WOMEN, RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY

Men have been dominant as recipients, interpreters and transmitters of divine messages, while women have largely remained passive receivers of teachings and ardent practitioners of religious rituals. There is an African saying: “Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter.” Because Indian mythology was written exclusively by men, their point of view will always favour the male protagonists. Hindu texts present diverse and conflicting views on the position of women, ranging from feminine leadership as the highest goddess, to limiting her role to an obedient daughter, housewife and mother. In Smritis, such as the Manusmriti, the position of women in Hinduism is mixed and contradictory. Manusmriti asserts that "as a girl, she should obey and seek protection of her father, as a young woman her husband, and as a widow her son". In fact, Daughters-in-law are no fully accepted into their husband's families until they have produced a son of their own. In the two Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, the role of women is mixed. The main female character in the Mahabharata, Draupadi is married to all the five Pandavas, thus has five husbands. She is insulted by Duryodhana, one of the triggers for the great war. In the Ramayana, Sita is respected, honored and seen as inseparable beloved but presented as a homemaker, the ideal wife and partner to Rama. The Quran provides clear-cut evidence that woman is completely equated with man in the sight of God in terms of her rights and responsibilities. In terms of religious obligations, such as the Daily Prayers, Fasting and Pilgrimage, woman is no different from man.
In the West, feminism and religion are often perceived as being at odds, but in India, where spirituality is a major part of many people’s lives, women are using their religion as a guide for empowerment. From the outside, Hinduism seems to be a feminist’s dream faith. Instead of a monolithic, presumed male deity, Hindus worship a wide pantheon of gods, including female Goddess like Kali and Durga. They’re better than any female superhero, they ride on the back of tigers, carry spears, and fight demons. However, despite the fact that Hindus continue to worship goddesses, tradition has left real live women by the roadside. Many practices have become widespread and socially accepted in Muslim society, such as triple talaq divorce, whereby a man can divorce his wife instantly, or men failing to pay meher, the “maintenance” to be given to women at the time of marriage, which enables them to remain financially independent.
In India, religion seems like one of the hardest places to achieve progress in women’s rights. But although it may be one of the toughest battlefields to fight on, it is also one of the most vital. For many Indian women, religion is a huge part of daily life, especially in the lower classes. Not only are women reclaiming religion from patriarchy, they’re also reclaiming the fight against patriarchy itself, which was long reserved for upper class, urban women. A few years ago, a group called the Consortium of Loose, Pub-Going, and Forward Women fought religious groups head on after several occurrences of women in bars being attacked by groups of moral police. Today, the fight has changed, from the bar to the mosque. They’re equally valid demands that illustrate the subtle shift in the feminist forces of India, as religion becomes one of the main battering rams for women’s rights.