Hinduism Research Paper

Has religion had a generally negative impact on Hindu and Buddhist women?
By Habib Tannazi; Tutorial Group D

Unknown to the Western world for thousands of years and the dominant religion in the “Oriental” world since the Ancient times, Hinduism and Buddhism have had a profound effect on countless individuals, communities and entire nations. In the past few centuries the Western world, with improved communication and transportation, has been exposed to a class of religion unlike any it had experienced since the pagan religions of Ancient Rome and Greece. Following the initial exposure to Hinduism, Western scholars have been trying to decipher and make sense of what seemed to be a “total social phenomenon” (Introduction Ch. 5; qtd. in Kessler
Originating in India, Hinduism began to take form around 1500 b.c. with the arrival of the Indo-Aryans. “…The earliest scriptures of the Indo-Aryans, the Vedas, have been acknowledged for thousands of years to embody the primordial truths upon which Hinduism bases itself” (Hinduism; qtd. in Kessler 2009: 45). In the seventh and sixth century b.c. many Hindus unwilling to fully embrace the scriptures of the Vedas began meeting in camps known as Samanas. Through the sharing and discussion of philosophies and spiritual ideas, soon a new religious movement began to rise in India; today, we call this religion Buddhism. As stated earlier, these religions have had profound effects on their followers since their outset, but the impact can be seen most vividly in the effect they’ve had on their female population. On the surface of many scriptures it is clear that women are depicted as inferior to males and their opportunities within a community are heavily restricted. The effects of these scriptures and teachings can be seen when the history of women in Hindu and Buddhist regions are closely studied. This essay will examine the origin of these ancient religions, explain the negative portrayal of women in their beliefs and teachings, discuss why, and more importantly how, these portrayals
The reading of original Hindu writings is an essential element in achieving moshka; therefore, this law establishes that no women can achieve moshka unless she fulfills her dharma and is reborn as a man. Furthermore, the Laws of Manu goes on to state that “…he [the man] should keep her [the women] busy amassing and spending money, engaging in purification, attending to her duty, cooking food, and looking after the furniture… Good looks do not matter to them [women], nor do they care about youth; “A man!” they say, and they enjoy sex with him, whether he is good-looking or ugly. By running after men like whores, by their fickle minds, and by their natural lack of affection these women are unfaithful to their husbands even when they are zealously guarded here… The bed and the seat, jewellery, lust, anger, crookedness, a malicious nature, and bad conduct are what Manu assigned to women” (Laws of Manu IX; qtd. in Kessler 2009: 61). Not only does this law book present women to be inferior to men, it also develops the gender roles which similarly placed the female beneath the male regardless of his caste. After birth women are the property of their fathers who hold all control over them, as their fathers age they become the