Celebrating True Womanhood

What it is to be a woman was not something we learned in a

formal setting. It was something we picked up from observing our mothers, aunts and other ladies who touched our lives. They had picked their lessons from their mothers and aunts. In course of time the treasure of true womanhood has fast vaporized as the culture of all societies is changing from spiritual to material. Certain feminine virtues that were upheld even as close to a decade ago are now considered backward, orthodox and archaic. It can be very confusing to be a spiritual woman in these times as the spiritual and material cultures are diametrically opposite for they are based on opposite ideals. 

To address this we at sakhi sanga organized a discussion between women to address this issue. Find below a summary of the discussion had so far :)

• Celebrating True Womanhood(CTW)First Things First
• Purusha and Prakriti and its Imitation in the Material world
• Appreciating Gender Differences:

• CTW: Appreciating Gender Differences: Physiology

  CTW: Appreciating Gender Differences: Social Behavior and Abilities

  CTW: Appreciating Gender Differences: Emotions

  CTW: Appreciating Gender Differences: Strengths and Weaknesses for men and women

• What is the Vedic Definition of Intelligence

• Addressing the apparent contradiction - Women are considered less intelligent vs a A Good wife means Good intelligence?

• The Breakdown of Dharma and how it impacts women
  
• Varnashrama - the culture of protection and inclusion for the growth of spiritual consciousness
• The Need for Varnashrama
• Relationship - Levels of Consciousness, Modes of Material Nature, Varnas
• Asuri(Mundane) Varnashrama versus Daivi Varnashrama
• Why the protest by women in being women and following their duties nicely? What are those feminists doing?
• Women's duties as per Daivi Varnashrama system 
• How they put them in a position of strength
• How their role is extremely important for the society

• Women's duties

• Wife is adorned with fine garments and ornaments

• Good wife increases family's engagement in devotional service

• On Motherhood- an excerpt from a Book

• Importance of attachment to Krsna's Lotus feet in grhastha ashram

• The format for grhastha life should be dedication to the Lord

• Why are Women Protected?
• Applying the Principles in the current life
• Functioning in Kali Yuga as a woman in the Bhakti tradition - bridging the gap between sastra and reality
• How can I link by job to Krishna Consciousness?
• Again very nicely explained here by HH Romapada Swami
• Does this mean women cannot do any service in Krishna Consciousness apart from making garlands, cooking, raising children, teaching?
• A nice article by HG Vishakha Devi Dasi - A senior lady disciple of Srila Prabhupada addresses this question in the article linked here :What's a Woman to Do"
• The husbands are not trained well and do not take care of their wives- why should then women do their duties nicely. The women are not protected or supported the way they were in previous yugas
• This is very nicely addressed here by HH Romapada Swami

It is important that we reconnect with the spiritual culture explained by the Gurus and Acaryas, through the Bhagavad Gita As it Is and Srimad Bhagavatam. When we understand the goal and values of such a culture and how each person's individuality was properly engaged so that they could advance spiritually, we will come to appreciate a woman's role in the spiritual sense. !