Women Life in Hinduism
In many ancient Hindu scriptures, women are consistently portrayed as beings who must be under the control or protection of men throughout their lives. From childhood to old age, texts like the Mahabharata, Guruda Purana, and Padma Purana emphasize that women are not meant to be independent, and freedom for them is often depicted as dangerous or corrupting. These verses reflect an archaic worldview in which women were seen less as individuals and more as perpetual wards, forever subject to male authority. Reading them today, it becomes clear how deeply patriarchal notions shaped these texts, often treating women as incapable of autonomy or self-determination.
đź“–Mahabharata Book 13: Anusasana Parva Chapter 20
Women can never be their own mistresses. This is the opinion of the Creator himself, viz., that a woman never deserves to be independent.
- Explanation: According to this verse, the ultimate authority supposedly decided that women are eternally incapable of independence. Basically, the “Creator” thought giving women any agency was too risky, like handing a toddler the keys to a Ferrari. Ancient sages really had no faith in women’s abilities and preferred them under permanent supervision.
đź“–Guruda Purana 1.115.63
The father protects her in childhood, the husband in youth and the son in old age. A woman is not to be allowed to stay independently.
- Explanation: This one’s a full-circle trap. From cradle to grave, a woman must be under the control of a male relative. Freedom? Never heard of it. It’s like women are perpetual minors, and society literally makes her a lifelong ward. The ancient “wisdom” here seems designed to ensure women never get bored, or empowered.
đź“–Padma Purana Srsti-khanda Chapter 52 Verse 25
As cooked food, in the absence of protection, is controlled by (i.e. eaten by) dogs and crows, in the same way, a young woman would become corrupt due to freedom.”
- Explanation: This verse is peak absurdity. Comparing women to unattended food? Essentially, the message is: leave her alone for a second, and chaos ensues. The ancient writers clearly had an imagination problem, they pictured women as helpless objects who can’t survive without constant male supervision. Modern readers would just facepalm.
These scriptures treat women like eternal children or property, assuming that autonomy equals corruption. It’s as if the ancients thought women were naturally defective devices that needed firmware updates from male guardians to avoid “malfunction.” Such outdated beliefs have no place in the modern world, and it’s crucial that we work to protect and empower Hindu girls today, ensuring they have education, freedom, and the opportunity to make their own choices.