The Guru's Ideal Woman

By Aravind Janardhanan in THIYYA / EZHAVA
The Guru's  Ideal Woman 

Stanzas 236-242 of Sree Narayanana Smrithi describe the ideal wife , the ideal woman and the ideal house wife in Guru's own words . 

Stanza 241 mentions the ideal woman 
" antha pura mahakaram hitva-api swayamevaya ya
gopayathi sva charithram esha syaad-dayitho-utthamaa"

" A woman who leaves the protected inner chambers of her house by  herself , and still can preserve and ensure her chastity and virtue is  the best of women"-- the passage is self - explanatory . The Guru expects the woman to be free, self reliant and virtuous .

The ideal house wife stanza 326 & 240 says 
kamithuh kula samstha yaa anurodhi gunaalayaa
ayyananukoola vyayavathy -amaala gurhine mathaa
A well -bred and virtuous whose charachter is compatible  with that  of her husband and who controls their expenses to be within their income  is the noblest of housewives. 

aatmaanaam palithavaathee sushrooshantee svanaayakam 
yashobhagnam -akurvanthee varthamanothamaa sathee 
A woman who take good care of herself and her husband , and never  indulges in anything that cause loss of prestige to the family is the  best mistress of a house hold . 

Through this two stanzas Guru describe  the duties of an ideal  housewife . . There are two high responsibilities ; to control the  expenses within their income , and to maintain the prestige of the  family . In other words, the woman of the home is financial controller  and custodian of the name and fame of the family . When the woman  assumes these responsibilities , she cant be a just a glorified servant  or a decorative piece . She has to raise above that level . Indirectly  He said that man and woman are equal partners in wedded life .
(Smt . Satyabai Sivadas )