The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c16.44

c16.44

During the brighter period of Hindu culture, society used to show its concern for women in a variety of ways. Its chivalrous feeling secured them several privileges and concessions for the fair sex. The killing of a woman was regarded as a very disgraceful offence since very early times. In the Vedic literature it is pointed out that a woman ought not to be killed¹. Rāma very reluctantly killed Taṭikā, only when he was convinced that there was no other alternative open for him; he had to protect the sages, hundreds of whom had been already killed by the ogress². It is interesting to note that even in spite of the universally accepted divinity of Rāma, there were critics like Bhavabhūti in later times who ventured to fearlessly censure his conduct in killing Tāṭikā³. Bhīshma allowed himself to be killed, because he did not want to fight with one, who had been born as a woman, though subsequently changed into a man. Rāvaṇa thought of killing Sītā on more than one occasion, but he was dissuaded from his plan by the thought that it is unchivalrous to kill a woman (VI, 93, 60). When the goddess of Laṅkā proceeded to stop the entry of Hanumān, he merely gave her a blow ; he had realised that the excercise of a more than minimum force would be blameworthy, as his opponent was a woman¹. The Mahābhārata has declared in several places that like Brahmanas and cows, women also ought not to be killed. In the famous story of the demon Baka the house-wife presses her husband to send her to the demon for being devoured; she fondly hopes that though a demon, Baka would never think of killing a woman².