The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c12.55

c12.55

Women are by nature more religious and devotional than men. They can visit temples with greater regularity, perform sacred rites with higher faith and submit to religious fasts with more alacrity than men. The Pauranik religion, which came into prominence by *c.* 500 A. D., made ample provisions for the religious requirements of women. As early as the 3rd century B.C., women were already accustomed to perform a number of vows and fasts (*vratas*), which were unknown to Śrutis and Smṛitis. They are referred to by Asoka in his Rock Edict No. IX,² and the *Vivādavatthukathā* refers to a lady, who being anxious to devote herself to some Vrata without being disturbed by her gay husband, paid him some money out of her own Strīdhana, so that he may get his pleasure elsewhere (I, 15). Vratas therefore were quite common even before the beginning of the Christian era. The reorganisers of the Pauranik religion increased their number, spread them evenly over the whole year and invested thein with a moral fervour by associating a number of ethical and edifying stories with them. Hinduism, as it is known to and practised by the masses today, is not the Hinduism of the Śrutis or Sınṛitis, but the Hinduism of the Purāṇas, and women have been its most devoted followers and patrons. Most of the women in society at this time were uneducated and therefore incapable of understanding or appreciating subtle intellectual arguments like those advanced by the Vedānta school. The new religion, however, mostly relied on an appeal to faith and devotion. It therefore appealed to women immensely. Being certain that the sections of society, which were its devoted followers, had an inexhaustible fund of credulity, the writers of Purāṇas, did not take much care to offer a reasonable or rational explanation in every case. Very often virtues were so much exaggerated that they assumed the garb of vice. Vices were sometimes condoned because they were associated with some heroes or demi-gods. Hindu women, who went on performing the Vratas and listening to the stories contained in the Purāṇas, became by temper and training very creduluous and devotional. Most of them became strangers to rationalism based upon discriminative reason under the influence of the new religion. The same, however, was the case with men at this time, if perhaps to a slightly less extent. It however cannot be denied that the continuance of the old religious vein, moral fervour and spiritual tradition is largely due to the zeal, sincerity and devotion of women. Those very women, whom religion had once regarded as outcastes, eventually enabled it to tide over most difficult times.