Religion and women participation: A study of Sri Sathya Sai center Lauhakilthali

Abstract

The study “Religion and Women Participation: A study of Sri Sathya Sai Center Lauhakilthali” is a focus on theoretical concept and perspectives of spirituality, and women participation in spiritual organization. The research problem of the study is how women devotee are participating and using their agency in the organization. And main objectives of the study were to identify the cause of women participation in religious organization and to assess the status and role of the women in the organization. Therefore, to meet this objectives, mostly primary and qualitative data were used. Primary data were collected through in-depth interview, participant observation and case studies. Sample size of the study was 19 which were purposively selected. Respondents are familiar to the word dharma. The birth place of dharma is the heart. What emanates from the heart as pure idea, when translated into action will be called dharma. If you have to be told in a manner that you can understand, one can say, do unto others as you want them to do unto you. That is dharma. Dharma means avoiding actions which would hurt others. The fundamental purpose of religion is human transformation. “When the individual is good, the family becomes harmonious, when families are harmonious, the society is stable. When societies are stable, the nation thrives; when nations thrive the whole world is transformed. Hence transformation begins with the individual.” In this organization woman coordinator is compulsion in structure with great respect. It is the inclusion with prescribed role and status. Saint Valmiki described woman as the embodiment of devotion and sacrifice who has the access to the inner most apartments while the embodiment of knowledge male has access to the audience hall of the mansion. Bhagwad Gita says that women has seven qualities, fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness while man has only three. Religious mindset of women made them participate in religion. The status and role in organization is respectable. The activities of organization for developing skill and good company made them participate. The importance of devotional singing which is easy and favorable is the main reason of participation.