15

Today at the United Nations let us take a vow to bow to all women whom the Princess Maria represents. God has created us in His own image with His love and virtues. He is the universal Father, Mother, Brother, Sisters and Friend. We are all His children. We are infinite, perfect and Divine. God is beyond duality. He is both in men and women. Men and women have different gender, yes but bodies die. Souls are immortal. 

During Vedic Age in India, women were respected and honoured. They were great scholars, saints, enlightened souls and great warriors. They were symbol of purity and love.

Women have infinite “Shakti” or strength. Today they are rising to the top positions as leaders, scholars, writers, millionaires, billionaires and professionals in all areas. They have become astronauts. They moved to serve humanity. They are more spiritual. Women have created gigantic intellectuals. They can work out their own destiny. Everything in nature bespeaks the Mother. The next beautiful word on lips of mankind is the word “Mother”. “My Mother” is the sweetest and blissful call. It is the word of hope and love, a sweet and kind word coming from the depth of the heart.

So, we call Mother Earth too. In India, they call “Mother Cow” as nurturing life.

Woman as daughter, sisters, wives, mother friends are consolation in sorrow, hopes in misery and Strength in weakness. They are the source of love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness.

It is known that behind every successful man there is a woman. In India, a great saint Tulsidas who wrote great popular epic Ramayan, was motivated by his wife Ratnabali. Men of evil nature who had attempted to dishonor women were destroyed along with their empires worldwide.

Women are being awakened of their divine oceanic strength.

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great Indian warrior against the tyranny Mughal Empire, used to punish men who tortured and dishonored women very harshly.

India has women as Goddess of wealth, Goddess of strength (Shakti) and as Goddess of wisdom (education, intellectuals).

Let there be no difference from soul to soul on account of gender. All nations have given women equal rights. They have awakened. They have arisen. They do not fear. Princess Maria has been doing great work. Her organisation, ‘We Care for Humanity’ is doing an amazing work. Humanity encompasses women. We have to march together with the flag of “Awaken the women to thrive oceanic strength”.

Swami Vivekananda on Women

There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing. India of the Vedas time entertained a great respect for women amounting to worship. The conditions of women in Mughal ruled and British ruled India were deplorable.

Swami Vivekananda is the first monk to uphold and do work for the freedom and equality of women and realising her importance for the functioning of home and society. He visioned that Indian women would be a combination of the western spirit of Independence, freedom and dynamism with Indian values of austerity, purity and chastity. His English disciple Bhagini Nivedita played a major role in promoting the rights of women in rural India. He said that women have as much ability, rather more than men.

The rise of outstanding women administrators, statesmen, scientists, writers and spiritual teachers is gradually proving the truth of these prophetic words of Swami Vivekananda. Women all over the world are coming

forward with a combination of the mother’s heart and hero’s will. There should not be tortures / abuses and violence against women.

They should not remain as an object of sex and commerce.