Nourished in her womb, born of her, he is betrothed and married to a woman.
With her you get friendship and through her does civilization originate.
When she dies you seek another for through her does the household continue.
Why call her low from whom kings are born?
From one woman is another born; none can be born without her.
(Guru) Nanak says only God has originated without her.
That face is fortunate and as beautiful as a jewel which praises Him.
Such a face will be bright in God's court.
-Guru Nanak (GGS p. 473)

Women's Status
In nearly every society the woman has been treated as a second class citizen. Elaborate myths and legends have been developed by men to degrade and vilify the woman. In Western religions the woman is supposedly the cause of the fall from grace for man. In the great Indian mythology of Mahabharat the heroes of the legend, the Pandavas, lost their wife Draupadi in a card game! She was offered after their other valuables, like gold and land, had been lost in the gambling game.

When the wife is treated as the property of the man, there is no possibility of a joyous family life. The husband who strikes his wife, or abuses her emotionally, or insults her by having a mistress is failing himself and his family. In the past, when women had few recourses, such a family could remain intact, although at great emotional cost to all living in it. But with the emerging power and self-confidence of women such families are doomed.

Empowered Women
The Sikh concept of miri piri...valor and spirituality...has been exemplified by countless Sikhs. Both women and men have lived lives that exemplify the saint-soldier. Most remarkable is the role of Sikh women. Today Sikh women are physicians, scientists, business owners, and educators. Guru Nanak
has called woman `friend, companion, originator of civilization.' Guru Gobind Singh gave the privilege of the kirpan to both women and men. Women quickly demonstrated that they were equal to men in spirituality and in wielding the sword! Here is a quick glimpse of some of these outstanding women
from Sikh history.

• Mata Nanaki was Guru Nanak's sister and perhaps the first Sikh. She played a vital role in sustaining and spreading Guru Nanak's spiritual message.

• Mata Khivi was Guru Angad Dev's wife and she occupies a special place in Sikh history. She played
a critical role in the second Guru's life. Her most important contribution is that she made the concept of langar...community kitchen...a reality. A place where the rich and poor, people of all castes and races
can sit together for a simple meal is still rarity, except at langar.

• Mata Sundri was Guru Gobind Singh's wife. She nurtured and guided the Khalsa for forty years after the Guru's death. She was deeply spiritual, as well as intellectual, and was responsible for making scholarship a central part of Sikh life.

• Mai Bhago is perhaps the finest example of valor and spirituality in human history. When Sikhs deserted Guru Gobind Singh and left him at Anandpur Sahib, Mai Bhago infused them with courage.
She brought them to the momentous battle of Muktsar where the Sikhs defeated the pursuing Mughal army. Mai Bhago, wearing a beautiful high turban, fought side by side with Guru Gobind Singh.

• Rani Sada Kaur is aptly described as a first woman commander-in-chief. She became a young widow when her husband was killed in battle. She used this crisis to transform herself into a woman-warrior, donning a high turban and battlefield garb with full weaponry. She commanded numerous battles and eventually laid the foundation for the Sikh empire. Maharaja Ranjit Singh was her son-in-law and his
later successes were primarily due to Rani Sada Kaur's military and political strategies.

• Rani Jinda, married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was the first female freedom fighter in the struggle to oust the British from India. After Ranjit Singh's death, through guile, bribery and battles, the British annexed the Punjab. Rani Jinda's
bold speeches and writings rattled the British who jailed her in Punjab, Nepal, Calcutta and finally, England, where she died in 1863 at the age of forty-six. She had already sown the seeds of the freedom struggle in India.