The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c8.68

c8.68

In the presence of the sacred Fire the husband promised his wife that he will never forsake her in his pursuit of pleasure, wealth and spirituality. Our complaint is that the delinquents who violated this vow were not severely dealt with by society. It tolerated polygamy; it did not for a long time give any proprietary rights to the wife; later on when renunciation of the worldly life became popular, it did not condemn the action of those persons who used to desert their wives in pursuit of their spiritual ideals. All this affected the position of the wife very adversely.