Acharya Prashant was saying, 'Abla life! Hi, this is your story - milk in the mouth and water in the eyes.

Dear woman! Be careful of such bad feelings! The biggest trouble for a woman's life begins with such feelings. You did not get a female body to be a slave to the feelings imposed by the patriarchal society by shedding tears in the conversation.

Patriarchy makes a strange conspiracy to keep women under control, where a woman is suppressed according to the rules he has made, she is called a perfect woman and the tag that suits that perfection is also given, 'Gayjasti Zoho Stree'.

Oh patriarchy! Let women become something in life. Why have you been trying for generations to forcefully plant the false tradition that 'service is the highest religion of women' in the mentality of women? What kind of education do you expect from a child born to a woman who has been enslaved in that way? 

'Dear woman! Build yourself first, that is the first responsibility of human life.

It's one thing to do something for someone in love and it's another thing to do something for someone out of influence or culture. It is good to give something to others, to serve others, but the first responsibility is to oneself. Woman, accept the challenge of the world, work together with a stranger and you will know how powerful you are! How can you give knowledge to the society if you remain culturally disabled like this?'

I was listening to Acharya Prashant. And, I was remembering that moment in my heart - that emotional story of sister Meenakshi becoming a neglected housewife. She was saying– 

style, I married him with hope and beautiful dreams. He was more attractive and more successful than me, but he liked my simplicity. However, after many years, our marriage also saw a change. He kept moving away from me and I felt like I was disappearing from the shadow of our marriage.

He started coming home late from office and could not accept my presence easily. I was busy preparing for him, his favorite dishes, but he started to dislike the taste of food. I, in our solitude, would try to find a way to start a conversation, but he would try to escape from me, putting stress and exhaustion at the forefront.

In his behavior I began to experience myself as a ghost in my own house, invisible and insignificant. So slowly my self-esteem began to decline and I began to doubt my own worth. I thought I was not enough for him. After that, I slowly started to feel an emptiness inside me, which I tried to fill by making new hobbies and many new friends, but the emptiness remained just as deep.

At that moment, I felt like I was drowning in the ocean of neglect without seeing a lifeline. And one day I stood in front of the mirror and tried to find the me of the years. And, in that quest, I first saw myself. That woman looked strong and beautiful, who did not need a man's love, respect and appreciation. After that moment, I took a deep breath and decided – I will not live in that suffocating marriage anymore. I will reclaim to find my true self.  Even to break the story, the right of respect in the world is not for men, nor for women. Neither male nor female, all these are just the names of the body, the names of the sexes. Gender is determined before birth. What did you do when you were born and want honor? When you talk about 'women should be respected', you should know, since you were born in a woman's body, have you done this for your own and her development? This is a matter of course, you are born like a woman! The higher your consciousness, the more respected you are. 

Dear woman! Therefore, from this women's day, let's stop asking for respect in gender relations, because women's empowerment means knowing women's self-awareness. We know that the height of consciousness is called the soul. The higher the level of consciousness, the more he deserves respect. So let's stop giving respect to anyone based on their body, age, gender, economic status. And let's remember the formula of respecting the human body by looking at that consciousness.

That's why I say, dear woman! Your goal in life is to rise higher and higher. Although your situation is weak right now, the momentum should be on the upswing. Because, only a wise woman or mother is able to take her child to the heights of advancement.

Let us remember that outer freedom is of no use, unless we, women, become free from within. A woman is like the moon. As the moon fades away, but its essence remains constant! Yes, even after a woman passes through different stages of life, her inner light, wisdom and compassion remain steadfast. As a tree grows tall, providing shade, shelter and nourishment, a woman stands strong, offering love, care and nourishment to all around her.

Women are like rivers of change, who, though constantly changing, remain true to their essence. A woman flows through life's challenges creating new scenarios and possibilities.

In the Rigveda, Goddess Aditi is said to have given birth to gods and humans along with women. There is another myth of Brahma, which tells the story of the creator god. That myth says that Brahma created woman from his own body.

Women and beauty

Women are talked about as symbols of 'beauty'. It is said that woman is a harmonious blend of physical and inner radiance. But I think that beauty is a burden that a woman carries, a burden that is like a sight to comfort the greedy eye.

So being a woman means being constantly aware of your presence and being held to impossible standards. I know those days, when a simple compliment brightened my whole day. I used to beam with pride at sweet comments about my hair, my smile or my eyes. I almost always stood in front of the mirror, admiring my reflection, feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world. 

But, as time passed, something changed in me. The compliments that once gave me so much joy no longer seemed empty. I began to realize that my self-worth was not tied to external validation and that such artificiality was a weak foundation for building a soul.

All these years I was obsessed with external beauty. So yes today I started questioning my inner beauty standards. And, in response, she became frustrated with the definition of female beauty measured according to social ideals of beauty. Until now I was looking for validation from others just to feel worthy. The more I pondered these topics, the more I found my concept of beauty to be limited.

And, one day while standing in front of the mirror, I realized - female beauty is determined not only by my physical appearance, but by the unique qualities that identify me as a woman. At the time I felt that my passions, strengths, and weaknesses were all contributing milestones to feminine beauty, which is more nuanced and multifaceted than I imagined.

When I looked into my eyes, I saw the beauty of a pure woman, not defined by external standards. However, it arose from the inner radiation of the thought that 'I am a woman'. And, it was very beautiful. It needed no authenticity. But that, though incomplete in itself, was only about my lone female form.

