The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c13.70

c13.70

We have seen above that there was a school of jurists which was opposed to the recognition of the amplified definition of Strīdhana. The main reason for this was not its hostility to the rights of women, but the peculiar mode of devolution of the Strīdhana property. If this property had devolved upon the next heirs of the husband, it is quite probable that all the jurists would have agreed to the amplification of Strīdhana proposed by Vijñāneśvara. As will be soon shown, Stridhana however used to devolve usually either upon female heirs or upon the parents or brothers of women. So the Strīdhana property usually went out of the husband's family. The joint family institution was naturally opposed to a course, which was calculated to diminish its resources.