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The auspicious signs of the awakening of women are clearly visible in every sphere of social life.
–Equal Rights for Men and Women
Throughout his life, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar was deeply concerned about the conditions of women in society. He supported the emancipation of women from the stranglehold of dogmas and ignorance. He recalls, in the story of Reba, an incident from his youth. After Reba gave her blunt rebuff to a matchmaking “selection board”, the author later meets the disappointed suitor in the marketplace. Supporting Reba’s attitude, the author told the young man, “Times are changing. People’s psychology is changing. Many fixed ideas of the past are disappearing. Don’t you realize these things?” (“Hello Reba, Goodbye Bhundibala!”) As the founder and president of Ananda Marga he established the foundations for a society that treats men and women with equal dignity and responsibility.
The women’s struggle for rights has a long history. The last three decades, especially, have brought these issues to the forefront of social consciousness. All over the world women are awakening. No longer are they willing to remain silent in the face of oppression. They are finding their voices and the strength to fight. Men, too, are realizing the importance of women’s long-overdue awakening if society is to progress to its next evolutionary phase.
In many parts of the world, women are still under the yoke of exploitation. They have been rendered helpless by hundreds of years of imposed ignorance, superstition and inferiority complexes. The opportunists who have taken advantage of women fail to realize that by paralysing women’s minds, the whole society becomes crippled.
Now, for society to move forward, women must regain their self-confidence and take their rightful place in society. Men also must take an active role in this process.
The author said:
We [society] are not as developed as we should be. Why? One of the reasons is that we have kept women confined within the walls of their homes, resulting in the progress of only fifty percent of the population – the males. And as only the men are progressing, they will have to carry the load of fifty percent of the population. Thus the speed of progress is reduced. Ideally, women should also move with their own strength and with the same speed as their male counterparts. In the process of movement, if they feel pain in their legs, if they fall on their faces, they should be physically lifted up. The fact is that we must move together in unison with all. (from “The Importance of Society” in “Two Wings”)
Throughout his life, the author was adamant that the dignity and rightful status of women must be re-established in both collective and individual life. A true human society can only be created when all its members, male and female, young and old, black and white, have equal opportunity to express all their potentialities in the mundane, psychic and spiritual spheres. In 1956 the author first outlined the steps necessary in order for the emancipation of women to take place in the social sphere. (See “The Emancipation of Women”.) Simply put, there are two points: first, women must become educated; secondly, women must become economically self-reliant.
Through education, women will become free from the superstitions and dogmas that have been imposed on them. They will learn how to take care of their bodies, of their minds. They will learn the hidden history of women’s contribution to society. They will gain not only intellectual wealth, but the necessary self-confidence to employ that wealth for the benefit of society.
When women gain economic independence from men, they will also win back respect. Dowry and other social ills will die natural deaths. As women gain economic self-reliance, they will gain a voice in the household as well as in the society-at-large. Men will not be able to impose their whims on women who are no longer economically chained to them.
Social, religious and educational dogmas that oppress women will go the way of slavery and sati. Women will find new opportunities for self-development, and in return be able to employ their special qualities for the benefit of all.
Just as men possess certain outstanding qualities, womankind, too, has certain special assets:
The number of cells in a female body is a little smaller than the number in a male body. Again, from the viewpoint of sentimentality, the number of nerve cells in a woman’s body is a little greater than that in a man’s. That is why in areas needing intelligence, knowledge and rationality men progress rapidly, and in areas where success depends on sentimentality, women progress very swiftly. Through the dispensation of God, men’s deficiency is balanced by women’s sentimentality, and women’s deficiency is balanced by men’s resoluteness and subtle propensive propulsion. And this is why in the sphere of education, both men and women must be afforded equal opportunities. Otherwise society will become crippled, and its all-round well-being cannot be achieved. (from “Under the Shelter of the Guru” in “Sentimentality and the Psycho-Spiritual Realm”)
When Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar expounded his Neohumanist philosophy, he explained that the highest sentiment of all is the devotional sentiment:
Now, what is the role of devotional sentiment, the most valuable treasure of humanity? It is to transform the sense of worldly existence into the supreme spiritual stance. (“Devotional Sentiment and Neohumanism”, Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism)
And those who possess the inner asset of devotion within their hearts and follow the path of rationality in dealing with the external world, must be victorious. They alone can accomplish worthy deeds in this world. (“Geo-Sentiment”, Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism)
Both men and women are children of Parama Puruśa. They are like His two hands. He has given intelligence, strength and stamina to all. Men and women must work together in coordinated cooperation to achieve a glorious human society. Inevitably, the society must move along the path of progress. Shrii Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar has called on women to take up the challenge of self-enlightenment and social emacipation. As women become free from all social bondages, they will progress towards a great ideology and usher in a brilliant future.
