The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c13.56

c13.56

Let us now consider the extent of the power which women possessed over their Strīdhana. We have no discussion about this point in early works. Vedic literature, for instance, is silent as to whether the wife could dispose of her property (Pāriṇāhaya) without her husband's permission. As secular law and its literature developed in course of time, the question began to be discussed by jurists. Early Smṛiti writers were not prepared to invest the woman with full powers over her Strīdhana. Manu, for instance, declares that a wife ought not to alienate even her own property without her husband's sanction¹. In course of time it was felt that this prohibition was not equitable. With a view to be fair to all the parties, later jurists divided Strīdhana into two categories, *saudāyika* and *asaudāyika*. Free gifts of affection given by relations like the father, the mother, or the husband were included in the first category² and were declared to be under the complete control of women¹. The rest of the Strīdhana was *asaudāyika* Strīdhana; women could not alienate it, but only enjoy its usufruct during their life time.