The word Stri (woman) indicates that she is a composite of the three modes, the three facets of human nature; Sattvika (serene) Rajasika (active) and Tamasika (inert, quiescent) for it has the three sounds of sa ra and tha.

As a consequence of the Sattvika component, woman has fortitude, equanimity, rectitude and godliness. The Rajasika component has endowed her with courage, adventurousness and wilfulness. The Tamasika nature in her resulted in modesty and hesitancy. Of these three, Sattvika is the predominant feature in her. But, it is being suppressed by contrary influence and the Rajasika has been encouraged to prevail. A woman earns renown from what she does; man earns renown from what he desists from doing. Based on what they do, women acquire name and fame. They sustain the home; they mould the nation’s fate. That is the reason why their names are mentioned even before the name of their spouses, Lakshmi-Narayana, Parvati-Parameswara. (SSS Vol.11, pp. 302-303)

The primary quality of Nature, Prakriti is Sattva. Prakriti is called ‘Stri’ made up of the three syllables - Sa, Ta, Ra. The significance of this term is: first of all, you have to take in what is Sattvika, secondly ‘Ta’ implies developing some Tamasika qualities, like submission, humility and modesty. ‘Ra’, representing the Rajo guna, implies that there are occasions in life when some firm resolutions and stern actions will have to be taken. The Rajasika quality comes last and it means that Rajasika actions have to be done as a last resort when they are unavoidable. In the cosmic process it is the Sattvika quality the ‘Sa’ kara or the syllable ‘Sa’ that comes first. Hence the duty of every one is to develop the Sattvika quality in  every aspect-in thought, attitudes, words and deeds. (ICS, p. 109)