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The Jaina Philosophy Oh, my brothers and sisters, whatever privileges and rights may seem to be denied the women of your country, and whatever duties of a more public nature may seem to demand their attention and their care, let nothing be said or done or thought, that shall detract from the crown of motherhood and wifehood, the glorious luster that is found only there- But this I must say, that no Hindu women in all the history - the sorrowful, sad and changing history of my race, - has ever sought relief from the holy vows of marriage in divorce. We, of India, do not forget that we are under the Government of a woman – her Gracious Majesty, Victoria, Queen, of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, whose birthday and coronation day are national holidays, and who by our people is more frequently called, not the Empress of India, but the mother.
I will say that the designation of wife in India, of the Hindu wife, is higher and grander than that of Empress. She is called Devi, or Goddess.
If you can reconcile these facts and deductions to the mistaken notions which you have received from whatever sources, respecting the condition of women of my country, it is your task, to which I cheerfully leave you.
In the lectures which I have had the honor to deliver to you in the class room, I have spoken largely concerning the early marriages among my people, and will not at this time do more than state the reasons thereof. The first reason is that the giving in marriage to the early age to which reference is made, does not imply in any case the consummation of marriage. The ceremony that I have given you, which is the real marriage, is performed among the Jainas at the proper age of maturity, and the wife proceeds at once to her husband's home and this was the custom in the earlier ages, before India became the coveted land of the invader. The second reason is that the early betrothal was necessary in the Hindu thought as a measure of protection, which
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| SR No. | 006901 |
| Book Title | Jaina Philosophy |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Virchand R Gandhi, Kumarpal Desai |
| Publisher | World Jain Confederation |
| Publication Year | 2009 |
| Total Pages | 298 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 5 MB |