The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c14.s2.65

c14.s2.65

Late medieval period, *c.* 1200-1800 A. D., was the most conservative one in the history of Hindu customs and institutions. It, however, can claim the credit of attempting to extend the widow's powers over her estate in one direction. We have seen above how down to *c.* 1200 A. D., jurists were unwilling to concede to the widow the right to alienate her estate. Writers of legal digests after that date are seen to encourage the tendency to recognise this right under certain circumstances. There was a text of Bṛihaspati which, as pointed out already, permitted the widow to gift away a portion of her property for religious and spiritual purposes¹. Medieval writers like Devaṇabhaṭṭa and Nīlakaṇṭha particularly emphasise on this right. The former states that when sale or mortgage of the immoveable property was prohibited to the widow, what was meant was that she should not gift it away in one form or another to persons of questionable character like singers, dancers and actors². The latter maintains that women have inherent powers to make gifts for spiritual purposes³.