The Ardhanarishvara concept symbolises that men and women share the world as equals, says Professor Emeritus

“If each household placed Ardhanarishvara astatine its centre, possibly the subliminal connection would beryllium clear: We stock this satellite arsenic equals,” said M.Y. Manjula, Professor Emeritus astatine Christ University and retired prof successful Psychology, SDM College (Autonomous), Ujire.

Ms. Manjula invoked the philosophical icon Ardhanarishvara, describing it arsenic a awesome of adjacent vigor and complementarity successful her keynote code astatine ‘Nurture the Nurturer’, a nationalist conclave connected women’s wellness organised by Sakshama, Alva’s Women’s Association of Alva’s Education Foundation, and India Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Mangaluru Chapter, astatine Moodbidri connected November 27.

The national of Shiva and Parvati, she argued, is not conscionable devotional creation but a sociocultural reminder — 1 that challenges antheral superiority narratives. Revolving astir patriarchy, taste conditioning, and the intelligence scenery of women crossed developmental stages, her speech was rooted successful humanities enquiry and lived societal experiences. She urged institutions and families to recognise women arsenic adjacent partners successful nine alternatively than secondary participants.

Stating that hormonal flux, restrictive societal norms, misinformation, and assemblage shaming make overwhelming affectional burdens for young girls, Ms. Manjula said, “Nature does not judge successful monoculture. Just arsenic the forests of the Western Ghats thrive successful diversity, quality bodies excessively travel successful galore forms. Yet nine demands uniformity from girls.” Citing research, she said astir 50% of teenagers conflict with assemblage representation dissatisfaction, fuelled by idealised quality standards and societal comparison.

Dietary realignment

Shilpa Varma, main objective nutritionist, BelleVue Multispeciality Hospital, Mumbai, underlined the nexus betwixt metabolic equilibrium and hormonal regulation.

Iron-deficiency anaemia affects 60–70% of women, alongside deficiencies of Vitamin D, B12, iodine and Omega-3. “India is not food-scarce; our priorities of depletion are,“ she said, calling for dietary realignment from adolescence onward.

Stating that hormonal maturation forms the instauration of a woman’s reproductive health, the Obstetrics & Gynecology Head of Department astatine Manipal Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, cautioned against the increasing inclination of mislabelling pubertal irregular periods arsenic polycystic ovary syndrome. Irregular cycles successful the archetypal 2 years of menstruation are normal.

Shraddha Amith, Chief Executive Officer of Kshemavana Bengaluru, said the compulsion for women to follow masculine attributes successful nonrecreational spaces to summation legitimacy has accrued stress, anxiety, and relation conflict. She said women stay under-represented successful leadership, with astir 15% holding apical firm roles globally contempt world excellence. Though paid menstrual permission appears progressive, it whitethorn further reenforce assumptions of workplace inefficiency, she said.

Vivek Alva, managing trustee of Alva’s Education Foundation, Archana Prabath, president of Sakshama, and others were present.