Some of the author’s most profound observations regarding women came during the course of discussions of other subjects. For this reason, the book is in excerpt format. The book has been organized into several parts. The first part is Women and Society. The first section, A Historical Perspective, gives the historical perspective from prehistoric matriarchy, to the transformation of society into patriarchy and the gradual decline of the status of women. Within this section are several discourses on the development of casteism in India, especially in Bengal, and its effect on the status of women.
Social Injustices Today is concerned with the social injustices that presently afflict society. Reclaiming Dignity looks towards the future, and discusses how women shall regain their dignity and their rightful place in society. Included here is the discourse “Social Order and Superiority and Inferiority Complexes”. Although it does not directly refer to women, the translators felt that its subject matter bears directly on the problems women face in reclaiming their dignity in society; so it has been included. A chapter has been included on the various guidelines of Ananda Marga, the socio-spiritual organization founded by the author. It demonstrates his practical outlook for the establishment of women’s dignity in society.
The second part is Women and Spirituality. In the section Spiritual Birthright, the author denounces the religious dogmas that have been created to keep women suppressed. The subject of goddesses is of great interest to many women, so some excerpts for Goddess Worship in India have been included. Indirectly, (that is, through quoting spiritual poetry) the author clearly recognizes that some devotees worship Supreme Consciousness through the vehicle of the Divine Mother:
The only way to attain salvation is through self-knowledge, and for this one requires pure conduct in the external world, pure thought in the mental world, and whole-hearted surrender to the Supreme Entity – the shelter of all, the one who is hidden in each and every entity – as the polestar of one’s life.
The Mother who is adorning this universe with so many jewels –
Do you want to adorn that Mother with a dress of tinsel?
The Mother who is feeding the world with so much food –
Do you want to feed that Mother with sun-dried rice and soaked gram?
I will remove all distinctions, all my mental anguish.
O Má! all the Vedas are true – my goddess Tárá is formless.
Here [in the poem] the words Má and Tárá refer to Brahma. (Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Discourse 16)
Or again:
This entire creation is the child of the Divine Mother – all are equal for Her;
Can you please this Mother by sacrificing goats?
Prasád [the poet] says you can worship Her only with devotion;
How can you worship Her with external pomp and show?
Mother will not accept such a bribe from anyone.
Oh mind, you could not remove this error –
You never really understood Kálii at all.
One can easily understand that here [in the poem] the Divine Mother, Kálii, refers to Parama Puruśa, to Parama Brahma. (Namah Shiváya Shántáya, Discourse 14)
The section, Women and Bio-Psychology offers the meeting point of biology, psychology and spirituality. The author has said, as mentioned above, that women have a special asset in their sentimental quality.
The chapter on “Rádhá’s Devotion”, in The Feminine Aspect of Spirituality conveys much to us about spiritual devotion from the feminine perspective.
In Further Reading we find a bouquet of sections. Keeping the Body Fit is about the physical aspects of women’s development. Birth control, the population explosion and genetic engineering are major public issues today; so a chapter has been included in which the author gives his views on those subjects. The next section is Remarkable Women of social and spiritual history. As the references to Yoginii Párvatii throughout the author’s discussions of Tantra were very numerous, only a few passages have been chosen to reflect something of her contribution to spirituality and society. In Short Stories the author uses anecdotes and stories to expose the vagaries of human nature and social dogma.
Of the 5018 Prabháta Saḿgiita songs composed by the author, seventeen have been included in Songs of the New Dawn in which there is a definite feminine outlook. This selection is only a sampling of this category of the author’s songs, not a complete collection. Limited space does not permit us to publish more at this time. In these selections the sweet language of Bengali poetry evokes the feelings and situations peculiar to the woman’s experience, and transforms them into a mystic experience.
Readers are encouraged to delve deeper into the sources of the extracts to understand them in their full context. Some outstanding further reading might include:
To assist researchers, it is our policy to indicate here – in addition to the original language of each speech, the date and place, by whom it was translated, and where, if other than in this book, it was originally published – whether or not a tape of the speech is in existence. At the time of this printing, however, not all the cataloguing of tapes has been finished. Further information as to tapes will be given in future printings.
