Passage 5

In English

The wife can veritably make the home a temple

Whenever a religious rite is performed or the Gods or Goddesses propitiated by some ritual, the wife must sit by the side of the husband or else t. he rite or ritual is ineffectual. This is the high status given to the wedded woman in the Indian religious scriptures. No charitable gift can be valid without the wife's assent. Of course, she has no authority to perform these rites by herself, and so she is called (one without strength or power). The power implied here is "spiritual power over rites." Unfortunately, the use of this word has become so widespread that women themselves have come to believe that they are fundamentally weak and powerless in all fields. This is a big mistake; women are not weak, only authorisation to perform rituals is denied. When decided on performing the (horse sacrifice), the objection was raised that was in exile in the forest, and so without his spouse he was not entitled to perform the . Some sages thought that a golden idol of the absent wife could be had by the side of the principal officiator, and so a golden idol of was made and placed in position by the side of before the (sacrificial rite) began. does not mean lack of physical or mental strength. The wife can veritably make the home of her husband a temple, a school, a council-chamber or a hermitage.