________________
157 : Śramana, Vol 55, No. 1-6/January-June 2004
young men, they beget children, nurish them and cook during whole life by living their original family circles. As if they have been created for marrying, nurshing and cooking. In case of being widower a man marries with some other woman quite freely but an woman being widow is seldom allowed to marry again. According to Satipratha, which is now no more in practice, a woman was compelled to be burnt with her husband's dead body. An woman is expected to go to her husband's place as bride and to return from there as a dead body. If means she should never return back from her husband's home, though she may have been tortured in any way.
More over in the Vedic tradition women are not permitted to read Vedas. The Vedas are known as pious and perfect wordings of God, which are beyond womanly approach. In the same way woman are not considered worthy to obtain liberation in the Digambar branch of Jainsim. According to the Jaina code of conduct a fifty year old nun uses to salute a 25 yrs old monk. A monk is considered to be respected by a nun without any consideration of age, because he a male.
These unequal treatments with women undoubtedly cause social violence which must be removed by paying equal honour to them. They should enjoy all favours and facilities freely and fearlessly because men and women are two pillars on which human life is based. So both of them should be equally supported and strengthened. It is the need of social, non-violence.
The Dowry System
The dowry system has been playing a very damaging role in Indian Society. Due to dowry many young girls of marriageable age commit suicide and many brides are being burnt and poisoned. This system has become a curse for society and it is causing violence in different ways.
In its beginning dowry system was playing a good role for the establishment of a new family of newly married couple. All necessary things for the establishment of the new family were being provided to that by both sides of bride and bride-groom. Both sides used to help the new family very happily. But as time passed change came which day by day brought this system very wretched form. The bride groom-side
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
