The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c6.63

c6.63

The cultivation of fine arts like music, dancing and painting was encouraged in the case of girls since very early times. Musical recitation of the Sāma hymns was originally the special function of ladies¹. It is clear that they must be specialising in music in the early Vedic period; otherwise this important duty would not have been assigned to them. Some legends in the Vedic literature make caustic references to women's partiality to music. Once Devas and Asuras both wanted to win over the Goddess of Speech; gods succeeded in their effort because they were clever enough to realise that the best way to achieve their object was to sing and dance before her. The author of the legend cannot resist the temptation of observing that women can be easily won over by one who sings melodiously and dances gracefully before them (*Ś. Br.*, III, 2, 4, 6).