Wherever it is noted below that there was more than one existing translation of the same discourse, all the existing translations have been consulted in preparing the discourse for this edition. All retranslations (“retr.”) that were done took all possible material from existing translations.
The abbreviation “DMC” sometimes appears at the end of a discourse. Dharma Mahácakra was a special spiritual gathering addressed by the preceptor, or guru. The abbreviation “RU” at the end of a discourse indicates that the discourse constituted a Presidential speech to Renaissance Universal.
Footnotes by the translators have all been signed “–Trans.” Unsigned footnotes are those of the author.
Square brackets [ ] in the text are used to indicate translations by the editors or other editorial insertions. Round brackets ( ) indicate a word or words originally given by the author.
We have adopted the use of BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) for dates; e.g., this year is 1995 CE.
The author used a certain shorthand for explaining the etymologies of words. Under this system, a minus sign (–) follows a prefix, and a plus sign (+) precedes a suffix. Thus ava – tr + ghaiṋ = avatára can be read, “the root tr prefixed by ava and suffixed by ghaiṋ becomes avatára.”
It was frequently the author’s practice, in the case of discourses given in a language other than Bengali, to personally review the Bengali translation and to make revisions and additions. Wherever this appeared to have been done, the editors have taken the Bengali version as the basis for the English translation.
All of the material in this book represents either the first English translation of the material from the original Bengali or Hindi, or reprints of articles previously published in English. In other words, no article already existing in English (whether given by the author in English or translated into English for an earlier book) has been revised for this edition. The publishing style (use of italics, capital letters, etc.) has been brought up to date with our current conventions, but words have not been changed.
The following publication histories of the material in this book are organized excerpt-by-excerpt. (Most chapters of the book represent collections of excerpts.) In the cases of all excerpts in this book for which the only attribution given at the end of each excerpt is Shabda Cayaniká (which is to say, in the cases of all the Shabda Cayaniká material that had not appeared in English before), a generic publication history applies (exceptions are noted among the individual histories below): The discourses were in Bengali and were not taped. They were originally published in Bengali as sections or parts of sections (each section titled as indicated in the respective attribution) of the Shabda Cayaniká series, 1985-1990. They were translated from the original Bengali for this book by Ácárya Vijayánanda Avadhúta, Avadhútiká Ánanda Rucirá Ácáryá and Ácárya Acyutánanda Avadhúta.
Part 1. Women and Society
Section 1. A Historical Perspective
Chapter on “Matriarchy in the Kśatriya Age”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Kśatriya Yuga” in Mánuser Samája 2, 1970. First English publication as part of “The Kśatriyan Age” in Human Society 2, 1970, tr. from the original Bengali by Manohar Gupta. Third English publication as part of “The Kśatriya Age” in Human Society 2, 1987, retr. by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar.
Chapter on “Women: The Wageless Slaves of the Vipras”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Vipra Yuga” in Mánuser Samája 2, 1970. First English publication as part of “The Viprian Age” in Human Society 2, 1970, tr. from the original Bengali by Manohar Gupta. Third English publication as part of “The Vipra Age” in Human Society 2, 1987, retr. by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar.
Chapter on “From Matriarchy to Patriarchy”.
“Since the dawn” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of section on “Gańatantra” in Shabda Cayaniká 16, 1988. First English publication in Prout in a Nutshell 14, 1988, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar.
Chapter on “Shiva Upholds the Dignity of Women”.
“Each clan used to live” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Komale-Kat́hore” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication as part of “Shiva – Both Severe and Tender” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avtk. Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“This Shaeva Dharma” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Komale-Kat́hore” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication as part of “Shiva – Both Severe and Tender” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avtk. Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii. Third English publication as part of “The Essential Dharma” in Discourses on Tantra 1, retr. by ÁVA and ÁAA.
“Just as the living” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Shiver Shikśá – 1” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication as part of “Discourse 9, The Teachings of Shiva – 1” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avtk. Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
Chapter on “Casteism and the Decline of Women’s Status”.
“From time immemorial” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Ananda Marga: A Revolution” in Táttvika Praveshiká, 1957. Second English publication in A Few Problems Solved Part 7, 1988.
“They say that the women” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Sádhanár Rúpa” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 1, 1956. First English publication as part of “The Forms of Sádhaná” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 1, 1963, tr. from the original Bengali by Dr. Nagendra. Third English publication in Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell, Part 2, 1988, tr. by ÁVA.
