahābhārata (13-81-1 — 12)

Bhishma said, Respect, kind treatment, and everything else that is agreeable, should all be given unto the maiden whose hand is taken in marriage.

Her father and brothers and father-in-law and husband's brothers should show her every respect and adorn her with ornaments, if they be desirous of reaping benefits, for such conduct on their part always leads to considerable happiness and advantage.

If the wife does not like her husband or fails to gladden him, from such dislike and absence of joy, the husband can never have issue for increasing his clan.

Women, O king, should always be worshiped and treated with affection. There where women are treated with respect, the very deities are said to be filled with joy.

There where women are not worshiped, all acts become fruitless. If the women of a family, in consequence of the treatment they receive, grieve and shed tears, that family soon becomes extinct.

Those houses that are cursed by women meet with destruction and ruin as if scorched by some Atharvan rite. Such houses lose their splendour. Their growth and prosperity cease. O king,

Manu, on the eve of his departure for Heaven, made over women to the care and protection of men, saying that they are weak, that they fall an easy prey to the seductive wiles of men[1], disposed to accept the love that is offered them, and devoted to truth.

There are others among them that are full of malice, covetous of honours, fierce in disposition, unlovable, and impervious to reason. Women, however, deserve to be honoured, so O men, show them honour.

The righteousness (Dharma) of men depends upon women. All pleasures and enjoyments also completely depend upon them. So serve them and worship them, bend your wills before them.

The begetting of offspring, the nursing of children already born, and the accomplishment of all acts necessary for the needs of society, all these are dependent upon women.

By honouring women, you are sure to attain success in all your projects. In this connection a princess of the house of Janaka the ruler of the Videhas, sang a verse.

It is this: “Women have no sacrifices ordained for them. There are no Sraddhas which they are called upon to perform. They are not required to observe any fasts. To perform their duty towards their husbands and in-laws is their only obligation. Through the discharge of that duty they succeed in conquering heaven”.

In childhood, the father protects her. The husband protects her in youth. When she becomes old, her sons, protect her. At no period of her life should a woman be left alone.

Women are goddesses of prosperity. The person that desires affluence should honour them. By cherishing women, O Bharata, one cherishes the goddess of prosperity herself.

Women in the Puranas

Glory of the Mother

O Brahmin, he who lives to see his mother so poor and wretched lives in vain. He who full of regard for his mother protects her with devotion, gets fully rewarded in this world and the next. (Nrsimha P. 13:45

In this world and the next, they are the best of people worthy of honour and adoration who obey their mothers. Nrsimha P. 13:46

The highest Dharma is maintenance of the mother (Nrsimha P. 13:63)

Status of Lakshmi

The inconceivable energy of the Godhead can be conceived as twofold - with a female form and with a male form. The two should not be regarded as separate entities, O Lord of Birds. Garuḍa Purāṇa 3.3.16

If the Lord did not have a female aspect, O Lord of birds, how could women be considered as His reflections. Garuḍa Purāṇa 3.3.17

Hence the female is inseparable from the male form. These two forms constitute the very nature of the Lord. This should not be taken otherwise there is no neutrality in the Lord. Garuḍa Purāṇa 3.3.18

The neutral form is alien to His nature. It is not present in Hari, O Lord of Birds. Know that women are the reflected form of Hari Garuḍa Purāṇa 3.3.19

Women in Pancharatra

A man of piety free from sin, consistently adhering to the precepts of the sacred scriptures, performs those deeds that are not condemned by women and that please them. Lakshmi Tantra 27.47

If he observes an excellent man and an excellent woman, he should worship (in them) the divine couple, thinking of me (Lakshmi) and without relinquishing thought of their separably coupled existence. Lakshmi Tantra 27.42

A yogin (dharma practitioner) should never abuse a woman, either in deed, speech or thought. Wherever I am the realities are, wherever I am the gods too are.

Wherever I exist , merits too exist, wherever I exist Krsna too exists.

