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Social Aspect of Non-Violence
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age down to the modern age. How much humiliating it is when Bhīşma says to give Šūdras those things which are already used by other classes. Just opposite to it Brāhmaṇas as the members of the most superior class are enjoying all facilities available in society. As generally found in the Vedic literature, a Brāhmaṇa remains Brähmaņa from his birth to death, though he does whatever right or wrong he likes and a Śūdra remains a Sūdra during his whole life though he follows code of conduct sincerely. There is no provision of change. Goswāmi Tulasi Das has said very frankly -
Pūjahun bipra sila gunahina That a Brāhmaṇa should be worshiped even if he is without modesty and other moral conduct. In this way, it can be seen, very clearly that in no case a Brāhmaṇa is to be disrespected and Śūdra is to be respected. In the western countries Black-Persons are just like Indian Sūdras. They are neglected by white persons who consider themselves superior to them The Black-Persons are not allowed to have all facilities which are enjoyed by White-Persons. There are two extremes of social life which result into social-violence.
II. The Male-female Unequality
In Indian society women have been placed on two opposite extremes. On one side they have been honoured as Laksami, Durgā and Saraswati. Religiously in the forms of goddesses they are addressed before gods as Gauri-Sankara, Sīta-Rām, Rādha-Krśņa etc. Even socially they are placed before men as Māta-Pitā. In West-Bengal all women are addressed as Mān in various relations. In Madhya-Pradeśa girls are saluted by their male family members. On different auspicious days they are worshiped. Any religious function performed by husband in the absence of wife is considered as incomplete. In the Siva temple Śīva-Linga and Gauri Patta are found combined in the same statue which show equal importance of Siva and Gauri i.e. male and female. There is also a concept of Ardhanāriśvara which is a combined form of Śiva and Pārvati. Siva represents man while Pārvati represents woman. It means human life is a synthesis of male and female elements.
But these all are in vain, when on the other side women are found confined to the kitchen only. After being young they are married with
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