Chapter on “Women of Bengal”.
“The geographical environment” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Báḿlár Itihása 1” in Abhimata 3, 1984. First English publication as part of “The History of Bengal 1” in A Few Problems Solved 3, 1988, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Avadhútiká Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá.
“Oggara bhattá” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Báḿlár Itihása 2” in Abhimata 5, 1985. First English publication as part of “The History of Bengal 2” in A Few Problems Solved 5, 1988, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Avadhútiká Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá. Second English publication of last three paragraphs as part of “Tantra in Bengal” in Discourses on Tantra Vol. 1, 1992, retr. by ÁVA and ÁAA.
Chapter on “Women’s Rights in Ráŕh”.
“A liberal Shaeva” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of section 5 of Sabhyatár Ádibindu Ráŕh, 1981. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
“When the Puranic religion” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of section 17 of Sabhyatár Ádibindu Ráŕh, 1981. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
Section 2. Injustices Today
Chapter on “Social Justice for Women”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Vicár” in Mánuser Samája 1, 1959. First English publication as part of “Social Justice” in Human Society 1, 1962, tr. from the original Bengali by Manohar Gupta. Third English publication as part of “Social Justice” in Human Society 1, 1987, retr. by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar.
Chapter on “Dowry and Marriage”.
“The dowry system” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Bengali as section 14 in Ájker Samasyá, 1958. First English publication as section 14 in Problem of the Day, First Edition, tr. from the original Bengali by Prof. Nardeva Gupta. Fourth English publication as section 14 in Problems of the Day, Fourth Edition, 1993, retr. by ÁVA, Ácárya Jagadiishvaránanda Avt. and Jayanta Kumar.
“Another glaring instance” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Talks on Prout” in Prout in a Nutshell 15, 1988.
“When people’s ideas” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “How to Unite Human Society” in Prout in a Nutshell 21, 1991.
“In Ráŕh” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of section 4 in Sabhyatár Ádibindu Ráŕh, 1981. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
“Hindu women” excerpt. Discourse in English. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 4. First English publication as part of “Requirements of an Ideal Constitution” in A Few Problems Solved 4, 1988.
“If there are continued” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles” in Prout in a Nutshell 16, 1990.
Chapter on “Sati and Widowhood”.
“For instance, it was written” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Discourse 15, Shiva’s Teachings (Cont.)” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avadhútiká Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“This is not dharma” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 4. First English publication as part of “Which Is the Right Path” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 4, 1986, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Vidyádhara Brahmacárii.
Chapter on “Prostitution”.
“Prostitution, the hateful disease” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Vaeshya Yuga” in Mánuśer Samája 2. First English publication as part of “The Vaeshyan Age” in Human Society 2, First Edition, 1967, tr. from the original Bengali by Manohar Gupta. Third English publication as part of “The Vaeshya Age” in Human Society 2, Third Edition, 1987, tr. by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar.
“Those who shudder” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Bengali as section 13 in Ájker Samasyá, 1958. First English publication as section 13 in Problem of the Day, First Edition, tr. from the original Bengali by Prof. Nardeva Gupta. Fourth English publication as section 13 in Problems of the Day, Fourth Edition, 1993, retr. by ÁVA, Ácárya Jagadiishvaránanda Avt. and Jayanta Kumar.
Chapter on “Discrimination in Language”.
“During the last million” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Buddhir Mukti – Navyamánavatavád, 1982. First English publication as part of “Neohumanism is the ultimate shelter” in The Liberation of Intellect: Neohumanism, 1982.
“Some years ago” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali on 11 Dec. 1983. Originally published in Bengali in Varńa Vicitrá 1, 1984. Tr. from original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
Section 3. Reclaiming Dignity
Chapter on “The Emancipation of Women”. Discourse in Hindi. Tr. from the original Hindi by Ácárya Sambhútyánanda Avadhúta and AÁRÁ. Source: Ácárya Rámeshvara Bhaitta discourse notes.
Chapter on “The Social Order and Superiority and Inferiority Complexes”. Discourse in English. Originally published in English in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 5, 1982.
Chapter on “The Continuous Effort to Promote Universal Well-Being”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Mánasádhyátmaka Sádhanár Staravinyás, 1981. First English publication as “Yatamána – 2” in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell, 1988, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta. Second English publication as “The Continuous Effort to Promote Universal Well-Being – 2” in Prout in a Nutshell 5, retr. by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar. Retr. byÁVA and AÁRÁ.
