The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c13.80

c13.80

A vast majority of jurists from early times lay down that Strīdhana should devolve upon daughters. It usually consisted of ornaments and clothes, which could be used by women alone; so it was deemed to be in the fitness of things that they should be inherited by daughters. It is true that if they had devolved upon sons, their wives could very well have utilised the articles concerned. But women feel a greater affection for their daughters than for their daughters-in-law, and this circumstance determined the line of the succession. Among daughters, unmarried ones were to be preferred to married ones, and among the latter, the first claim was of those who were not well-to-do¹. This devolution is governed just by those principles, which would appeal to an impartial and affectionate mother. In some schools, if there were no daughters living, the Strīdhana devolved upon daughter's daughters. Such cases, however, were few in practice.