I am the womanhood pervading the entire universe and inherent in all women. He who abuses women, abuses lakshmi herself, he who abuses lakshmi abuses the entire three worlds.

He who bears ill-will against any woman, is ill-disposed towards Laksmi herself. He who is ill-disposed towards Lakshmi is ill-disposed towards the entire universe.

He whose heart is gladdened by the sight of women - like moonlight, and who never entertains evil thoughts about them, he is most dear to me.

Just as there is no sin whatsoever in Narayana or myself , O Indra, Neither in a cow, a brahmin nor a scholar of Vedanta.

In the same manner no evil whatsoever exists in women O Indra. Just as the Ganga and Sarasvati (rivers) are free of impurity & sin. As also the Aruna river, so too are all women revered as being sinless.

The fact that I, the Mother of the three Worlds, am the basis of womanhood, makes my power manifest in women. Thus a woman is the mother of the three worlds, a goddess full of abundance.

Knowing women as my direct manifestation, how can a yogi refrain from revering them? One should never hurt women, and should never even think of wronging women.

A yogin who wishes to attain the fulfillment of yoga, should always act to please women. He should regard all women as mothers, as goddesses as my very self.

Lakshmī Tantra Chap 43. 62 — 72

Equality with men

Yea many a woman is more steady and better than the man who turns away from the Gods, and serves not. She who assists the weak and the worn, the person who thirsts and is in want; she sets her mind upon the gods. Rig Veda 5;61;6— 8:

Sayana Comments — The wife and the husband being equal halves of one substance are equal in every respect, both should join and take equal part in all work - religious or secular.

Purity of Women

The Moon god has blessed women with purity; the Gandharva has blessed them with sweet speech. Fire is always pure and women are always pure. (G.P.95;19 Yajñavalkya 3:19)

The husband should be loyal to his wife. Since women are to be well protected the husband, his brothers, father, mother or kinsmen should honour her with ornaments, clothing and food. (G.P. 95:27 Yajñavalkya 3:27)

Only the father may be considered as fallen but never the mother. (Narada Purana 14:18)

A woman is not defiled by a lover, (na stri dusyati jarena) nor a Brahmin by Vedic rites, nor water by urine and faeces nor fire by consuming [impure substances]. 1. (Vasistha 28:1)

Whether she has strayed on her own or been expelled, or have suffered rape, or have fallen into the hands of robber, a woman must not be abandoned; to forsake her is not prescribed [by the sacred law]. Let him [her husband] wait until the time of her menstruation, by her temporary impurity she becomes pure. (2-3 Vasistha 28:1-3)

Women are enjoyed first by the gods: the Moon, Gandharva and Agni and only after they go to men in accordance with the law. Therefore they cannot ever be defiled. Vasiṣṭha 28:5

Soma granted them purity, Gandharva a sweet voice, Fire the capacity to eat anything; women there are free from all taints. (Baudhayana 2:45 Vasiṣṭha 28:6)

Menstruation

Women [posses] an unequalled means of purification; they never become entirely tainted. For month by month their temporary uncleanliness removes their sins. (Vasistha 28:4, Baudhāyana 2:4:4)

Mahanirvana tantra

The householder should never punish his wife, but should cherish her like a mother M.N.T 8:39

By riches, clothes, love, respect and pleasing words should one’s wife be satisfied. The husband should never do anything displeasing to her. M.N.T. 8:42

In the same manner (as a son) a daughter should be cherished and educated with great care, and then given away with money and jewels to a wise husband. M.N.T. 8:47

O Kuleshani, a wife should not be burnt with her dead husband. Every woman is your image – you reside concealed in the forms of all women in this world. That woman who, in delusion ascends her husband’s funeral pyre shall go to hell. M.N.T. 10:79-80

A man who rapes a woman, even if she be the wife of an outcaste (candala) should be punished with death and should never be pardoned M.N.T. 11:45

The man who uses offensive language towards a woman, who sees the private parts of a woman who is not his wife, and laughs derisively at her, should fast for two days to purify himself. M.N.T. 11;49

If a man speaks rudely to his wife he must fast for one day, if he beats her he must go without food for three days, and if he cause bloodshed then he must fast for seven days. M.N.T. 11:64

[1] Swalpa-kaupinah literally is covered with a small piece of cloth, hence, capable of being easily seduced.