Lately, I've been going through a strange transition, which has changed my standards of feminine beauty. Thus, I have discovered a new and more meaningful way of defining beauty, one that is not seeking validation from others. 

Therefore, dear woman! You too stand in front of the mirror and look at yourself again by changing the way you look at your standards of feminine beauty. I am sure, you will see a changed you, who is more beautiful than you are now. After all, as you/we know, being a woman means fighting for your right to define your beauty, reclaiming the social norms that try to hinder it. And to rise above the noise of the social sphere, to shine above social and family expectations.

Aesthetic Paradox

Modern society is gripped by a strange phenomenon. Women are trapped in a never-ending cycle of beauty in search of recognition and self-worth. And, they prefer to mask physical attractiveness while embracing the glow of inner beauty.

The outer beauty called the mask masterfully created by the cosmetic industry hides the complexity of the soul. It covers the depth of feeling, the sharpness of intellect and the bright light of the soul. The world has been fooled into believing that beautiful fair skin, a toned body and a stylish demeanor are the epitome of femininity. But, alas! It has become a trend. Beneath the cloak of physical feminine beauty is a vast and unknown expanse of inner beauty, there is a beauty that is not bound by the constraints of social expectations, but there is the essence of the feminine being, full of compassion, sympathy and kindness. The beauty of a sharp mind and the beauty of a creative soul are worth something else.

When I was in my teens, obesity began to take hold of me due to hormonal imbalances. I still remember the laughter and whispered jokes. My friends used to make fun of my fatness. Since then, I have been struggling with my obesity. During that trip, I started doubting myself a thousand times and started thinking, 'I am getting uglier day by day because I am fat.' And then suddenly pimples appeared on the face. Like unwanted visitors they just disappeared, leaving scars on my face. What will people say at that moment when they see my situation? How will they react? In fear of that, I became even more antisocial.

But, this was my biggest mistake because just like the waves of the ocean, women's bodies come in different shapes. As each wave is unique, but together they create an alluringly beautiful ocean. Likewise, instead of being ashamed of a woman's body for not conforming to societal beauty standards, it should be embraced for the uniqueness of a woman.

The doll undergoes a beautiful transformation. He has to go through a long and painful process to transform from a butterfly into a free-flying butterfly with amazingly beautiful wings. The beauty of a butterfly is not only in its physical appearance, but in its transformative power and ability to transform. Yes, in the same way, instead of being ashamed and feeling inferior for the body caused by hormones, it is feminism to show some of one's own strength and beauty. Isn't it? 

, many women like myself are disproportionately affected by body shaming, which is perpetuated by societal beauty standards and media representations. Thus, women feel pressured to diet, exercise excessively, or undergo cosmetic treatments to achieve unrealistic beauty. Such standards are, in the future, freeing women to suffer from depression and eating disorders. However, if we look at today's date, a woman should think about 'accepting herself as she is', 'love and self-care' and building herself. Then it is seen that women are moving towards development.  When I think of

body shaming, I remember the old days. That day, when the family arranged my marriage. And, I was expecting to meet my future husband. I was feeling very nervous, anxious and scared that day. Thousands of questions were running in my mind - what if he doesn't like me? Will they consider me 'ugly' after seeing my obesity and facial scars? Amid such doubts and questions, the day of the meeting also approached.

I stood in front of him for the first time, my heart was beating as if it would leave my chest. He looked at me. Eyes suddenly began to scan my face. And he immediately asked, 'Why do you have a black spot on your face?' At that time, his voice seemed to be dripping with contempt. He said again, 'Try to remove this stain first, then we will talk about marriage.' 

Why are women judged in this way by the standards of beauty in the society? Why is the fear of rejection from the patriarchy implanted in our psyche from childhood? Aren't we able to live a free life without fear? So yes, I defy society's standards of beauty. I now try to live with a mindset that transcends aesthetic appreciation. So, on this Women's Day, let's celebrate our inner beauty with a new dimension that defines the beauty standards. 

All these years as a woman I often found myself caught in the trap of societal expectations. I was suffocating under the weight of restrictive assumptions and old beliefs. At the same time, I realized that some issues related to women (menstruation, menopause, wrinkles and decreased sexual pleasure) have been trampled under the feet of the society.

I used to think, in the name of tradition, these natural aspects of women's lives are secret and should be covered with shame. So it must be, that when I experience the natural ebbs and flows of life, my body somehow feels broken, incomplete, or unattractive.

So I say, these social expectations are nothing but an attempt to control and oppress women. However, by perpetuating this restrictive belief, we are essentially telling women that a woman's body is not her own, that her body must conform to unrealistic standards of beauty and behavior in order to be considered worthy. Like

, height 5 feet 8 inches, weight 50 kg, chest 32-34 inches, waist 22-24 inches, skin color clean and without blemishes! Isn't it? But I say, not now. The time has come to break free from these bonds, to reclaim our bodies and lives. We must create a world where menstruation, menopause, wrinkles and the right to sexual pleasure are freely communicated. 

In the mythological period, women were suppressed in the patriarchal society. It was said that a woman has no place to speak in a male society, a woman has no right to know, a woman does not have the freedom to work, a woman does not have the same power as a man, it is not a woman's job to ask for rights, etc. And, the Puranic stream oppressed women in the society.

However, the Vedic period before the Puranic period was different. There was freedom of thought, freedom of conduct, freedom of life, which every woman enjoyed. Vedanta gave women a free voice. Śruti Shastra and Vedanta are beautiful means of understanding women, both of them consider women not only as a body, but as consciousness, which aspires for liberation.