Shivaratri

Studying the present needs of the age, it seems imperative to train some of them up in the ideals of renunciation, so that they will take up the vow of We-long virginity, Fired with the strength of that virtue of chastity which is innate in their blood from hoary antiquity. Our motherland requires for her well-being some of her children to become pure soul Brahmacharins

Even if one amongst the women became a knower of Brahman, then by the radiance of her personality, Thousands of women would be inspired and awakened to truth, and great well-being of the country and society would ensue.

Female education should be spread with religion as its centre. All other training should be secondary to religion. Religious Training, the formation of character and observance of the vows of celibacy these should be attended to Brahmacharinis of education and character should take up the task of teaching. In villages and towns they must open centers and strive for the spread of female education. Through such devout preachers of character, there will secular education .The real spread of female education in the country.

History and Puranos, house-keeping and the arts, the duties of home life and the principles that make for the development of character have to be taught. Other matters such as sewing, culinary art, rules of domestic work and upbringing of children will also be taught. Japa, worship and meditation shall form an indispensable part of the teach-Self-defense. . . Along with other things they should acquire the spirit of velour and heroism. In the present day it has become necessary for them also to learn self-defense how grand was the Queen of Jhansi!

Women – “Be Emboldened”; “Embodiment of Goddess of Mother”

Men and women in every country, have different ways of understanding and judging things. Men have one angle of vision, women another; men argue from one standpoint, women from another. Men extenuate women and lay the blame on men; while women exonerate men and heap all the heap on women. (CW V.7, p.378)

“In the West its ideal is wife, in India in the mother”.

“In India the mother is the center of the family and our highest ideal. She is to us the representative of God, as God is the mother of the universe. It was a female sage who first found the unity of God, and laid down this doctrine in one of the first hymns of the Vedas. Our God is both personal and absolute, the absolute is male, the personal, female. And thus it comes that we now say: ’The first manifestation of God is the hand that rocks the cradle’.” (CW V.4 p.170)

Vivekananda declared that the western ideal of womanhood is wife, while the eastern ideal is mother. “The very peculiarity of Hindu women which they have developed and which is the ideal of their life, is that of the mother…………”A nation that has educated itself to look upon God as Mother has learnt to invest its view of woman with the utmost tenderness and reverence. Swami Vivekananda is the first monk to uphold and do work for the freedom and equality of women and realizing her importance for the functioning of home and society.

So shall we bring to the need of India great fearless women? Women worthy to continue the traditions of Sanghamitta, Lila, and Ahalya Bai and Mira Bai women fit to be mothers of heroes, because they are pure and fearless, strong with the strength that comes of touching the feet of God.” We must see to their growing up as ideal Matrons of home in time. The children of such mothers will make further progress in the virtues that distinguishes them. It is only in the homes of educated and pious mothers are born.

It is the strong belief of Swami Vivekananda that if the women are raised, their children will by their noble actions glorify the name of the country; then will culture, knowledge, power and devotion awake in the country.

With five hundred men, the conquest of India might take fifty years; with as many women not more than a few weeks.

The rise of outstanding women administrators, statesmen, scientists, writers and spiritual teachers, is gradually proving the truth of these prophetic words.Today   Swami Vivekananda  words have proved true. Following

the footsteps of Sarada Devi and Sister Nivedita hundreds of women all over the world are coming forward with a combination of the ‘mother’s heart and the hero’s will,’ a combination of the purity of Holy Mother and the dynamism of Rani of Jhansi or Joan of Arc.

All nations have attained greatness by paying proper respect to women. That country and that nation which do not respect women have never become great, nor will ever be in future, amen.

References

Srimad Bhagavad Gita 5.25. An ancient Indian scripture.

Israel Scheffler, Of human potential, Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985.

Edgar Faure et al., Learning to be, Paris: UNESCO, 1972, p. 156.

Ahluwalia, B. 1983. Vivekananda and the Indian Renaissance. New Delhi: Associated PublishingCo.

Avinashalingam, T.S. 1974. Educational philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. 3rd ed. Coimbatore:

Burke, M.L. 1984. Swami Vivekananda in the West: new discoveries, 6 vols. Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama.

Gnatuk-Danil’chuk, A.P. 1986. Tolstoy and Vivekananda. Calcutta: The Ramakrishna Mission.

His Eastern and Western Disciples. 1989. The life of Swami Vivekananda. 2 vols. 6th ed. Calcutta:

Hossain, M. 1980. Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy of education. Calcutta: Ratna Prakashan.

Nivedita, Sister. 1999. The Master as I saw him. 9th ed., 12th printing. Calcutta: Udbodhan Office.

Sengupta, S.C. 1984. Swami Vivekananda and Indian nationalism. Calcutta: Shishu SahityaSamsad.