Hijab / Purdah in Hindu Vedas

Excerpts from Dr. Zakir Naik’s response to a question on Hijaab: [You may want to see the 9 min Video, atleast the last 4 mins]

Rig Veda Book no. 8 Hymn no. 33 V. no. 19

When Brahma has made you a woman, you should lower your gaze and should not look up. You should put your feet together and you should not reveal what the garment and the veil conceals

So the Rig Veda says that the woman should wear the veil. They should lower their gaze and should not stare.

It is further mentioned in Rig Veda Book no. 10 Hymn no. 85 V. no.30

Unlovely is the person is the husband who covers his thighs with the garment of his wife

So the Rig Veda says that wearing the clothes of the opposite sex (cross dressing) is prohibited.

It is further mentioned in the Mahavir Charitra Act 2 Page 71 that When Purshuram comes, Rama tells his wife Sita that “He is our elder, please lower your gaze, and put on the veil”

Rama tells his wife Sita to put on the veil and to lower her gaze.

If you read the historical books that talk about the Coin Age (Gupta and the post-Gupta period), you will see coins on which there are pictures of Indain woman wearing the veils. And the veils cover their shoulders, and some go upto the arms. There are many Indian woman in the villages who wear the veils, some of the woman even cover their faces

Youtube: Hindu Women Questions Dr. Zakir Naik about Hijab (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp5ORAqZIlA)

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Feedback: There was a comment on the accuracy on these translations by Dr. Naik. Unfortunately, it was written in hyperbole language. I wish people can write without emotion-laden words, so that discussions stay on topics, and not get personal. I approved a ping-back from another post/blog that only deals with the topic.

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