Category:Widow
Theme Analysis
The quotes in this category explain the traditional Vedic perspective on the life, duties, and protection of a widow. In ancient times, the standard of chastity was so profound that a widow would voluntarily embrace the funeral pyre of her husband. However, in the absence of this practice, a widow is expected to live a life of strict austerity, maintaining her devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that a widow is never meant to be independent; she must be protected by her father, her grown son (who acts as the physical representative of the deceased husband), or the state. The category also deeply examines the historical example of Queen Kuntīdevī, who suffered greatly as an early widow but received the supreme protection and favor of Lord Kṛṣṇa, proving that the Lord is the ultimate shelter for the helpless. Furthermore, it addresses the social dangers of war, which creates unwanted population, or varṇa-saṅkara, when widows are left unprotected.
- The Standard of Chastity: In the Vedic tradition, the affection between husband and wife was so strong that a chaste wife would voluntarily follow her husband into death, or otherwise live a life of severe austerity.
- The Definition of a Widow: According to Vedic injunctions, a woman is not strictly considered a widow if she has a grown son, as the son is considered the physical representative and continuation of the father.
- The Necessity of Protection: Women are not meant to be independent. A widow without a grown son must be sheltered by her father, or ultimately given special care and protection by the king or the state.
- The Agony of Kuntīdevī: Queen Kuntīdevī experienced immense suffering due to early widowhood, but her helpless condition attracted the special favor and protection of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- The Aftermath of War: The mass death of men in battle leaves many women as unprotected widows, which historically leads to the pollution of society and the rise of unwanted, varṇa-saṅkara population.
- Spiritual Rules and Regulations: Widows are prescribed specific physical austerities and spiritual observances, such as fasting on ekādaśī and wearing distinct garments, to help them maintain purity and focus on spiritual advancement.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Position and Protection of a Widow.
Pages in category "Widow"
The following 47 pages are in this category, out of 47 total.
1
A
- A faithful wife cannot live without her lord, the husband, and therefore all widows used to voluntarily embrace the burning fire which consumed the dead husband
- A sannyasi is considered to be a dead man civilly, and therefore the wife becomes a civil widow without connection with her former husband
- A widow is a widow only in name if there is a son of her husband existing
- Abhimanyu's widow, Uttara, should have followed the path of her husband, but because she was pregnant, and Maharaja Pariksit, a great devotee of the Lord, was lying in embryo, she was responsible for his protection
- After the Battle of Kuruksetra, after all the sons and grandsons of Dhrtarastra died in battle, all the wives of the family were obliged to loosen their hair as widows
- All the wives of the Kuru family became widows because of Duhsasana's insulting a great devotee of the Lord
- Anyone who cannot collect money, they should go to Mayapur and live there and simply eat and sleep, like women and widows. I shall arrange for their eating and sleeping
- Arjuna visited Dvaraka, and all the widow wives of Lord Krsna lamented before him. He took them all in the presence of Vasudeva and pacified all of them
- As far as my daughter-in-law Kunti is concerned, upon the great General Pandu's death, she became a widow with many children, and therefore she suffered greatly. And when you were grown up she suffered a great deal also because of your actions
B
- Because of this (son-in-law of Sarvabhauma criticized Caitainya while He was eating sumptuously), Sathi's mother cursed him by praying that Sathi would become a widow. In other words, she cursed her son-in-law to die
- Being now alone and a widow in that forest, the daughter of Vidarbha began to lament, incessantly shedding tears, which soaked her breasts, and crying very loudly
- Bhismadeva was the most affectionate grandfather of the Pandavas and caretaker of the widow daughter-in-law Kuntidevi
- By the woman's dress, one will understand who is she - whether she is living with her husband, whether she is widow, whether she is unmarried, or whether her husband is out of home, or whether she is prostitute. The culture is so nice, simply by the dress
D
- Dear Lord, You are a learned teacher. Why then don't You consider that this boy is the son of a widowed brahmani? Why are You so affectionate to him
- Due to Pandu's death at an early age his minor children & widow were the object of special care by all the elderly members of the family especially Bhismadeva and Mahatma Vidura. He was more or less partial to the Pandavas due to their political position
H
- He (Arjuna) argued, - No, no. If I fight, my people will die, and their wives will become widow, and they will be adulterated, and then, by adulteration, unwanted population will increase, and who will offer sraddha
