Abstract
Dominant in many countries around the world, the Hindu religion has unique sets of standards of behavior, specifically when it comes to gender norms. A part of these standards stems from their deities, who are vast in number and diverse in gender. Along with examples set by deities, there are different sets of rules that men and women must respectively follow– outlined in the Manusmriti, or Laws of Manu. These rules outlining male and female gender roles are broken down into categories pertaining to the stage of life which they address and are taught to Hindu children from the time they are born.
Introduction
A key element in understanding gender roles within Traditional Hindu societies is Manusmriti or the Laws of Manu. The traditional Manusmriti focuses on the order of the caste system and dictates how men and women are supposed to act and live, with certain stages or Ashramas within these laws. For both men and women, there are four ideal stages of life: Brahmacharya (the Student Stage), Grihastha (the Householder Stage), Vanaprastha (the Hermit Stage), and Sannyasa (the Wandering Recluse Stage). These stages are all unique and describe the roles of men and women.
Manusmriti: Ashramas (Overview)
The Brahmacharya Ashrama (or stage) translates quite literally to “going after Brahman.” During this stage, the students in question are to remain celibate. While traditionally observed mostly by males, Brahmacharya is not gender exclusive. Women have been known to study under gurus and then go on to obtain husbands. This stage is marked by chastity, devotion, and obedience to one’s teacher. The Grihastha stage translates literally into “being in and occupied by home, family.” In this stage, the roles of men and women are more clearly differentiated and include guidelines for marriage and parenthood. This stage also features both genders fulfilling duties toward gods and ancestors.
The Vanaprastha stage begins after grandchildren are born. This stage consists of individuals withdrawing from material things and the pursuit of solitude. The final stage of life in the Manusmriti is Sannyasa, in which one renounces all earthly possessions and begins to wander from place to place, begging for food. During this stage, one is to be focused on their union with Brahman. Between Vanaprastha and Sannyasa, one is to pursue moksa (liberation from rebirth).
Manusmriti: Brahmacharya/Student Stage (Men)
In Brahmacharya, a ceremony is performed on a boy to initiate him into the “twice-born” through a “special ritual in which he would receive a sacred thread. This thread signifies his standing as an upper caste member, although this does not indicate to which caste he belongs” (Hinduism Beliefs). After receiving the thread, the boy is considered a student and begins to learn the ways of personal purification, morning and evening devotions to the gods, and sacrificing. The Laws of Manu forbids boys to indulge in specific items when in this stage, such as honey, meat, perfumes, spicy foods, women (in romantic settings and even looking at women were forbidden), dancing, singing, music, and gambling. These items and acts were seen as pollution and a distraction from the boy’s studies. The young man’s student stage is not complete until it is time for him to marry.
Manusmriti: Brahmacharya/Student Stage (Women)
“For most of Hindu history, the girl was not allowed to have the same kind of education as her brother. Boys left home to receive their education from a guru. Girls always had to be under their fathers’ watchful eye. What education she got came from her parents. She spent most of her time learning domestic skills from her mother, as well as some ritual aspects of religion. She was not considered capable of studying the Veda” (Karunaratne, 2017). While traditionally, women were not necessarily allowed to partake in studying under a guru, this has evolved and now women may choose to gain the same education as her brother. Because of this evolution, Brahmacharya is optional. If a girl chooses to fulfill this stage, she performs the same duties and ceremonies as boys do. But if she does not wish to become a student, she remains under the government of her father, and he has complete control over her life.
Manusmriti: Grihastha/Householder Stage (Men)
The second stage of life described by the Manusmriti is the Household Stage, which begins when a man is in his early twenties. In this stage, the young man is married and is raising a family. This stage is also when the young man would pursue and occupation, appropriate to his caste, establish himself as financially independent, and become a responsible contributor to society. Because of the weight of everything happening within this stage, the Laws of Manu view this the “most excellent” stage. This is also the stage in which males and females become the most intertwined.
In the Veda (Hindu scriptures studied in the Brahmacharya stage), there are certain duties a Hindu husband must fulfill in his marriage. These are supported by the Manusmriti and are outlined specifically in a few different places in the Atharvaveda (Mohapatra, 2017):
Atharvaveda mantra 1/34/5 – The husband should be sweet and affectionate such that the wife will always love him dedicatedly.
Atharvaveda mantra 2/30/4 – Nothing should be kept hidden from the wife. Maintaining transparency is his prior duty.
