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The Status of Woman in Ancient India: Compulsives of the Patriarchal Order

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2024

Shrirama Indradeva
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Extract

The status a society assigns to woman largely depends upon the basic structure of that society itself. While considering the emergence of the traditional social structure in India, it is interesting to see how diverse struggling racial groups became parts of an integrated hierarchical society in which the invading immigrants formed the elite stratum. We also see how the values of the elite stratum were forcefully imposed on the integrated culture that emerged as a result of this interaction, how the immigrants suffering from a deep-seated feeling of insecurity performed various rites and rituals to ward off the fear of extermination; how the womenfolk belonging to a stock which was not only racially and culturally different but inimical too, were given a low position; and how due to extraneous origin of womenfolk a feeling of suspicion against them was deeply ingrained in the society.

Type
Research Article
Information
Diogenes , Volume 24 , Issue 93 , March 1976 , pp. 67 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © 1976 Fédération Internationale des Sociétés de Philosophie / International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP)

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References

1 Mahabhasya of Patanjali, II. 2.6.

2 RgVeda, V. 30.9.

3 RgVeda, VIII. 19. 36-37.

4 AthrvaVeda, V. 17. 8-9.

5 RgVeda, VIII. 33. 17-19.

6 RgVeda, X. 95.15.

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12 AtharvaVeda, I. 14.

13 RgVeda, X. 159. It is interesting that just like contemporary Indian folk-songs this hymn mentions a number of sons but only one daughter.

14 Taittiriya Samhita, VI. 6.4.3.

15 Aitareya Brahmana, XII. 11.

16 Satapatha Brahmana, XIII. 4.1.9.

17 Taittiriya Samhita, VI 5.8.2.

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19 These offerings are given to Varuna in order to deliver one's progeny from Varuna's noose.

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