What does Gurbani say about the status of women?

Question

Accepted Answer

“From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.” (Guru Nanak, Ang 473) “So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.” (Guru Nanak, Ang 473) “Women and men, all the men and women, all came from the One Primal Lord God.” (Guru Ramdas, Ang 983) “Among all the women and the men, His Light is shining. ||3||” (Guru Nanak, Ang 223) “Says Kabeer, listen, O men and women: seek the Sanctuary of the One.” (Bhagat Kabir, Ang 1349) These lines present women as neither socially contemptible nor spiritually inferior. Guru Nanak in Raag Aasaa on Ang 473 points to humanity’s dependence on women—birth, conception, engagement and marriage—and explicitly asks why she should be called bad. Guru Ramdas in Raag Nat Naaraayan on Ang 983 gives the broader theological frame: women and men alike come from the One. Guru Nanak in Raag Gauree on Ang 223 says the divine Light shines among all women and men. Bhagat Kabir in Raag Prabhaatee on Ang 1349 addresses men and women together and directs both toward the Sanctuary of the One. Taken together, the selected lines reject denigration based on sex and affirm a shared origin, divine presence and spiritual path.

What does Gurbani say about the status of women?

More questions people ask