The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c16.24

c16.24

Generally speaking in all climes and times men have laid down a much higher standard of sexual morality for women than what they were themselves prepared to accept. Hindu society has been no exception to this rule. Men found guilty of the breach of the marriage vow have been treated with a relative leniency. It is no doubt true that some authorities lay down that a husband, who becomes unfaithful to his wife, commits a sin for which there is no adequate penance¹. Āpastamba declares that such a husband should be compelled to wear donkey's skin with hair turned outside, and made to beg alms in that uniform for six months. At every door he was first to announce his crime and then accept alms if offered². There is no doubt that this punishment must have exposed the delinquent to a terrible humiliation, but it may be well doubted if an appreciable percentage of guilty husbands ever received it in actual practice. Had the punishment been a reality, the crime would have become very rare. The deterrent effect of the rule was nullified by the dictum of later Smṛitis, that a wife ought to revere as God even that husband, who has repeatedly transgressed his marriage vows (*ante*, pp. 128-9).