Chapter on “Women’s Rights”. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 9. First English publication as “Women’s Rights” in A Few Problems Solved 9, 1988.
Chapter on “Equal Rights for Men and Women”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as “Samánádhikar” in Sagnik, end 1984 issue. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
Chapter on “Human History and Collective Psychology”. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 7. First English publication as “Human History and Collective Psychology” in A Few Problems Solved 7, 1988.
Chapter on “Fight against All Dogmas”. “Notions of vice and virtue” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 2. First English publication as part of “Social Values and Human Cardinal Principles” in A Few Problems Solved 2, 1987.
“When people are guided” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Beware of Dogma” in Prajiṋá Bháratii, Jan.-Feb. 1980. Second English publication in Prout in a Nutshell 9, 1987.
“Of course” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 4. First English publication as part of “Liberation of Intellect” in A Few Problems Solved 4.
“There are some people” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Buddha o Aśt́áuṋga Márga” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 15, 1981. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
Chapter on “Two Wings”.
“He [Parama Puruśa] is creating” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 4. First English publication as part of “Which Is the Right Path” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 4, 1986, tr. by ÁVA and Ácárya Vidyádhara Brahmacárii.
“He [Parama Puruśa] desires” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Hindi in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 8. First English publication as part of “He who Steals Others’ Sins Is Called Hari” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 8, 1987, tr. from the original Hindi by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta.
“The rights of women” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Macropsychic Conation and Micropsychic Longings” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 18, 1991.
“It is the duty” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 2. First English publication as part of “Social Values and Human Cardinal Principles” in A Few Problems Solved 2, 1987. Second English publication as part of “Neohumanism of Sadvipras” in Neohumanism in a Nutshell 1, 1987.
“To eradicate them” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 3. First English publication as part of “The Importance of Society” in A Few Problems Solved 3, 1988.
“What Is Civilized?” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 6. First English publication as part of “Civilization, Science and Spiritual Progress” in A Few Problems Solved 6, 1988.
“In Sanskrit” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Suppression, Repression and Oppression” in Prout in a Nutshell 17.
“I want that our boys” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Dogma and Human Intellect” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 14, 1981.
“Now there is” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 7. First English publication as “Renaissance in All the Strata of Life” in A Few Problems Solved 7, 1988.
“Not only this” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “The Only Cult” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 12, 1980.
Chapter on “Economic Self-Reliance”.
“In society men” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of section 3 in Prout in a Nutshell 4, 1987. Second English publication in Discourses on Prout, 1993.
“If modern equipment” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 2. First English publication as part of “Agrarian Revolution” in A Few Problems Solved 2, 1987.
“A rural economy” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Decentralized Economy” in Prout in a Nutshell 21, 1991.
“Small-scale” excerpt. Originally published as part of “South Bengal” in Prout in a Nutshell 20, 1991.
“Every individual” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 4. First English publication as part of “What Should History Be Like” in A Few Problems Solved 4.
“Psycho-economic exploitation” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 9. First English publication as part of “Capitalism in Three Spheres” in A Few Problems Solved 9.
“It may be asked” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Talks on Prout” in Prout in a Nutshell 15, 1988.
Chapter on “Building a Healthy Society”
“Women’s Welfare” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English in “A General Guidebook for Táttvikas”.
“Not only are the superstitions” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Ananda Marga: A Revolution” in Táttvika Praveshiká, 1957. Second English publication in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell 3, 1988.
“In Ananda Marga” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Tattva Kaomudii 2. First English publication as part of “Our Social Treatise” in Ananda Marga Philosophy in a Nutshell 4.
“Lack of security” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Social Psychology” in Táttvika Praveshiká, 1957. Second English publication in A Few Problems Solved 7, 1988.
“[They say]” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Sáphalya Lábher Múliibhúta Kárań” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 9.
