The Tridevi & My Brief Comparison

We all worship different Goddesses in our culture. The intensity of respect in an individual during Her worship is worth noticing. A deep sense of devotion for Her. An unbreakable faith. When people stand in front of Her with folded hands, there's a feeling of surrender in them. Audaciousness is what You can find in Her festivals. In other words, it won't be a mistaken idea that the feminine in our culture is considered as Goddess Herself. 

But what is the condition of women at the ground level? Do we really respect Her or are we just using lofty and pompous expressions by calling women as Goddess Herself? Here is my brief comparison of the three important Devis i.e Saraswati, Laxmi and Durga with that of women and Her condition at the very base. 

SARASWATI - Education and Knowledge

In the month of February during Basant Panchami, we celebrate Saraswati Pooja. She is the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom which we gain via education. Education is the fundamental base on which we stand as an individual. But what is the educational condition of Girl child and Women in India? According to the 2011 census data (latest), the female literacy rate In India is at 65.46% compared to male at 82.14%. The gap shows our hypocrisy when the patriarchal society denies basic education and also higher education to women. It is perceived that ultimately She has to get married and leave Her parents. But we fail to foresee that an educated woman can teach two families at a time. 

LAXMI - Wealth and Prosperity 

People worship Laxmi with devotion unparalleled. Money is fundamental to run the day to day life. Therefore, people do not want to make the Devi angry because money is dear to all. Well, once denied proper education, it closes the door for a Women for other opportunities. Lack of education equals to lack of job opportunities which implies a lower level of income and earnings via a job in the near future. Now, this is a vicious cycle, She will face all her life. Added to this, She is often denied Her right to acquire Her parental property. A huge sum of Dowry given by Her father in Her marriage is one of the primary reasons why She is denied growth in Her academic career. As a result, She is considered a liability throughout Her life.

DURGA - Power & Strength 

Look at the idol of Goddess Durga. She is a symbol of power. Stories of Durga Saptashati tells us that when all Gods fail to kill the evil demons then comes Durga. The undefeatable. Her glory is simply of no match to other Gods. But how powerful are women in India? Do they hold positions of power in major companies or in the political field? Do they hold the power of making important decisions in their home? Why are they still considered as the weaker sex? Are they adequately empowered to protect themselves against exploitation of various kinds? These are some of the important questions which speak clearly about how powerful women are in our country.

Yes, we do have constitutional provisions, legal provisions, government schemes to tackle the above-mentioned issues. But they are not the be-all and end-all. What needs to change is the way we think about Her in the first place. A perception which is archaic and old can never lead us to a new destination. When women grow to their full potential we all grow as a society. 

( The Goddesses need less of fake devotion and more of a change in perception.)

Thank You

Abhishek Kumar