Women in Ancient India

 The position of women was not identical throughout ancient period. But mostly the woman leads a good life under the tutelage of her parents, husband or sons. The early law books treated the women as equivalent to the Sutra. Manu, also said that gods live in joy where women are revered and if a husband abandoned the wife without sufficient reason, he should be expelled from the caste by the ruler. The high esteem in which the wife was held during the Vedic age is evidence from the fact that she was considered the half that completed the husband.

The wife assisted the husband not only in his duties and both were supposed to keep the household fire burning. No religious rites and rituals could be performed without the wife. In addition to an important position in the family the women actively participated in the various social activities. This is confirmed by the ancient Indian sculptures in which women was shown with their husbands in a number of religious and secular functions.

The women also took active part in the religious activities, though they could not officiate as priests. In the literary sphere also the women made valuable contribution. Some of the Vedic hymns and a number of Buddhist hymns are ascribed to the Buddhist nuns. In Brhudaranyaka Upanishad we are told about the learned lady Gargi, Vaca, Knavi, who held discussions with Yajnavalkya and nonplussed him with her searching questions. Another scholar Mastery, wife of Yajnavalkya, also participated in the learned discourses. Unlike, the medieval and modern times women were-encouraged to learn singing, dancing and other arts like painting and garland- making.

The Rig-Veda tells us that young men and unmarried girls mixed freely and we do not find any instances of unnecessary restrictions on the married women. However, Arthashastra says that the kings kept their womenfolk in seclusion. In the Tamil literature also we get a number of references to show that girls of good class and marriageable age visited temples and took part in the festivals without guardians. The early sculptures also confirm this impression. In short we can say that women enjoys the freedom but there were certain restrictions in some field.

One of the chief duties of the women was to bear children and to rear them up. In view of the odious duties the women were exempted from duties concerning moral purification or spiritual advancement. Manu says, "The women, destined to bear children as they are, are possessed of the highest excellence, are worthy of worship and brighten up the household with their radiance in the homes the wives are veritable goddesses of fortune, with no difference whatsoever. The begetting of offspring, the nurture of those born and carrying out of the daily duties are possible because of the wife as we see before our eyes. Offspring, the due discharge of religious duties, faithful service, highest conjugal happiness, and besides, heavenly bliss for the fathers and for one's own self, all these things are .absolutely dependent on the wife".

The women observed high standard of morality. The women were permitted to have personal property in the form of jewellery and clothing. The Arthashastra permits women to have money up to 2000 silver pannas.

The amounts in excess of this limit were held by the husband as a trust on behalf of the wife. The property of women could be used by the husband only in case of dire necessity. He could also exercise check on his wife if she want only to give away her property. After the death of a woman the property passed to the daughters (not to the husband or the sons). When there were no sons, the widow inherited the property of the husband.

Thus we find that the position of women in ancient India was good.The women were to be well fed and cared for and provided with all possible luxuries according to the means of the husband. The wives were not to be beaten or maltreated for the God did not accept the sacrifice of a man who beats his wife.