Re: women, paryana, puja and menstruation. Dear Dr. Kilambi Ramakrishna Ramanuja Dasan, your arguments are specious. Firstly most women know when their menstrual cycle occurs. Please give them credability for the ability to control themselves! Secondly Bhagavad Aradhana is not a "vedic ritual" - it is a Tantric Ritual in which women may fully participate - the Pancharatra ordains the initiation of women into Bhagavad Aradhana but only in the home and family (svartha) but not for others (parartha). Thirdly parayana of Divya Prabandhams, Bhagavad Gita, Sahasranama etc. are also not Vedic - they may be recited in goshti by everyone, male, female or neuter. Also I have seen many men get up and walk out during a recitation - so what's your point? Fourthly - regarding menstruation - many women nowadays do not get their periods because of contraception. And what of post menapausal women - what is the objection against their appearing in the Goshthi? Your arguments are specious and insulting to women. In every kalakshepam and spiritual discourse 90% of the attendees are women. Women are more intelligent (by recent statistics!), more dedicated to the Dharma, and indeed far more spiritual than men. The decline in traditions and spirituality that we see is due to their being in the custodianship of MEN. If women managed the spiritual resources of the community as they did in pre smriti times, there would now be no decline of Dharma. yatra naryastu pujyante - tatra ramante devata (Manu Smriti) Where women are worshipped - there the gods delight. Sri Rama Ramanuja Acharya
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