A Long Journey POTD

"a long walk to reach my destination. I am still walking!" By Poet It was a long journey ... a long walk to reach my destination. I am still walking! born in a country of ancient civilization, of Vedas, of teachings of Buddha, Thousands of years of spiritual heritage, but a country which regained freedom from one hundred years of foreign rule.. excited, ecstatic, full of enthusiasm… A new day was in view. for women - in the land of Gargi, Maitreyee, Lopamudra - learned spiritual leaders and poetesses of Vedic hymns - society was still closed, women were denied the power to decide their path, shape their life, or express their opinions, aspirations, or feelings! my movement was restricted my feelings were restrained, my freedom of speech and pursuit of knowledge impeded! mine, and of many women like me. creativity is the open sky which allowed me to express my emotions and feelings unhindered, Like an open-winged falcon I glided in the endless blue, soared high in the infinity. My turbulent journey created a new woman! The more challenging the obstacles were, the stronger I was altered... into a new identity. From a demure, soft-spoken, bashful girl, progressively transforming into a strong, resolute, determined, soul. created myself ~ with bits and pieces, from multi-hued fragments of my life. A metamorphosis for a human entity! My journey is a journey of finding freedom ~ finding a distinctive voice of expression... for myself, and for many others. References: The Vedas are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism (Wikipedia) The Basic Teachings of Buddha which are core to Buddhism are: The Three Universal Truths; The Four Noble Truths; and • The Noble Eightfold Path. Women of the Vedic period (circa 1500-1200 BCE), were epitomes of intellectual and spiritual attainments. The Vedas have volumes to say about these women (Gargi, Maitreyee, Lopamudra and many more) who not only complemented and supplemented their male partners, but dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and the study of the Vedas. They were paragons of intellectual proficiency, natural philosophy, spiritual enlightenment and composed many of the Vedic hymns. They were Rishikis–female sages–in their own rights and were revered as teachers, doctors and theorists. March 20, 2022 For "Just Give Me A New Poem" Poetry Contest Theme: Journey Sponsor: Constance La France FIRST PLACE POEM OF THE DAY - March 23, 2022