The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c6.11

c6.11

The reasons why daughters were relatively less unpopular in ancient India during the early centuries are not difficult to understand. They could be initiated in Vedic studies and were entitled to offer sacrifices to gods; the son was not absolutely necessary for this purpose. The marriage of the daughter was not a difficult problem; it was often solved by the daughter herself. The dread of a possible widowhood did not very much weigh upon the mind of parents; for, as will be shown later, remarriage was allowed by society and was fairly common.