In Hinduism, is it true it's better to have a son over a daughter according in this video?

These “son-preference” texts are over 2000 years old and to understand you need to time-travel and not scope backwards from our comfortable lounge-rooms with all mod-cons.

• The society was agrarian - i.e. based on farming. There are a number of major problems that the people had to deal with.
• Farming is hard work and wage-free labour is essential.
• The average life-span was 40 - 45 years.
• Girls were married off at 12 and many died in childbirth.
• A large number of kids would die before their first birthday due to childhood diseases and farm accidents - the only protection and cure were some dubious mantras from Atharva Veda (Harry Potter’s textbook).
• There is also danger from robbers and marauders - males were required to defend the property.
• It was a patriarchy in most of India and therefore girls would go to their in-laws villages upon marriage. The farm was also transferred only to male descendants.
• When the daughters departed from the household - they were given their share of the property as their personal security (strī-dhan)

So for all these reasons sons were desired for security and prosperity.

Our socio-economic system in 21st century is radically different and girls are doing better at school than boys, are more intelligent, caring and family orientated. They are becoming increasingly financial independent and are marrying later and baring fewer children. Insurance schemes and superannuation ensure our financial security and wellbeing. Sons are no longer an imperative for Hindus.

SONS REQUIRED FOR A SECURE AFTERLIFE.

This was a common ancient belief as well - the term “son” is PUTRA which indicates one who saves the father from hell through the proper performance of the funeral rites.

But this is incorrect.

Bahūnāṁ ekajātānāṁ ekaścet putravān naraḥ | Sarvete tena putreṇa putravanta iti śrutih ||

If among many brothers (from one father) one has a son, they all have offspring through that son thus says the Veda. (Vasiṣṭha 17:7)

Manu agrees with Vasiṣṭha on this topic.

Manu 9:182. If among brothers, sprung from one (father), one have a son, Manu has declared them all to have male offspring through that son.

183. If among all the wives of one husband one have a son, Manu declares them all (to be) mothers of male children through that son.

The person who performs the final rites (karta) is the one who inherits the deceased estate (according to Dharma Shastra) or becomes head of the extended family.

If a Hindu father has only one daughter and no son, then prior to his death he can appoint her as his successor - she is known as niyukta-putrī. (Manu 9:127)

Her son (called a dauhitra) is then the one who performs the last rites and through the performance thereof acquires the estate (theoretically). Often there is a superstitious dispute with the husband’s family who object to the son performing the last rites for the maternal grandfather while the father and paternal grandfather are alive.

yathā-eva-ātmā tathā putraḥ putreṇa duhitā samā | tasyām ātmani tiṣṭhantyāṁ katham anyo dhanaṁ haret || Manu 9:130 ||

130. A son is even (as) oneself, (such) an appointed daughter is equal to a son; how can another (heir) take the estate, while such (an appointed daughter who is even) oneself, lives?

So even Manu himself has said that a daughter is EQUAL to a son.

So hereby the religious requirement for a son has been refuted.

How do Vedic or Yogic philosophies view abortion?

Abortion is one of the major sins in Vedic and Pauranic Hinduism. Yoga philosophy does not address this.

Yajñavalkya smṛti Chapter 3

vyabhicārād ṛtau śuddhir garbhe tyāgo vidhīyate | 
garbha bhartṛvadhādau ca tathā mahati pātake || 72 ||

If a woman subjects herself to abortion, except in the case of adultery and for purposes of expiation (for rape), she becomes guilty of two great sins:– the murder of the foetus and the murder of her husband.

