The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c12.5

c12.5

Child bearing was regarded as the special function of women, and evil spirits were believed, to be very anxious to visit them during their periods to prevent conception. In the Vedic age brides were grown up in marriage and its consummation took place usually on the 4th day. One Vedic stanza in the marriage hymn prays that the bride should have no evil eye, and hopes that she would not be the cause of the sudden death of her husband¹. We can understand this strange prayer only if we note the belief of the early times that evil spirits, haunting the person of the bride, render her touch and sight very dangerous to her husband. One stanza of the marriage hymn expressly refers to a female spirit taking possession of the bride and attempting to do harm to her husband through her person¹. The prayer, above referred to, praying that the bride may not be the cause of her husband's death is a magical formula intended to immunise the husband from the possible consequences of his contact with the evil spirits, haunting his bride at the time of the menstruation and consummation.