Female Pundit Wants Women, Girls To Wear Proper Attire
Saraswati Sharma had no second thoughts when asked to become a Hindu pundit.
Believed to be the only female pundit in Vanua Levu she has made a request for women and girls to wear appropriate dressing to the temple to show respect to God.
“There are many devotees who enter the temple with improper wear and I myself place a scarf over their head or arms advising them to maintain culture and tradition at all times,” Ms Sharma said.
‘I believe in speaking the truth and acting what is written in the holy scriptures and nothing more than that.”
The 55-year-old originally from Lagalaga, Macuata province serves as pundit at the Shri Sanatan Dharam Maha Shakti Durga Mandir in Bulileka, Labasa.
She has been performing the normal role of a pundit for more than three years at the temple.
Ms Sharma said while she was serving as a Hindu devotee at the Firewalking Temple at Vunivau, Labasa the committee for the Bulileka Temple requested her for assistance.
“I immediately left everything and started the work of pundit in this temple and it is an honour and privilege,” Ms Sharma said.
“I perform all kinds of rituals and ceremony that any pundit performs.”
Her late husband, Krishna Dutt Sharma was a pundit and taught her everything.
“I decided to become a pundit because it was always my dream that when I reach an old age I would devote my life to serve God.
“All those who come to this temple call me Maa (mother),” the mother of three children said.
“I do not feel any different from being a female and performing the role of pundit which is normally done by a male.
‘No one has criticised me since I took up this role.”
The temple is run by a committee, which has both male and female members.
“I only studied till Year Five at Daku Indian Primary School in Labasa because my parents were poor and couldn’t afford to pay for my education,” she said.
“We were 14 siblings in the family and I was the middle one. My advice to everyone is to serve God with a true heart.
Edited by Percy Kean
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