- He (Sankaracarya) was born of a widow; therefore he was not accepted in the society. So when his mother died, he called for the neighbors to help him for the funeral ceremony. Nobody came to help him, because he was considered a bastard
- He (Vasudeva) had special attention for Kunti because she became a widow at an early age. While inquiring about Vasudeva's welfare, Vidura remembered all about him and the family relationship
I
- I (Krsna) have heard that after King Pandu's death, his young sons - Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva - along with their widowed mother, have come under the charge of Dhrtarastra, who is to look after them as their guardian
- I don't know who has given you this idea of shaving your head and wearing white garments. In India only the widows are allowed to shave head. I have never suggested your husband to take to Sannyas
- If she (a woman) has no grown-up sons she must go back to her father and live as a widow under his protection. It appears that Kamsa had no grown-up sons. Therefore, after his wives became widows they returned to the shelter of their father
- In the absence of such a husband (as Maharaja Pandu), it was almost impossible for Kunti to live on even as a widow, but she had to do it for the sake of the five children
- Indeed, divorce has now become a common affair, although formerly one's marriage would continue lifelong, & the affection between husband & wife was so great that the wife would voluntarily die when her husband died or remain widow throughout entire life
- It is a prejudice among smarta-brahmanas that a widow must observe fasting on Ekadasi but a woman who is sa-dhava - who has her husband - should not. It appears that before Lord Caitanya’s request, Sacimata, being sa-dhava, was not observing Ekadasi
- It is said in the Vedic scriptures, atmaiva putro jayate: the husband's body is represented by the son. Strictly speaking, a woman is never widowed if she has a grown son
- It is said that the father himself becomes the son in another form. The father and son are therefore considered to be nondifferent. A widow who has her son is actually not a widow, because she has the representative of her husband
O
- One can understand by seeing the dress that she is unmarried girl. One can see simply by the dress that she is married wife. One can see by the dress that she is widow. One can see by the dress that she is prostitute. So dress is so important
- One whose son dies tries to enjoy the possessions of his son. Sometimes the father of a dead son even enjoys his son's widow. Materialistic persons behave in this way
S
- Since Maharaja Pandu, the father of the five brothers headed by Maharaja Yudhisthira, had died, Bhismadeva was the most affectionate grandfather of the Pandavas and caretaker of the widow daughter-in-law Kuntidevi
- So according to Vedic culture, if one woman has got son, she is not considered to be widow. Widow means one who hasn't got husband or husband is dead. So if the husband's representative is there, so, strictly speaking, she is not widow
- Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the system that a woman, even if not a widow, must observe the Ekadasi day and must not touch any kind of grains, even those offered to the Deity of Visnu
T
- That is Vedic culture, to create responsible man, not varna-sankara. Therefore Arjuna was very much afraid that - After war the women will be widows. They will be polluted, and varna-sankara population will come out
- The bogus saviors do not care for bona fide knowledge received from qualified brahmanas and Vedic sources. Their only business is indulging in sex and recommending sexual freedom even for widows
- The gopis said, "If we accept You (Krsna) as our ultimate husband, then there is no question of being separated, divorced or widowed"
- The king would give special protection to illiterates, the helpless and widows of the state. Defense measures were arranged previous to any attack by the enemies
- The sufferings of Kuntidevi are doubly lamented. She suffered greatly because of early widowhood and to get her minor children brought up in the royal family
- They'll make propaganda. "Why stop her sense gratification? Let her marry again, widow marriage." Why widow marriage? If there is voluntarily giving up begetting any more child, to avoid husband, why the widow marriage bill is introduced?
- This (Kuntidevi was shown far more favor) was done because Devaki's husband, Vasudeva, was living, whereas Kuntidevi was a widow, and there was none to help her except Krsna
- This prophecy of Narada Muni to Maharaja Yudhisthira forbade him to go to his widowed aunt
W
- When Sathi's mother, the Bhattacarya's wife, heard of this incident, she immediately began to strike her head and chest, saying again and again, "Let Sathi become a widow"
- When the male members are killed, the female members become widow, and they, their character becomes polluted. So many things Krsna will speak about this family life
- Widow means one who hasn't got husband or husband is dead. So if the husband's representative is there, strictly speaking, she is not widow