“You should always” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Samája” in Caryácarya 2, 1956. First English publication as part of “Society” in Caryácarya 2, First Edition. Third English publication in Caryácarya 2, Third Edition, 1978, retr. by Ácárya Shyám Náráyańa and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“Some Guidelines of Social Conduct”. Discourses in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Caryácarya 1, 1956. First English publication as part of “The Marriage Ceremony” and as “Ideal System of Inheritance”, “Social Relationship between Men and Women”, “The Livelihood of Women”, and “Widows” in Caryácarya 1 1962. tr. from the original Bengali by Dr. Nágendra Prasáda. Fourth Bengali publication in Caryácarya 1 1972. Second English Publication in Caryácarya 1, 1975, retr. by ÁVA and Brahmacárinii Váńii Ácáryá. Sixth Bengali publication in Caryácarya 1, 1990. Fifth English publication in Caryácarya 1, 1991. Retr. by ÁVA and AÁRÁ.
Part 2. Women and Spirituality
Section 1. Spiritual Birthright
Chapter on “Can Women Attain Salvation?”. Discourse in English. Originally published in English in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 3, 1981.
Chapter on “An Equal Birthright”. Discourse in English. Tape. Originally published in English in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 5, 1982. Third English publication in Discourses on Tantra 2, 1994, re-edited.
Chapter on “The Place of Women in the Spiritual World”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 7. First English publication in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 7, 1987, tr. by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta.
Chapter on “Bhaerava and Bhaeravii”. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 7, 1980. First English publication in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 7, 1987, tr. by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta. Second English publication in Discourses on Tantra 2, 1994, retr. by ÁVA and ÁAA.
Section 2. Goddess Worship in India
Chapter on “The Development of Goddess Worship”. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Hindi as part of “Tantra aor Áryyabháratiiya Sabhyatá” in Ánanda Dúta Year 4, Nos. 13, January, April and July 1960. First English publication as part of “Tantra and Indo-Aryan Civilization” in Our Universe, Nos. 13, Jan.-Mar. 1960. First Bengali publication as part of “Tantra o Áryyabháratiiya Sabhyatá” in Abhimata 1, 1966. Third English publication in Discourses on Tantra 1, retr. from the Bengali by ÁVA and ÁAA.
Chapter on “Tantric Goddesses”. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Tántrik Devadeviir Udbhaver pechane Manasatattva” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 11, 1980. First English publication as part of “The Psychology behind the Origin of Tantric Deities” in Discourses on Tantra 1, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and ÁAA.
Section 3. Women and Bio-Psychology
Chapter on “Saḿskára and Gender Differences”. Originally published in Bengali in Subháśita Saḿgraha 5, 1966. First English publication as part of “Form and Formless” in Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell 7, tr. from the Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta. Retr. by ÁVA and AÁRÁ.
Chapter on “Aspects of Bio-Psychology”. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Bio-Psychology” in Yoga Psychology, First Edition, 1991. Second English publication in Yoga Psychology, Second Edition, 1994.
Chapter on “Sentimentality: A Special Quality in Women”
“You should always” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 3. First English publication as part of “Genius and Technician” in A Few Problems Solved 3, 1988.
“Those who are still employed” excerpt. First Bengali publication in Abhimata 5. First English publication as part of “On Festivals” in A Few Problems Solved 5, 1988.
“Causes of Hysteria” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of section on “Acetana” in Shabda Cayaniká 1, 1985. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Shrii Deváshiisa, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
“The Indo-Tibetan people” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Geology and Human Civilization” in Prout in a Nutshell 16, 1990.
Chapter on “Sadguru and Microvita”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in English in Microvitum in a Nutshell, Third Edition, 1991, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Jayanta Kumar.
Section 4. The Feminine Aspect of Spirituality
Chapter on “Sentimentality and the Psycho-Spiritual Realm”
“The cranium” excerpt. Discourse in English. Tape. Originally published in English as part of “Glands and Sub-Glands” in Yoga Psychology, First Edition, 1991. Second English publication in Yoga Psychology, Second Edition, 1994.
“The glands” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of section on “Gurusakásh” in Shabda Cayaniká 25, 1990. First English publication as part of “Ideating on the Guru” in Yoga Psychology, First Edition, 1991, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Jayanta Kumar. Second English publication as part of “Under the Shelter of the Guru” in Yoga Psychology, Second Edition, 1994, retr. by ÁVA, Ácárya Mantreshvaránanda Avadhúta, Ácárya Prańavánanda Avadhúta and Shrii Jayanta Kumar.
Chapter on “Rádhá’s Devotion”
“Rádhá attained” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981. First English publication as part of “Vraja Krśńa and Sáḿkhya Philosophy” in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Deváshiisa.
“Human beings” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Namámi Krśńa Sundaram, 1981. First English publication as part of “Vraja Krśńa and Párthasárathi Krśńa” in Namámi Krśńa Sundaram, 1981, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Deváshiisa.
