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tale. The reference is a true description of the in-
separable nature of the husband and wife. The
husband and wife are the two banks of the hoWlet
hOlnsi-ierr"--rr
. t at is u an over ownin11r water,
?....
sign' }ring the offspring from which the national and
social fields receive their irrigation to keep them ever
fresh and green, and at the same time providing flowers
and fruit in abundance.
The warp
(alai)
and woof (wmt)
The husband and wife are the interwoven threads
of a fabric with the husband being the warp and the
wife, the woof. The body is the fabric made up of the
warp and woof. The
Alma
clothed in this fabric is
called the son. It is difficult to say which, between
the warp and woof, has the greater importance. It
could only be said that the one is the complement and
support of the other. When the woof becomes inter-
woven it forms the fabric which is used for all forms
of clothing, sheets and rugs. The wife naturally
surrenders herself to her lord and husband and in it
she finds her true blessings. She cannot separate her
individuality for that would be a crime. She has to
surrender her wealth, desire and rites into that which
belongs to her husband. This is her rightful position.
Lord Manu has also sounded this note: W
r-cl'ffi,trnjfff
Na stri swatantrayamarhati.
Heaven and earth
In the Vedas the description by the Divine Poet of
the union between husband and wife is unique. Just
a moment ago the bridegroom himself, during the
course of the wedding ceremony, uttered these words,
"I am heaven; you are the earth. As these two face
each other and are drawn towards one another at all
times, so shall we be attracted towards each other".
At the altar of the ceremony the two were brought