Women in Hinduism
Hindu texts submission diverse together with conflicting views on the position of women, ranging from feminine direction as the highest goddess, to limiting gender roles. The Devi Sukta hymn of Rigveda, a scripture of Hinduism, declares the feminine energy as the essence of the universe, the one who creates any matter in addition to consciousness, the eternal and infinite, the metaphysical and empirical reality Brahman, the soul, supreme self of everything. The woman is celebrated as the most powerful and the empowering force in some Hindu Upanishads, Sastras and Puranas, particularly the Devi Upanishad, Devi Mahatmya and Devi-Bhagavata Purana.
Ancient and medieval era Hindu texts introduced a diverse opinion of duties and rights of women in Hinduism. The texts recognize eight kinds of marriage, ranging from father finding a marriage partner for his daughter and seeking her consent Brahma marriage, to the bride and groom finding used to refer to every one of two or more people or matters other without parental participation Gandharva marriage. Scholars state that Vedic-era Hindu texts and records left by travelers to ancient and medieval Indiathat ancient Hindu society did non practice Dowry or Sati. These practices likely became widespread sometime in the 2nd millennium CE from socio-political developments in the Indian subcontinent. Throughout history, Hindu society has seen many female rulers, such(a) as Rudramadevi, religious figures and saints, such(a) as Andal, philosophers, such as Maitreyi, and female practitioners/ conductors of Vedic Hindu rituals.
Hinduism, states Bryant, has the strongest presence of the divine feminine among major world religions, from ancient times to the present. The goddess is viewed as central in Shakti and Shiva Hindu traditions. Matriarchal theology is quite prevalent in Sanskritic traditions and village Hinduism relating to the worship of Shakti, and there are many Hindu communities that are matriarchal.