“When human beings” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Namámi Krśńa Sundaram, 1981. First English publication as part of “Krśńa Imparts Six Stages of Realization” in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Deváshiisa.
“How can” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication as part of “Discourse 12, Shiva’s Teachings –2 (Cont.)” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avadhútiká Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“Krśńa is the final” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981. First English publication as part of “Párthasárathi Krśńa and Aesthetic Science” in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Deváshiisa.
“Taking his refuge” excerpt. First Bengali publication as part of “Preya o Shreya” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 3, 1958. First English publication as part of “Desire and Detachment” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 3, 1963, tr. from the Bengali by Manohar Gupta. Second English publication in Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell 4, 1988, retr. by ÁVA.
“When an act is dedicated” excerpt. First Bengali publication as part of “Yajiṋa o Karmaphala” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 1, 1956. First English publication as part of “Yajiṋa and Karmaphala” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 1, 1963, tr. from the Bengali by Dr. Nagendra. Second English publication in Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell 2, 1988, retr. by ÁVA.
“Hence He attracts” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981. First English publication as part of “Krśńa and Supra-Aesthetic Science” in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Deváshiisa.
“It will be better” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Krśńastu Bhagaván Svayaḿ” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 17, 1981. First English publication in Prajiṋá Bháratii as part of “Krśńa Unparalleled”. Second English publication in Discourses on Tantra 1, retr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and ÁAA.
“And similarly” excerpt. Discourse in English. Tape. Originally published in English as part of “Rádhiká Shakti” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 23, 1994.
“The first and last” excerpt. First Bengali publication as part of “Vede Brahmavijanána – 4” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 2, 1957. First English publication as part of “The Intuitional Science of the Vedas – 4” in Subháśita Saḿgraha 2, tr. from the Bengali by Manohar Gupta. Third English publication in Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life in a Nutshell 3, retr. by ÁVA.
Part 3. Further Reading
Section 1. Keeping the Body Fit
Chapter on “Physical Well-Being”
“Some Health Rules” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Caryácarya 3, 1965. First English publication as part of “General Health Rules” in Caryácarya 3, 1979, tr. from the original Bengali by Subodh Dasgupta and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“Physical Restraint”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Caryácarya 3, 1965. First English publication in Caryácarya 3, 1979, tr. from the original Bengali by Subodh Dasgupta and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“At present” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as part of “Strii Byádhi” in Yaogika Cikitsá o Dravyaguńa, 1958. First English publication as part of “Female Diseases” in Yogic Treatments and Natural Remedies, 1983, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
Chapter on “Science and Population Control”
“The population” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Bengali as section 24 of Ájker Samasyá, 1958. First English publication as section 24 of Problem of the Day, First Edition, 1959, tr. from the original Bengali by Prof. Nardeva Gupta. Fourth English publication as part of section 24 in Problems of the Day, Fourth Edition, 1993, retr. by ÁVA, Ácárya Jagadiishvaránanda Avt. and Jayanta Kumar.
“Science Is Moving” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Bengali as section 25 of Ájker Samasyá, 1958. First English publication as section 25 of Problem of the Day, First Edition, 1959, tr. from the original Bengali by Prof. Nardeva Gupta. Fourth English publication as part of section 25 in Problems of the Day, Fourth Edition, 1993, retr. by ÁVA, Ácárya Jagadiishvaránanda Avt. and Jayanta Kumar.
“Good varieties” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Population Growth and Control” in Prout in a Nutshell 13, 1988.
“Vested interests” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Talks on Prout” in Prout in a Nutshell 15, 1988.
Chapter on “The Dance of the Expansion of Mind”
“Furthermore” excerpt. Originally published in English as part of “Song, Dance and Instrumental Music” in Prout in a Nutshell 10, 1987.
“Everything” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 4. First English publication as part of “Treading the Broad Path of Spirituality” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 4, 1986, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Vidyádhara Brahmacárii.
“I invented” excerpt. Discourse in English. Tape. Originally published in English as part of “The Cosmic Father Has a Special Responsibility” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 5, 1982. Second English publication in Discourses on Tantra 2, 1994, re-edited.
“Lalita mármika” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Dances and the Path of Vidyá” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 12, 1980.
