Atrocities Faced by Women and the Path to Spiritual Liberation

Centers around a very serious and sensitive topic — the atrocities faced by women. This subject was prompted by a heartfelt message received from a soul in deep sorrow. The message reflected the pain and helplessness that many women experience in today’s world — not just due to physical suffering, but because of the lack of safety, dignity, and opportunity to pursue spirituality amidst turmoil. The question raised was: How can a woman, who is constantly oppressed or unsafe even in her home, think about spirituality or liberation? The soul expressed fatigue, hopelessness, and sought help for liberation — not from depression, but from deep understanding of the suffering of life. This question reveals the profound pain of the collective feminine consciousness in the current age. It also reflects the deteriorating state of human values in the world of death — Mrityu Lok — where tamasic tendencies dominate both men and women.

Understanding the Root Cause of Suffering

To understand the pain of women or anyone, one must first understand the root cause — the theory of karma. Every being on Earth is currently settling their karmic accounts. The suffering we see — whether of women, children, or even animals — arises from the collective karmic imbalance accumulated over countless lives. If one continues to see only the sorrow of the world and keeps asking “What can I do?”, the mind becomes restless and entangled. Compassion is divine, but excessive emotional entanglement weakens the soul. The solution lies not in carrying the world’s sorrow, but in understanding that every soul is bound by its karma — and must awaken through knowledge.This is the teaching of Bapuji and Dadaji — to awaken all souls across the multiverse to the knowledge of truth, not by telling them they are already liberated, but by helping them realize how they can attain liberation while living.

The Need for a Higher Perspective

We cry for women, for children, for animals — yet the truth is, sorrow exists everywhere in the mortal realm. Wars, cruelty, and injustice are not new; they have repeated through every age — Satya, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali Yuga. Even in divine ages, women like Draupadi suffered humiliation, yet through it, they revealed strength and divine awareness.If one takes all worldly sorrow upon their head, they will drown in it. Instead, the scriptures teach — become a witness. As Lord Krishna said to Arjuna, “Be steadfast, become the observer.” The entire Earth is a karmic field; every soul is paying for past deeds. True compassion is not drowning in another’s sorrow, but uplifting them through divine knowledge.

Women’s Empowerment through Scriptural Wisdom

Our Sanatan scriptures never placed women in a lower status. In the Rigveda, women like Gargi, Maitrayi, Apala, and Lopamudra were revered as Rishikas — seers of divine truth. The Upanishads present Gargi questioning sage Yajnavalkya on the infinite Brahman, proving that women were spiritual philosophers of the highest order. In the Bhagavad Gita (9.32), Lord Krishna declares that even women, Vaishyas, and Shudras — if they take refuge in the Supreme — can attain the highest goal. This shows that the soul is beyond gender. The Gita repeatedly states: “The soul is neither born nor dies. It is eternal, immortal, and indestructible.”

Thus, the distinction between man and woman exists only at the bodily level, not at the level of the soul. Both are embodiments of Shiva and Shakti, the two aspects of the same divine energy. The Puranas glorify women as manifestations of Shakti. Goddesses like Durga, Kali, and Lakshmi are not mere symbols; they are the sustaining and protective forces of the cosmos. Women such as Devaki, Kunti, and Draupadi demonstrated supreme courage and devotion under adversity, showing that womanhood is synonymous with strength, wisdom, and compassion.

The Rigveda mentions that women have been given a respectable place in the Vedas. The Rigveda references many women, such as Rishikā, Lokamudrā, Gosha, and Vishvavara, who created hymns, indicating that in ancient times, women shared equally in knowledge and spirituality. The concept of Shakti is regarded as a symbol of power in the Vedas. For instance, Usha represents the goddess of dawn, Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, and Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, all of which reflect women's intellectual, creative, and nurturing powers. The Vedas describe that women have the right to education and to participate in religious activities like yajnas.

For instance, learned women like Maitri and Gargi are known for their intellectual capabilities in the Upanishads. In the Upanishads, women are associated with self-knowledge and equality. The Upanishads emphasize that the search for the soul means the quest for Brahman and that this knowledge is equally accessible to both men and women. Maitri, who is Yajnavalkya's wife, asked profound philosophical questions in the Brahadaranyaka Upanishad, demonstrating that women too were at the forefront of seeking spiritual knowledge. The Upanishads consider women as symbols of nature and power. These teachings inspire women towards self-awareness and self-reliance.

From Sorrow to Strength: The Spiritual Path

The real empowerment of women lies not only in social equality but in spiritual awakening. The Vedas, Upanishads, and Gita give women the right to education, to perform yajnas, and to attain Atma Gyan — knowledge of the Self. Through this knowledge, a woman transcends emotional bondage, fear, and societal constraints. She learns that her true identity is not her body, relations, or appearance — but her soul. When she understands, “I am a soul, not this body,” she gains unshakable inner strength. When the intellect is purified, she becomes calm and fearless. A spiritually awakened woman transforms her home, her environment, and spreads vibrations of peace and love. Wherever such souls live, divinity descends.

Lessons from the Kali Yuga

In the age of Kali, emotional and mental exploitation of women is widespread. Women face constant challenges — in relationships, in society, and even in their pursuit of knowledge. Yet, the solution lies in cultivating inner awareness and stability. The Gita teaches Karma Yoga — to perform one’s duty selflessly. Women can practice meditation, study the scriptures, chant divine names, and engage in service — these purify the mind and elevate consciousness. When women awaken to their inner Shakti, they become the very instruments of divine transformation. Bapuji often says that if even one woman attains self-realization, she can transform the vibrations of her entire environment.

From Witness to Liberator

God did not send souls to Earth to suffer but to liberate others through self-awakening. Before uplifting others, one must first liberate oneself. To do so, one must practice soul-consciousness — becoming aware that “I am an eternal, divine soul, separate from this perishable world.” If we keep reacting to every pain, news, or injustice, our minds will become garbage dumps of sorrow. The way forward is to become a witness, radiate peace, and spread vibrations of Paramshanti (Supreme Peace). These vibrations alone can calm violent tendencies in the world.

Conclusion: The Power Within

True empowerment is spiritual empowerment. The Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, and Puranas together declare that women are not weak; they are Shakti — the creative and sustaining power of the cosmos. By awakening this inner divinity, women can overcome suffering and lead others toward light. Let every woman remember: “I am not this body. I am an immortal soul — pure, peaceful, and powerful.” By living in this awareness, she not only liberates herself but becomes a beacon of peace for all. Let us all spread this knowledge — to our sisters, daughters, and brothers alike — so that no soul remains bound in sorrow. Liberation begins within. When the soul awakens, darkness ends.