Sri:
Sri Lakshminrusimha Parabrahmanaē Nama:

वेदम् परम प्रमाणम् – Vedam Parama Pramaanam

स्त्रीधर्मः
Sthree Dharmam

[ Sri Mukkur Srinivasan ]

– Sthree Dharmam (The Duty of Women) –

Sthree Dharmam is the primary reason for all other Dharmas to shine and excel. This is because Purusha Dharmam (the duty of men) itself is contained within Sthree Dharmam. If Sthree Dharmam declines, Purusha Dharmam also perishes.

Observe this: right at the beginning of the Krishna Yajur Veda Taittiriya Samhita, the Veda beautifully describes a Maha Yagya called the ‘Darsha Purnamasa Yagya’. If a Grihastha (householder) wants to perform a Yagya, can he go and do it alone.? What do the Shastras say.? Without a Dharma Patni (lawful wife), not a single Vaidika karma (Vedic ritual) can be performed! That is exactly why she is called “Saha Dharmacharini” (the partner in Dharma). Exactly half of the fruits of all the Dharmas performed by the husband automatically go to her.

The Supreme Position of the Patni (Wife)

Observe the supreme position of the Patni in this Yagya. As the Yagyam commences, the Agnidhra (one of the officiating priests) comes and ties a rope made of Darbha grass around the Patni’s waist. This sacred ritual is called ‘Yoktra Bandhanam’.

This very same Vedic mantra is also chanted in our Sampradaya during the sacred occasion of Vivaha (marriage)—specifically at the ultimate moment of Mangalya Dharanam. Indeed, it is known precisely as an Ashirvada Mantra (a mantra of divine blessing)..!!

The Veda declares:

‘Aashaa saanaa saumanasam prajaam saubhaagyam thanoom…’ (आशा साना सौमनसं प्रजाꣳसौभाग्यं तनूम् । अग्नेऽनुव्रता भूत्वा संनह्ये सुकृतायकम् ।)

Look at how beautiful this mantra is.! “I tie this to the presiding lady of this Yagya, who possesses a good heart, who is blessed with good children, and who possesses an auspicious body, for the sake of welfare.” Here, tying the rope does not mean enslaving her! It means granting her the absolute, complete authority to perform this Yagya. It is a Deeksha (sacred initiation). Only if the Patni undergoes this Deeksha can the Yajamana (husband) even perform the Yagya!

What does she do after that? The Patni sits on the southern side of the Garhapatya Agni (the sacred fire worshipped daily by householders), facing north. Sitting there, what does she pray?

‘Suprajasthwa vayagum supatneerupa sedima…’ (सुप्रजस्त्वा वयꣳ सुप्त्नीरूप सेदिम । अग्ने सपन दम्भन मदब्धासो अदाभ्यम् ।)

She prays to the Agni: “O Agni Bhagavan! O Garhapatya Agni, who is invincible and who cannot be destroyed by any enemy! We approach You blessed with good children and a good husband.” Here, the word ‘Supatneehi’ is used in the plural form. This means she is not just praying for herself; she is praying for universal welfare (Loka Kshemam), wishing that all the women in her lineage become Deergha Sumangalis and live with good husbands! Then the husband says, “Yunchaa me yajamaanaa saathau” – “May you remain united with me and conduct this Yagya.”

The Conclusion of the Yagya and the Ultimate Blessing

It is the moment the Yagya concludes. Now, the Hotha (priest) must untie the Darbha rope tied around her waist. At that time, he chants:

‘Imam vishyaami varunasya paasham…’ (इमं विष्यामि वरुणस्य पाशं यमबध्नीत सविता सुकेतः । धातुश्च योनौ सुकृतस्य लोके स्योनं मे सह पत्या करोमि ।)

“O Yajamani! I untie this knot, which was like the noose of Varuna fastened by Surya. By the fruits of the merit acquired from performing this Yagya, may you and your husband together attain bliss in the Brahma Loka (or an exalted supreme state).” That means, he is blessing them saying: not just in this world, but whichever world you go to, may you remain unseparated as a couple and attain the supreme state..!

Finally, the Patni stands up holding the ‘Purna Patram’ (a vessel filled to the brim with water) in her hands. The Vedic mantra she chants then… that is a massive shield of protection (Rakshai) for all women..!

‘Samaayushaa sam prajayaa samagne varchasaa punaha | Sam patnee pathyaaham gacche samaatmaa thanuvaa mama |’ (समायुषा सं प्रजया समग्ने वर्चसा पुनः । सं पत्नी पत्याहं गच्छे समात्मा तनुवा मम ।)

“O Agni Bhagavan! May I attain a full lifespan. May all my children be healthy and prosperous. May my glory of chastity (Karpu) stand tall in this world.” She doesn’t stop there. “Punaha patnee pathyaaham gacche” – “I must live as a wife with this very same husband again and again!” She prays like this..!

Pay close attention now. She declares that he alone should be her husband across all future births. If there is a next birth, and a woman prays that she must return as the Dharma Patni to this very same man, just look at how exalted that Pativratya Dharmam (the vow of devotion to the husband) is..!

The Veda is not just about pouring ghee into the Homa Kundam. How a man and a woman should live in absolute harmony, and how they should stand together on the path of Dharma without ever separating, no matter which world they go to—that is what the Veda teaches.

That is why the Veda is the Supreme Authority (Parama Pramaanam)… and that is exactly why the sound of the Veda is the absolute truth!