Samipya 1992 Vol 09 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 84

Youth
Hostile Environment
Surrounded by a complex, frustrating and hostile society, Vagharis of today find their dreams shattered, their hopes unrealised, their aspirations unfulfilled. The ameliorative measures carried out upto the beginning of the eighth plan have not proved to be successful in bringing out a radical change, except the negligible impact on education. In fact, whatever change is observed it is because of the time. Now they seem to have realised to come forward but it is a pity that they do not find any opening in their life for self-actualization. At the same time, the whole community is not in position to get-rid of superstitions, beliefs, myths, etc. So socialization from childhood, inclusive of character building, gainful employment, suitable development of their spirit needs an integral strategy. Thus the most important problem facing them now, is a social change, but it can not be achieved without abandoning the old pattern of living and thinking.
Women's Status
The shāstras have enjoined the worship of certain higher-grade deities, and have prescribed certain ceremonials for the purpose. But women are not authorised to participate in these ceremonies. The reason is that the Shāstras regard women as inferior to men and do not grant them the priviledges given to the latter. They are not allowed to learn the Vedas nor can the Gayatri-mantra be taught to them. The result is that women are not qualified to perform the ceremonial worship of such higher-grade deities as Vishņu, Shiva, Durgā, Ganpati and Hanumān; similarly, the sacrificial rites of Vishnuyāg, Shaktiyāg, Ashvamedha, Rajayajña, and Gayatri-purashcharan can only be performed by men.
Even Amongst Vagharis women are treated as impure during the time of menstruation and they are prohibited to attend any religious ceremony.
However, it is noted that women do not get the convulsive fit, whereas in other Hindu communities the ladies get the possession of such Godly spirit. Here it is believed that the spirit of Goddess can penetrate into the body of the males only, whereas the bodies of females are not very pure or worth to be penetrated. Of course in case of ladies they get convulsive fit if they are found possessed by evil spirit, ghost or witch otherwise they do not get this effect.
It is further noticed that the women's status is very high and no incidence of killing the married women is recorded so far.
The women are not at all submissive to the men, on the contrary their domination is higher in the family as well as in their society.
Vagharis of Gujarat : An Ancient Tribe
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