The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2700 page)

, they are ritually impure and a source of impurity (and therefore, e.g., not to study or recite
mantras
): their husbands are their
gurus
, and their domestic duties are their rituals. Their devotion to their husbands is their highest good (especially if consummated in
sat
), and yet, according to
Manusm
ti
2. 213 f., they are incapable of achieving absolute devotion. Nevertheless, at the same time, feminine images of the divine are more obvious in Hinduism than in other religions (with the possible, but limited, exception of devotion to
Mary
in Christianity, where she is only associated with the divine). Even then, goddesses usually appear as consorts with male gods, and are beneficial in co-operation with them, otherwise being, in general, destructive. Women are prominent in myths, and in life they have been even more prominent in
bhakti
(devotion to God). Women are recognized by Hindus as a source of immense power, but they remain, nevertheless, firmly under patriarchal control.
Buddhism
The
Buddha's
attitude towards women was not radically different from that of his contemporaries: for those pursuing the religious life, women are a temptation and a snare; but in the context of lay society, the role of women as wives and mothers was crucial to the stability of the social order. The Buddha frequently cautioned monks to be on their guard when dealing with women lest they be overcome by lust and craving.
However, from the outset women were allowed to become nuns, although with more severe rules imposed on them. Regarding the role of women in lay life the Buddha upheld the traditional values of his time.
Jainism
The status of women in relation to enlightenment is a specific issue between
Digambaras
and
vet
mbaras, with the latter regarding gender as usually irrelevant: see
DIGAMBARA
.
Sikhism
The recurring image in the
di Granth
of the soul offering itself to God as a chaste woman surrenders to her husband reveals the traditional relationship. In accordance with the ideal of
grahast
, Sikhs are expected to marry, and motherhood is an honoured role. Sikh teaching condemned the once prevalent practices of female infanticide and
sat
. Women participate in
gurdw
r
worship
and are prominent in preparing
Gur
-k
la
gar