Chapter on “Táńd́ava and Kaośikii”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as “Táńd́ava o Kaośikii” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 22, 1985. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
Section 2. Remarkable Women
Chapter on “Párvatii, Consort of Shiva”
“Let us take” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali as part of “BahuPallavita Shiva” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication as part of “The Pervasive Influence of Shiva” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avtk. Ánanda Mitrá Ác., and Ác. Amitábha Brc. Third English publication as part of “The Pervasive Influence” in Discourses on Tantra 1, retr. by ÁVA and ÁAA.
“Spiritual practice” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Art and Science” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 14, 1981.
“Shiva’s spouse” excerpt. Discourse in English. Tape. Originally published in English as part of “Kaola and Mahákaola” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 23.
“About seven thousand years ago” excerpt. Discourse in English. Originally published in English as part of “Subjective Approach through Objective Adjustment” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 14, 1981.
“In the older days” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982. First English publication as part of “Discourse 17, Shiva’s Teachings – 2” in Namah Shiváya Shántáya, 1982, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, Avadhútiká Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“You know” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. First English publication as part of “Hara-Párvatii Saḿváda” in Bodhi Kalpa, April-June 1968. (A different translation of a portion of this discourse was published earlier, as “Concept of Music, Dance in Tantric Cult”, in Cosmic Society, Vol. 3 No. 10, October 1967.) Second English publication as part of “The Dialogues of Shiva and Párvatii 1” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 23, 1994, English reediting by ÁAA.
“And Párvatii, the spouse” excerpt. Discourse in English. Tape. Originally published in English as part of “The Cosmic Father Has a Special Responsibility” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 5, 1982. Second English publication in Discourses on Tantra 2, 1994, re-edited.
“Párvatii lent” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Hindi as “Sadáshiva – Tantra ko Pratham Pravartak” in Shaḿkhanád. First published in Bengali as “Tantra Ágágoŕái Vástavavádii” in Ánanda Vacanámrtam 15, 1980. First English publication as part of “Táńd́ava, Shástra and the Teachings of Shiva” in Discourses on Tantra 2, tr. from the original Hindi and from the Bengali by ÁVA, Ác. Keshavánanda Avt., and ÁAA.
Chapter on “The Righteous Gandhari”
“Take another small example” excerpt. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Bengali in Mahábhárater Kathá. First English publication as part of “The Moral Standard of the Age” in Discourses on the Mahábhárata, 1982, tr. from the Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
“Gandhari once” excerpt. Discourse in Bengali. Tape. Originally published in Bengali in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981. First English publication as part of “Párthasárathi Krśńa and Sáḿkhya Philosophy” in Namámi Krśńasundaram, 1981, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Shrii Deváshiisa.
Chapter on “Five Virtuous Ladies”. Discourse in Hindi. Originally published in Bengali in Mahábhárater Kathá. First English publication as part of “Karna and Draupadi” in Discourses on the Mahábhárata, 1982, tr. from the Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Amitábha Brahmacárii.
Chapter on “Bhavasundari, The Tigress Queen”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali as “Raybháginii Bhavasundarii” in Galpa Saiṋcayana 10. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA, AÁRÁ and ÁAA.
Section 3. Short Stories
Chapter on “As You Think, So You Become”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Galpa Saiṋcayana 1. First English publication in Sarkar’s Short Stories 1, 1990, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta.
Chapter on “Panchu Dayas”. Discourse in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Galpa Saiṋcayana 1. First English publication in Sarkar’s Short Stories 1, 1990, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Ácárya Vishvarúpánanda Avadhúta.
Section 4. Songs of the New Dawn
Chapter on “Prabháta Saḿgiita”.
Song 140. Song in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Prabháta Saḿgiita 6. First English publication in Prabháta Saḿgiita: The Lyrics and their English Renderings, 1993, tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and Avadhútiká Ánanda Mitrá Ácáryá.
Songs 474, 475, 476, 961, 1031, 1068, 1269, 1218, 1445, 1520, 1826, 1828. Songs in Bengali. Originally published in Bengali in Prabháta Saḿgiita 19, 20, 38, 42, 43, 51, 49, 58, 61 and 74. Tr. from the original Bengali by ÁVA and AÁRÁ.
We wish to acknowledge the hard work Dr. Sulekha Ghose did in compiling and editing the original Bengali Náriir Maryádá.
Key:
ÁVA = Ác. Vijayánanda Avt.
AÁRÁ = Avtk. Ánanda Rucirá Ác.
ÁAA = Ác. Acyutánanda Avt.