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DUTIES OF WOMEN
Whether at her parent's home or her in-laws, a woman should have an impartial view. She must be able to respect the younger and elders alike. She must have an impartial view. She must serve the elders,greet them and receive their blessings. She ought to behave with her brother-in-law and sisters-in-law politely and lovingly. She must treat the younger ones like a mother. Desertion of selfishness and impartiality are of course the supreme priorities.
As per the economic conditions of the in-laws, a woman must not long for unnecessary things and must make sure that the necessities of other family members are first met with. For herself, she must seek contention in paucity. She must feed the other members of the family first and eat at last. If her brothers and sisters-in-law happen to choose anything belonging to her, a woman must happily give that thing to them and feel fortunate that a thing belonging to her was made of good use to others. A woman must unselfishly serve her mother and father-in-law. She must also forget about what she had given to others.
A woman must love the children of her sisters-in-law more than her own children. Such a conduct is very helpful in achieving harmony in the household.A woman must live by the phrase: "Forward in actions, backward in enjoyment" . Whether in the home of her parents or of her in-laws, a woman must take initiatives to do even the menial tasks herself with enthusiasm. If other members of the family are doing those tasks, she must take those tasks in her charge. Only by such dedication of the self and abiding by her duty can a woman attain salvation.
If a task is successful, a woman should give its credit to the others. She must however take the full responsibility of an unsuccessful task. A woman must also take initiative to accept the more difficult and challenging tasks. She must use cheaper things for her own use. She must not speak of the good she had done to others. But she must not forget even the little good deeds of others. Such a behaviour of a woman will win her more friends than enemies.
A woman must always take care of her husband. She must stand by her husband in the moments of happiness, sorrow and be obedient to him and take care that no word uttered by her would hurt him.
She must feed the cow, crow, dog, insects, guests etc first. Then she must serve the food to the elders, children, patients, expecting mothers, newly wed women. A woman must herself eat at last.
A guest is like a God. Treating a guest properly is the main duty of a married couple. Learned people like Manu and others have said that marriage rituals are akin to Ved Sanskar (formal study of the Vedas) for women. Likewise, husband is akin to a teacher and their stay in the home of in-laws is Gurukul vasa (boarding in educational institute) for the women. Attending to the common household jobs is like Agnihotra for women. A woman must always take care that no feeling of discontent and disbelief should ever take root among the members of the family. Such feelings lead to anger and dispute and ultimately to the distraction of the family. Hence, a woman must play an active role in quenching the fire of discontent in her family. A woman must take care of each and every object of the household happily.
A woman must also abstain from all kinds of addictions. Company of evil ones, separation from her husband, free and liberal wandering, staying in others houses, sleeping at improper hours- these six things are which a woman must shun as they highlight the woman's character.
Every woman must observe devotion for God without longing for anything in return. Every morning she must pray to God and thereafter greet the elders and serve them well. Following these things, she will experience high esteem and achieve peace of mind.
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