The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c15.s1.27

c15.s1.27

Nor can it be argued that the upper person of the women in these sculptures is bare, because the sculptors were not skilful enough to show the same *sari* as covering both the lower and the upper parts of the body. They could have avoided this difficulty by using a separate upper garment to cover the bust. As a matter of fact, both at Sanchi and Bharhut ladies of position are often seen wearing an upper garment, but it does not cover the breasts¹ (See Pl. III, A). In the case of the Ajanta paintings the excuse of inefficiency cannot be advanced. The artists were experts and they could easily have shown their women wearing the *sari* in such a way as to cover both the upper and the lower parts of the body. But they have not done so. It is true that most of the ladies at Ajanta, whose breasts appear uncovered, are in the privacy of their inner apartments, where they may not perhaps be expected to wear their full dress. But in some Ajanta frescoes we find women moving about even in public streets with the same insufficient dress. In one scene, for instance, we see a queen figuring in a street procession in the state carriage along with her husband ; she is, however, shown as wearing neither a jacket nor a bodice; nor is her *sari* shown covering her breasts (Heringham, *Ajanta*, Pl. XXIV).