Position of Women (Introduction)

Women play a very important and significant role in society as the progress of the society depends upon the progress of the woman also. In the previous sub-chapters, marriage system, family structure etc.some of the important duties of women has been discussed. Here in this section some other aspects like quality, behaviour of women etc. will be discussed. As stated in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa without a woman or a wife, a house becomes like a chariot without some essential parts.^[1] In the Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa, a wife has been called the other half of her husband.^[2] Since the very ancient times, it is a general rule for women that women should be protected. On the other hand, killing women is described as a sin. In this context Manu says-that person deserves punishment who kills a woman, a Brahmana or an infant.^[3]

In the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa also it is stated that those person go to hell, who kill woman or an infant and also break the trust of other.^[4] Besides the murder of a guru, killing of a Brahmana, cattle and woman is considered to be equal great sin.^[5] The discussion under the following headings will reflect the position of women in the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa.