Gnaanvartashrutirnarya Mukhat Karya Na Purushauha |
Men (Purushauha) shall never (Karya) listen to religious discourses of Shastras (Gnaan-Varta-Shruti) from the face (Mukhat) of women (Narya). Thus knowledge of Atma-Paramatma as well as the supreme knowledge outlined in Bhagwat Gita should never be listened to.
Shatanand here explains that religious discourses (Varta) and supreme knowledge (Gnaan) are the very form of God - that is, they are tools through which the very form and nature of God can be understood. Here ‘Varta’ includes ‘Katha’ as well as singing of God’s praise and so Varta should be understood in this wider context.
Our Shastras have gone into great depth to segregate the sexes as the association of the two can lead to the mind to wander and thus become weak. Dharma Sangraha goes further to say, ‘Males should not sing with women, sleep with women, walk with women nor ever listen to discourses by women.’
Shrimad Bhagwat provides a reason for this segregation, ‘Man becomes deluded, weak and obsessed at times of association with women. Such behaviour is not evident in other situations. The over powering nature of Maya (illusion) becomes overwhelming and difficult to control and so he is left bewildered unable to subdue his urges for the woman. This results in a man’s foundation of Dharma to become fragmented and thus destroyed.’
‘How can a man be undisturbed by a woman’s charming face which is like that of the lustrous Sharad Rutu (the season marking the end of monsoon season)? How can he be unaffected by her nectar-like voice so sweet and gay to the ears? How can he be safe when her heart is like that of a sharp razor? Who can fully understand such a woman and her gestures? She is able to entice even the purest and wilful of men and reduce them to foolishness.’ Thus none can escape the hypnotic nature of a woman.
Rasgangadhar explains, ‘Puranas, Shastras and Smrutis have been created through pure thought and therefore it’s teaching of purity of culture and livelihood will stay pure only whilst the mind and thought is pure, which will exist only if the lustful thoughts of women are not able to enter a man’s mind.’
Bhartruhari says, ‘Even those who understand Shastras, their teachings upon and who have knowledge of Atma, find it difficult to reach the heavens. The reason being that one’s eyes may fall upon a woman, which will open the doorway to Narak (hell).’
Prabodh Chandroday Natak teaches, ‘The disciplines in Shastras that exists within the minds of Great men will stay just as long as the sight of that woman with lotus like eyes does not befall upon him.’ Vidurji has explained, ‘Just as a stone sinks when thrown into a river, a man is sure to sink into ruin in the company of women.’ In this way, Shastras have explained the weakness of men in the company of women. Therefore it is forbidden to associate even at times of Dharma Karyas such as Katha Varta, Sabhas etc. and so even sitting together in Sabhas is forbidden as the mind and self are just as vulnerable at these times as they are at others.
Na Vivaadaha Streeya Karyo Na Rajna Na Cha Tajjanaiha ||
The Lord forbids ‘Vivaada’ with women. Vivaada can be interpreted as either a discussion of controversy or a dispute/quarrel. Similarly Shatanand forbids ‘Virudhvaada’ that is, unnecessary talks or discussions. Swami explains that a woman is burdened by a foolish nature - Murkhaparnu and those men that needlessly associate with women falling into discussions with them are also cursed with such foolishness.
Indeed Lord Mahadev points out seven bad qualities that women possess, which man can acquire through needless association with such women:
Anrutam Sahasam Maya Murkhatvamati Lobhita |
Asaucham Nirdaitvam Cha Strirameitat Svabhavajam ||
(i) Anrutam - untruthfulness (ii) Sahasam - rashness (iii) Maya - illusory (iv) Murkhatvamati - foolishness (v) Lobhitam - selfishness (vi) Asaucham - impure and (vii) Nirdaitvam.
Similarly one should never fall into needless arguments or talks with Kings and Courtiers and persons associated with the King. Shatanand explains that ‘Cha’ is used by the Lord to suggest that needless arguments with one’s parents be similarly forbidden. Brahanmanu has written, ‘One should not even speak unnecessarily in a fit of anger with a woman, a King, a King’s associate, a sustainer such as an employer, a Satsangi, an elder, a child, the ill, a Guru, an Acharya and those who are learned such as doctors.’ These persons are to be always respected and never to be insulted by falling into useless unnecessary arguments or discussions with.
Note that much of what has been said may be offensive to women. These aren’t repressive words to down cast women but what Shastras say are the absolute truth and the fact is that minds are weak leading to all sorts of behaviour in the company of the opposite sex.
The Lord has not forbid women from becoming educated and the learning of Vedantic Gnaan, nor from preaching about God. In the Swaminarayan Sampradai, these qualities are encouraged in women, with the proviso that their knowledge be directed to only other women in the Sampradai - that is, they preach never to men.
Lord Swaminarayan initiated women into the Sampradai via the Acharya’s wives, some of which were Sankha Yogis who renounced all in order to serve God. Their whole purpose was to preach to women and to perform Katha Varta upon Shastras to women. In India, where temples are separate for men and women, women look after the entire temple affairs performing Katha Varta, Pooja etc. Thus, in no way are women looked upon as secondary in this Sampradai.
The directives here are for the benefit of mankind. It is fact that lapses can be caused through association with women and indeed can change a devout, pious man into one that disregards God totally and for this reason, this directive is enforced fully so that man is never led astray to unrighteousness. Gods and Great Rishi’s have faltered in the midst of an alluring woman, what chance then have the likes of mere man in such instance?