Book Title: Jains Through Time
Author(s): Shilapi Sadhvi
Publisher: Veerayatan

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Page 252
________________ The Jains through Time 253 role. She is the root of creative energy and is Religious people have played a large role in the nucleus of humanity's strength. determining the character and operation of Humanity orbits around the female. social institutions. However, they are not responsible for all the shortcomings Man and woman are the two wheels of the prevailing in society. Society sickens and *chariot' of creation. Woman is the earth, many social evils arise when it does not man the vegetation. Man may grow change with the times. People lack courage upwards but woman supports his roots and and lose the ability to bring about a relevant enables him to flourish. Woman's greatness change in their social conditions. is comparable to the earth's greatness. Like the earth, the mother symbolises courage, In sacrifice, service, nurture, patience and patience and creativity. forgiveness man sometimes falls short, but woman is always there, ready to help, a If these innate virtues of the race of symbol of conscientiousness. Although mothers' had been properly utilised in the stories of her sacrifice do not always appear first place, our culture would have been on the pages of history, they are imprinted more enriched and more closely integrated. on men's hearts. There have been many Sadly the reverse has come to pass. Instead of heroines, like the Rani of Jhansi, who leading independent and effective lives, defeated men in battle and inspired them women have been condemned to living a with her courage and bravery. In the realm helpless existence. This is true even today. of spiritual science, Gargi too was far from Thousands of women are still oppressed and being alone in grasping and expressing the leading a life of slavery and dependency. This highest and subtlest forms of truth. The awful situation demands a lot of thought. wisdom of women like her impressed sages Despite the efforts of great prophets and like Yagnyavalkya, well-known for his social reformers over many years, the prudence and brilliant intellect. Countless problem remains the same. Why is this so? women have brought men-folk back to the Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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