HINDOO IDEAL OF WOMANHOOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 80

HINDOO IDEAL OF WOMANHOOD.

DEVOTION TO HUSBANDS.

The greatest of the South Indian poets says :—": — " The woman that worships not God, but her husband, when such an one says. ' Let there be rain,' it descends. ' Here (says Mr T. Rama Krishna, vriting in the Bharata) is a religion given io the woman to follow, a faith to observe, quite in accordance with the genius o£ the nation, which in each of its component parts and states of life requires in the matter of religion an individuality and speciality to faithfully follow and take pride in. Milton's ideal has a close resemblance when he speaks of Adam and Eve: "He for God only; she for God in him." Such is the belief instilled into every Hindoo girl before she becomes a wife, and a wife she should become. Marriage is binding on her, and no woman is said to fulfil the conditions of the ideal until and unless she goes through the marriage ites and performs her duties as a married woman. And marriage is a sacrament, a union' sanctified in the presence of God before the sacrificial fire, and not a civil contractual relationship.

— The Host Important Commandment. — ■

The first and most importaut commandment which the Hindoo woman is bound to obey is — " Thou, shalt have no others as lord but thy husband." She shall not marry another, either while he live 3 or after; if her lot be cast with an unworthy husband, she must bow to che inevitable. If the husband by accident becomes permanently maimed or subject to some loathsome disease, the partner or his joys and woes as well must cheerfuilyaccept the new condition <n the spirit of the teaching of her religion. If ihc husband predecease the wife, she must face the new situation with a courageous heart, and remain to pray day and night for the repose of his soul ; or if, unable to bear the pang of separation, she wishes to wilfully ascend the funeral pyre to be consumed to ashes with her dead husband, religion allows her to do so. But such an extreme step was purely voluntary, and never was made compulsory.

— Voluntary Immolation. —

Voluntary immolation on the funeral pyre of the husband was of frequent occurrence before Lord William Bentinck's suppression of it; it is of rare occurrence now. no doubt on account of jhe act. In olden times i-he tendencies of thought and feeling gave an impetus to the doing of such deeds. Those times were more romantic, and influenced the minds of women more readily than in times modern, when thoughts and feelings have changed according .to the altered circumstances of the country, and women think it more noble to live and endure and serve better ..heir departed husbands- according to the ideal set before them. This devotion to the departed husband is not confined to the widow only. It is expected in the wife, even -in circumstances of unnatural conduct on the part of the living husband.. He may spurn her ; still she should nofi only bow to her lord without demur, but be loyal to him.