Acharya Prashant explains that organized religion is a human construct, specifically created by men to suit their convenience and maintain power. Historically, as humanity transitioned from forests to agriculture, physical strength became the primary source of energy. Since men possessed greater muscular strength and women were often occupied with frequent pregnancies and childcare in an era without contraception, men established dominance. This physical advantage allowed men to create rules, doctrines, and social structures that favored them, leading to the systematic exploitation of women from the very inception of organized religion. He highlights how various religious myths and scriptures across cultures have portrayed women as the source of evil or suffering. Examples include Eve in the Bible, Pandora in Greek mythology, and Lilith, all of whom are depicted as responsible for humanity's downfall or as figures who must be controlled. In India, while the Vedas mention some female sages, the subsequent Smritis, like the Manusmriti, imposed severe restrictions on women's independence. Even in Buddhism and Jainism, historical biases existed regarding women's spiritual capacity or rights within the monastic order. These narratives have instilled a sense of ancestral guilt in women, reinforcing patriarchal control. Acharya Prashant argues that most traditional religions view women primarily as bodies, focusing excessively on their reproductive organs, virginity, and physical appearance. This male gaze is reflected in religious laws concerning menstruation, dress codes, and inheritance. He points out the irony that women are often the most devout followers of the very religions that have historically oppressed them through practices like witch-hunting, Sati, and honor killings. He asserts that these organized religions are not derived from Truth but from the male mind's desire to possess and control women as property and power plants for producing heirs. In contrast, he presents Vedanta as the only true friend of women. Vedanta declares that the individual is not the body but pure consciousness, which has no gender. It rejects all forms of discrimination based on physical attributes. He encourages women to move away from folk religions and superstitious myths toward the wisdom of the Upanishads. By realizing the truth that they are the highest reality, women can transcend the identity of being a mere body and reclaim their dignity as consciousness. He concludes that unless there is an internal shift in understanding, external empowerment will remain superficial.
