Puranas - Exploring Psychology of men and women

The two jokes below have been recycled many times in social networks. Still they don't bore you, do they? Always brings a smile to your face. However the underlying theme has been explored beautifully long ago in Hindu Puranas.

Joke 1

Wife's Diary:
Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much. I asked him what was wrong; He said, 'Nothing.' I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.
On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, 'I love you , too.' When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep; I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else.
My life is a disaster.

Husband's Diary:
Bike won't start. Don't know what's wrong.

Joke 2

How to keep wife happy . . . .!
It's really not difficult to make a wife happy. A husband only needs to be:

1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a man
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a charmer
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a bug exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. Very clean
24. Sympathetic
25. Athletic
26. Warm
27. Attentive
28. Gallant
29. Intelligent
30. Funny
31. Creative
32. Tender
33. Strong
34. Understanding
35. Tolerant
36. Prudent
37. Ambitious
38. Capable
39. Courageous
40. Determined
41. True
42. Dependable
43. Passionate
44. Compassionate

AND, WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:

45. Give her compliments frequently
46. Love shopping
47. Be honest
48. Be very rich
49. Never stress her
50. Never look at other women!

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:

51. Give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. Give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. Give her lots of space

AND, VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:

* birthdays
* anniversaries
* her favorite color
* her favorite flower
* her favorite gem
* her favorite fragrance
* her favorite memories
* her favorite holidays
* her favorite friends
* her favorite vacation destinations
* her favorite beverage
* her favorite food
* her favorite restaurant
* any arrangements she makes
---------------------
And Now,

HOW TO MAKE HUSBAND HAPPY

Just leave him alone.....with his TV remote and mobile phone...and his favourite drink.....And he'll be just fine...

_________________

Both jokes depict men as simple, less worrying and probably a recluse, while the women as complex, more worrying and demanding high attention.

This theme is very much explored in our Shiva - Parvathi puranas.

Shiva is a recluse and a wandering ascetic. Likes to withdraw himself and spend time meditating. His abode Kailash is covered with snow. When you withdraw things get frozen. There is inaction. Shiva for the most part doesn't like to engage with the world. His attire is also simple. Doesn't care much. (Shiva enjoys bhang  ). Even the prasadham of a Shiva temple is likely to be simple ☺.

Parvathi on the other hand is demanding. She wants Shiva to engage with the world. She makes him to. She is not ascetic. She is decked with lots of jewellery. She makes Shiva adorn jewellery and dress up nicely for the wedding. She wants him to engage with the world to keep the world going. Withdrawing freezes things. Stagnation causes decay. It is action that keeps the world going.

Shiva's way of dealing is non confrontation. He doesn't care about being invited by Daksha. He gives a damn about it. He suggests Parvathi the same. But Parvathi takes it head  on. She cannot remain silent or nonchalant about what's happening. And we know what happened next. Her action compels Shiva to engage.

In short, women worrying about things, being a bit nagging is part of nature's plan to keep the world going, sustain and propagate life. Else life stagnates/freezes.
So chill and stop worrying about women. They are in fact helping the world to sustain.

Credits: The Shiva-Parvathi theme is from Devdutt Patnaik's 7 Secrets of Shiva. The jokes are from internet. Connecting the two (of course) is my idea.

Update:

The post received a warm response in twitter. Here is a snapshot.