Monday 17 December 2012

DENIGRATION OF WOMEN BY CHANAKYA IN CHANAKYANITI DARPANA;
Chanakyaniti has an important place among the volumes describing ethics and morality in ancient Sanskrit literature.Known as Rajniti Samuchya also,there are 334 hymns divided in 17 chapters.Some of the hymns have been repeated from Manusmrti, Mahabharata and Purana.
It is significant to observe that denigration and character assassination of women has been 'glaring' aspect of ancient Hindu scriptures right from earliest Vedas to somewhat latest Ramcharitmanas [Tulsi Ramayan]. Was Chanakya too classified misogynist and male chauvinistic like other contemporaries around his time ?It is beyond any logic and comprehension that what on earth led Chanakya to believe that women en mass are not to be trusted due to inherent tendencies of "falsehood and low moral character",though he is often hailed as great visionary.There are ample references in said scripture,which reflect and symbolize his prejudice and hatred against women.
*nakhinan ch...stresho rajkulesho ch [Chanakyaniti Darpana,1/15]. Exposition :-The beings which have nails,rivers,the beings which have horns and the persons which hold arms should not be relied on. Similarly women and the royal clan should also not to be relied on.
*strinam dvigunam aharo...kamashch ashtguna smrata [ibid 1/17]. Exposition :-The diet of women than man is two times more,the savvy four times,the courage six times and the desire for sex,eight times more than man.
*anrtam sahasam...dosha swobhavjha [ibid 2/1] :-Fallacy in expression and fortitude,manipulation,foolishness,aggravated greed,untidy and cruelty are the usual defects in the personality of women.[It will be pertinent to point out here that Manu in Manusmrti and Tulsidas in Ramcharitmanas have also described six and eight demerits respectively found in women. Adi Shankracharya has in questionnaire  said-"what is the main and sole door to hell?"Its answer is-"the women".]
*ikhudandstila..kanta...mardanam gunvardnam [ibid 9/13]. Exposition :-sugarcane, sesame,stupid,women,gold,land,sandal,curd and betel should be thrashed severely because in proportion to thrashing,their qualities get enhancement. [Tulsidas too has repeated said infamous concept-"dhol,ganwar,sudra,pasu,nari,sakal tadna kay adhikari.[sunderkand RCM].
*vinyam...stribhya shekhet kaitvam [ibid 12/18]. Exposition :-One should learn the art of talking humbly and aptly from the princes,intellectual communication from scholars,fallacy from gamblers and manipulation and intrigue from women.
*atyasna....striya [ibid 14/11]. Exposition :-The king,fire,the teacher and the women should be dealt with the middle way as their existence is useless while at a distance and their proximity becomes cause of death.
*agnir apa striyo...pranharani shat {ibid 14/12]. Exposition :-The fire,the water,women,stupid,snake and the royal family should be dealt most cautiously because they may become cause of death even when slight omission is committed.
*jalpante...na strinam aikto rati [ibid 17/2]. Exposition :-The women flirt with someone in conversation,watch at other while posture and gesture in body,keep someone deep in heart and think about someone else in their mind.
ashakhasto...vradha nari pativrata [ibid 17/6]. Exposition :-The weak men becomes saint,the pauper a celibate,patient a devotee to god and women becomes chaste in her old age.
*patyur...nare narkam vrajet [ibid 17/9]. Exposition :-the women who observes fast without getting permission of her husband,causes reduction of the age of her husband and is placed in hell after her death.
*na danaih...pad odakair yatha [ibid 17/10]. Exposition :-The water percolated from the feet of husband[when the wife washes them and use the same for bathing and other purpose] is the best purifier and service to the husband. At the same time said ordained act is greater than donation,observing hundred fasts and visiting pilgrimages.

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