Atharvaveda mantra 5/25/6- Being disciplined and maintaining a pious life should always be in his mind.
Atharvaveda mantra 6/9/2 – Love, care and affection should always be shown by him towards his wife. Even at situations of sorrow and difficulty he should never be rude or treat ill to his wife.
Atharvaveda mantra 6/81/1 – Husband should lead a disciplined life and should be capable of earning money to sustain his married life.
Atharvaveda mantra 6/89/1 – His wife should always get the required respect and should be treated like a precious possession. He should always be careful about her honor.
Manusmriti: Grihastha/Household Stage (Women)
One of the things that differentiate the women’s Grihastha from the men’s is the age at which they begin. Traditionally, Hindu women are married at a young age, whereas men will not marry until they are in their twenties (Hinduism Beliefs, 2017). More recently, women have been able to wait until they are in their twenties to marry because of the evolution of society. According to Imogen Calderwood of Global Citizen, India has recently outlawed men having sex with child brides, and have declared that it is always rape– thus changing the traditional implications of the beginning of the Grihastha stage.
Despite recent legal changes, the duties of a wife within Grihastha remain the same. Just like the men, women have certain duties outlined for them in the Veda– though there are twice as many– and they are supported by the Manusmriti (Mohapatra, 2017):
Atharvaveda mantra 1/14/1 – Her husband’s house should be her permanent abode. Handling situations faithfully, gently and in a learned manner will prevent problems from entering their lives.
Atharvaveda mantra 3/25/1- Being blunt and overscheduled may bring a monotonous approach to any relationship. Showing care, love and romanticism should be well understood by the wife.
Atharvaveda mantra 3/25/5- Sincerity and dedication towards her husband should be her priority.
Atharvaveda mantra 3/30/2 – The wife should always put up a sweet and sober nature.
Atharvaveda mantra 4/38/1 – Being sensual, hardworking and maintaining the daily rituals cleverly and properly should be her attitude.
Atharvaveda mantra 4/38/2 – The hard earned money by her husband should be managed by the wife. Preserving and increasing it is her duty.
Atharvaveda mantra 4/38/3- Ensuring that milk and milk products should never be a shortage should always be in her mind. Always developing the house in a positive way and maintaining a peaceful environment are her responsibilities.
Atharvaveda mantra 4/38/4- She should take care of her happiness as well and discuss it with her husband. Sorrows should not weaken her as she is the housemaker and her attitude will affect the entire household.
Atharvaveda mantra 4/38/5- She should toil from sunrise to sunset exploring and developing things.
Atharvaveda mantra 6/8/1 – A wife’s development should always be directly proportional to her husband’s growth as a creeper completely depends on the tree.
Atharvaveda mantra 6/8/3 – Even the thought of separation from her husband is a crime for her.
Atharvaveda mantra 7/47/2- It is her duty to bring in spirituality in the members of the family and always keep God’s grace on the house.
Manusmriti: Vanaprastha/Hermit Stage (Men and Women)
As mentioned before, Vanaprastha is the stage which traditionally begins after grandchildren are born, marking the handing over of household responsibilities to the next generation. This stage is fairly gender neutral and consists of taking on a more advisory role and beginning the process of gradually withdrawing from material things in the pursuit of solitude. Though typically following the Grihastha stage, some may choose to skip the householder stage altogether and go straight into Vanaprastha after their Brahmacharya stage is complete. During this stage, men and women both become viewed as wise counselors to both their family and the general society.
Manusmriti: Sannyasa/Wandering Recluse Stage (Men and Women)
Sannyasa is the stage in which both men and women withdraw completely from material items and become beggars, with their focus upon ultimate union with Brahman. “Sannyasa is traditionally conceptualized for men or women in late years of their life, but young brahmacharis have had the choice to skip the householder and retirement stages, renounce worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits” (Hinduism Beliefs). This stage is comparable to the concepts of monks and nuns in other religions in that those engaged in Sannyasa give up all earthly desires and prejudices in pursuit of spiritual completion. This is the stage Hindu men and women stay in until death.
Conclusion
As discussed above, the Manusmriti has a huge influence on the way gender roles are communicated to men and women in traditional Hindu cultures. Though in the beginning two stages of life there is more of a separation of duties and expectations, the last two stages are fairly universal for both men and women. A key theme throughout every stage for both genders, however, is the expectation that they will care for one another– with men playing the role of “protectors” and women having the role of “caregiver.” Both genders, however, are viewed as valuable assets within society, though having different duties.
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