History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.331

v4.c63.t2.331

Among smṛti writers Kātyāyana gives the most elaborate treatment of strīdhana in about twenty-seven verses. He defines several kinds of strīdhana enumerated by Manu, Yāj., Nār., and Viṣṇu (in all six) as follows¹⁴⁹⁴: what is given to women at the time of marriage before the nuptial fire is declared by the wise to be *adhyagni*¹⁴⁹⁵ strīdhana. That again which a woman obtains when she is being taken (in a procession) from her father's house (to the bridegroom's) is declared to be *adhyāvāhanika* strīdhana. Whatever is given to a woman through affection by the father-in-law or mother-in law and what is received by her at the time of doing obeisance at the feet (of elders) is said to be *prītidatta* (gift through affection) strīdhana. That is declared to be *śulka* (bride's fee) which is obtained as the price of household utensils, of beasts of burden, of milch cattle, ornaments and slaves. Whatever is obtained by a woman after marriage from the family of her husband as also from the family of her (father's) kinsmen is said to be *anvādheya* (gift subsequent). According to Bhṛgu whatever is obtained by a woman after marriage through affection from her husband or from her parents is *anvādheya*. It may be noted that Kātyāyana's definitions of adhyagni and adhyāvāhanika are wide enough to include gifts made even by strangers on those occasions.