Mahanirvana Tantra 11

āgarbhat pañcamāsāntar garbham yā sravayeddhiyā | tad upāya-krtaṁ tāñca yātayetti-vratāḍanaiḥ || 69 || pañcamāt parato yā strī bhrūṇaṁ prapātayet | tat prayoktuśca tasyāśca patakam syādbadhodbhavaṁ | manuṣya-vadhajanyam || 70 ||

The woman who causes a abortion before the completion of the fifth month, as well as the person who helps her thereto, should be severely punished. The woman who after the fifth month destroys the child in her womb, and the person who helps her thereto, are guilty of murder. (70).

Paraśara Smriti Chapter 4:20

yat pāpaṁ brahmahatyāṁ dviguṇaṁ garbha-pātane | prāyaścittaṁ na tasyāḥ syāt tasyās tyāgo vidhīyate ||

What sin is incurred in murdering a priest, causing an abortion causes a sin twice as great:— there is no atonement for that sin. The abandonment of such a woman has been ordained by law.

Any wilful abortion for gender selection or as a post sex contraception technique is a crime/sin in Vedic law.

How do Buddhism and Hinduism consider women?

This is a very important question and one of the most contentious issues on Quora. So I shall take up more space than usual to put an end to some of the oft repeated objections, denunciation, accusation and counter-accusations from a Hindu point of view. And to provide ammunition for those who are seriously working for social change.

In the Vedas women have it pretty good and are regarded as equal to men.

Rig Veda 5;61;6— 8:

uta tvā strī śaśīyasī puṁso bhavati vasyasī | adevatrāda rādhase || 6 || vi yā jānāti jasuriṁ vi tṛṣyantaṁ vi kāminam | devatrā kṛṇute manaḥ || 7 || uta ghā nemo astutaḥ pumāṁ iti bruve pāṇiḥ | sa vaira deya itsamaḥ || 8 ||

“Yea many a woman is more steady and better than the man who turns away from the Gods, and serves not. She who assists the weak and the worn, the person who thirsts and is in want; she sets her mind upon the gods.”

Sayana Comments — The wife and the husband being equal halves of one substance are equal in every respect, both should join and take equal part in all work - religious or secular.

In the Vedas there is no child-marriage, sati, or oppression of women.

It is important to understand that there are 3 streams of Post-Vedic thought in Hinduism regarding women. The Smriti (the legal and religious texts) world view has 2 streams

1. The view of the Householder (grihastha)
2. The view of the Renunciate (Sannyāsi)

And then there is the Tantric world view as the 3rd stream.

So within the vast library of Hindu sacred texts we find three contradictory views. So when reading these texts we need to bear in mind the audience to which they are addressed.

The “sannyāsi” or renunciate literature, which is obviously written from a patriarchal point of view, describes women as obstructions to liberation, temptresses and people to be suppressed and avoided. This is obviously because men are easily tempted and struggle to restrain themselves and their desires. The female-negative verses are I think in the minority but are the most cherished by the SJW’s.

(I prefer to focus on the positive so will not quote any disagreeable verses.)

The “grihastha” or household literature is much more female-positive and affirms that women are the source of societal well-being, prosperity and happiness. But this is still a patriarchal system where women are second class but respected. I will quote only the English translations for the sake of brevity and easy reading.

55. Women must be honoured and adorned by their fathers, brothers, husbands, and brothers-in-law, who desire (their own) welfare.

56. Where women are honoured, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honoured, no sacred rite yields rewards.

57. Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers.

58. The houses on which female relations, not being duly honoured, pronounce a curse, perish completely, as if destroyed by magic.

59. Hence men who seek (their own) welfare, should always honour women on holidays and festivals with (gifts of) ornaments, clothes, and (dainty) food.

60. In that family, where the husband is pleased with his wife and the wife with her husband, happiness will assuredly be lasting.

