Part 1: Social Position of Women

Woman plays various important roles in a society. The most important role is the Mother, as creator, sustainer of life on the earth. They have some special duties to perform, some special path to follow and some ideals to strive for. But these neither lower their dignity and status nor narrow down their outlooks and ideals; rather these elevate their position in society. Hence, apart from these special duties, rights, aims etc. the ideal for both men and women are very much the same. It is well known that Indian women enjoyed high honours and reverence during the Vedic age. The central theme of the Harṣacarita is political status under the reign of king Harṣavadhana in the 7^th century A.D. Descriptions of certain goddesses, princesses, and the queens of various kings and the other ladies of the city are scattered here and there in Harṣacarita. Here, there is the picture not only of women belonging to high class society, such as queen Yaśomatī, princess Rājyaśrī etc., but of the lower classes women such as-kātyāyanikā,bāravanitā etc. As the central theme of Harṣacarita is a political one, there are only few references, from which we can infer the sociocultural status of woman in the 7^th century A.D.

Here, the main heroine is princess Rājyaśrī, who has been depicted as a girl of marriageable age as well as a newly married young girl, and at last described as widow. On analyzing her character both the ways we may get an idea about the status of women before and after marriage in their society.

In the Vedic age women enjoyed a dignified position in the society. They could take part in all religious institutions along with their husbands.^[1] Women enjoyed a much better position in the society of the Rāmāyaṇa and the Mahābhārata also. The status of the women became lowered in the post-Vedic age. But, women occupied a respectable position in the Indian society of the 7^th century A.D. which is evident from the Harṣacarita of Bānabhaṭṭa. Although, the author does not give the name of women kings, but he mentions that a capital was ruled^[2] by women at that time.

Again, from the version of the author, it has been found that the queen Yaśomatī was honoured by all people in the morning and evening.^[3] Bāṇabhaṭṭa has described about the status of women very clearly,^[4] when he gives the description of citizen of the Sthāṇvīśvara. The ladies of that city were very beautiful^[5] and their faces were bright with white teeth.^[6] Bāṇa mentions that they not only possessed charming bodies like the moon,^[7] but also were sweet in nature and talkative.^[8] They liked more to talk about their husbands.^[9] The author compares the brightness of their complexion with the goddess Gaurī,^[10] and their eyes with the lotuses.^[11] The writer mentions that the ladies of that city were free from curiosity as they were not wearing the marriage thread.^[12] The city ladies used to cover their face due to the custom of high-born ladies.^[13]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Kātyāyanaśrautasūtra, 4,7.21; 10.2.38; 20.1.11

[2]:

…sarvābhyo digbhyaḥ strīrājyānīvāvarjitāni, Harṣacarita,IV.p.62

[3]:

saṃdhyāmayīva vandyatve, Ibid.,IV.p.57-58

[4]:

Ibid.,III.p.44,57

[5]:

śyāmāḥ …, Ibid.,p.44

[6]:

dhavaladvijaśucivadanā., Ibid.

[7]:

[a] candrakāntavapuṣaḥ…, Ibid. [b] prasannojjvalarāgasya…, Ibid.

[8]:

lāvaṇyavatyo madhurabhāṣiṇyaśca, Ibid.

[9]:

priyakathā eva subhagāḥ karṇalaṅkāra…., Ibid.

[10]:

gauryo vibhavaratāśca, Ibid.

[11]:

yatra ca pramadānāṃ cakṣureva …..bhāraḥ kuvalayadaladāmāni, Ibid.

[12]:

akautukāḥ proṭāśca pramadāḥ, Ibid.

[13]:

…mukhāvaraṇaṃ kulastrījanācāro jālikā, Ibid.