Status of Women in Ancient India

Evidences are available about the worship of the mother goddess in the ancient Indus valley civilization of India. At that time mother was worshipped. Women had respectable place within the society during the Rig Vedic period. The success of religious ceremonies has earned them respect.

Young girls' education has been seen as a significant marriage qualification. In Vedic literature, there are references that in the Kshatriya society, women were entitled to choose their own life partner, known as 'Swayamvara.' The dowry system had been unknown in Rig Vedic society. The idea of marriage as a gift has, however, been prevalent. Monogamy was the common norm of society and during this period Bigamy was still in norm, but it was only in the aristocratic classes. In her house of laws the wife had been valued. The woman had engaged in her husband's sacrificial offerings.[1]

However, since the son performed the last rites and continued the succession, the women were expected to bear daughters, as a patriarchal structure. Widows were able to re-marry under certain circumstances. Female morality maintained a high standard while the husband had not expected the same degree of fidelity. Divorce was not practiced in this period. The Rig Veda says the widow was entitled to marry her husband's brother again. Unmarried daughters had right on her father's property but this right was not granted to married daughters, according to Rig Veda.

Gradually, the priests were gradually performing religious rituals, which culminated in the weakening of the authoritative role of women in the household. Later, in the Upanishad Era, the marriage 'anuloma' system predominated during that time, i.e., marriage between a higher caste male and a lower caste female.

The bride was expected to be over 15 or 16 years old, at mature age. The elaborate rituals suggest that marriage was seen as a sacred bond rather than a contract. The women had a respectable place in the Community.

She had been allowed to sing, dance and enjoy life. Sati was not commonly prevalent but in some situations Widow Remarriage was allowed.

All in all, the Dharma-sutras take a lenienter approach than a later age's Smritis. The 'Apastamba' imposes various penalties on a husband who forsakes his wife unjustly. On the other hand, only penance must be done by a wife who forsakes her husband In case her father didn't marry an adult girl at a proper time, after three years of waiting she could choose her husband. The most pleasing characteristic of this time was the presence of women teachers, who possessed strong awareness of the spirit. 

As was the case in all patriarchal societies during that period, a daughter's birth was not welcome. The son was living with his parents, making money for the family, defending the family from enemies and perpetuating the family name. The Ramayana along with the Mahabharata and the Puranas form India's epic literature. Women's position slowly declined not only within society but within the family as well. The lack of education and the decline in marriage age had a negative effect on the woman's position.

 

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[1] Kumari, Ranjana, “Introduction” in Friedrich Elbert Stiftung (ed.), Women in Politics-Forms and Processes1-13 (Har-Anand Publications, New Delhi, 1996).