61. For if the wife is not radiant with beauty, she will not attract her husband; but if she has no attractions for him, no children will be born.

62. If the wife is radiant with beauty, the whole house is bright; but if she is destitute of beauty, all will appear dismal. (Manu Chap 3, repeated almost verbatim by Bhishma in Mahabharata Anushasana parva.)

The “Tantric” view is extremely female positive, matriarchal and exalts women above men. Women are seen as strong, powerful, independent, the source of all creativity and inspiration etc. This literature is voluminous, but I shall quote only from Lakshmi Tantra Chap 43.

Lakshmi said:– A man of piety free from sin, consistently adhering to the precepts of the sacred scriptures, performs those deeds that are not condemned by women and that please them . Lakshmi Tantra 27.47

If he observes an excellent man and an excellent woman, he should worship (in them) the divine couple, thinking of me (Lakshmi) and without relinquishing thought of their separably coupled existence. Lakshmi Tantra 27.42

62. A yogin (Dharma/spiritual practitioner) should never abuse a woman, either in deed, speech or thought. Wherever I (Lakshmi) am the realities are, wherever I am the gods too are.

63. Wherever I exist , merits too exist, wherever I exist Krsna too exists. I am the womanhood pervading the entire universe and inherent in all women .

64. He who abuses women, abuses Lakshmi herself, He who abuses Lakshmi abuses the entire three worlds.

65. He who bears ill-will against any woman, is ill-disposed towards Lakshmi herself. He who is ill-disposed towards Lakshmi is ill-disposed towards the entire universe.

66. He whose heart is gladdened by the sight of women - like moonlight, and who never entertains evil thoughts about them, he is most dear to me.

67 – 70. Just as there is no sin whatsoever in Narayana or myself , O Indra, Neither in a cow, a brahmin nor a scholar of Vedanta. In the same manner no evil whatsoever exists in women O Indra. Just as the Ganga and Sarasvati (rivers) are free of impurity & sin. As also the Aruna river, so too are all women revered as being immaculate and sinless. The fact that I, the Mother of the three Worlds, am the basis of womanhood, makes my power manifest in women. Thus a woman is the mother of the three worlds, a goddess full of abundance.

71. Knowing women as my direct manifestation, how can a yogi refrain from revering them? One should never hurt women, and should never even think of wronging women.

72. A yogin who wishes to attain the fulfillment of yoga, should always act to please women. He should regard all women as mothers, as goddesses as my very self.

I shall end this very concise snapshot of the literature on women with a vignette for deep reflection!

ahāro dviguṇas tāsāṃ buddhis tāsāṃ caturguṇā | ṣaḍguṇā mantraṇā tāsāṃ kāmaścāṣṭaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ || (Narada Pancharatra 1:14:96)

Women consume twice as much as men, are four times more intelligent, six times more adept at counseling and eight times more passionate than men.

Is Hinduism Patriarchical?

Hinduism is a very broad cooperative including numerous different sects and religions so there is not one single answer to any question. It all depends of which philosophical system or sect or community you’re talking about.

Patriarchy is defined a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is reckoned through the male line.

According to this definition, the Dharma Shastra (Classic legal texts) are patriarchical since they deal with the organization of society as well as the line of inheritance. But it is important to bear in mind the Dharma Shastra were written by brahmins for brahmins and that there are hundreds of different castes, sects and communities which were non-brahminical and were matriarchal in structure.

The Tantra system was very much women orientated.

From a religious point of view women can be rulers, judges, teachers, philosophers, theologians, gurus (female - gurvi) and even priests - there may be some societal restrictions to them accomplishing these goals but no theoretical or theological reason.

In the modern world, all notions of patriarchy versus matriarchy are unrequired - modern Hindus are religiously free to apply whatever arrangements best suits their particular social situation. Descent can now be registered according to either or neither and inheritance is decided by the individual and arbitrated by the courts - so religion has no part to play.