The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c8.24

c8.24

The principle of the absolute identity of the interests of the couple followed as a natural corollary from the recognition of the fact that the husband and the wife are the complements of each other. 'Man is only one half,' says a Vedic passage, 'he is not complete till he is united with a wife and gives birth to children¹. The wise have observed, says Manu, that the husband is identilcal with the wife and vice versa². It was therefore natural that the happiness of each should be regarded as depending upon the other. If there was complete harmony between the two, the house would be a heaven, if there was discord, it would be a hell³. Wife is the keystone of the arch of the husband's happiness. The house may be full of sons, daughters and daughters-in-law; but it is quite empty to a person if his wife is not there to supervise over it⁴. She is the surest solace to the husband, however trying his worries and miseries may be¹. She is the only friend, who never forsakes him in adversity. You may be in a forest, still your comfort is assured if your wife is by your side ; in fact a home without a wife is a forest². Wife alone is the husband's truest 'friend, counsel and companion³. Without her he cannot go to heaven either ; so, at the time of the symbolical ascent to heaven in the sacrificial ritual he has to wait till his wife comes to accompany him⁴.