Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India
by Remadevi. O. | 2009 | 54,177 words
This page relates ‘Dress of Separated Woman’ of the study on cosmetics, costumes and ornaments of ancient India based on Sanskrit sources. Chapter one deals with cosmetics and methods of enhancing beauty; Chapter two deals with costumes, garments and dresses; Chapter three deals with ornaments for humans and animals. Each chapter deals with their respective materials, types, preparation and trade, as prevalent in ancient Indian society.
2.21. Dress of Separated Woman
A woman, whose husband is away from her usually, wore black cloth. Such women are also represented as clothed in worn out or dirty garments. In Vālmīki-rāmāyaṇa[1], Sītā who was made captive by Rāvaṇa is described in one context in such dress. It was perhaps to guard their chastity in the absence of their husband that women avoided wearing costly or colourful dress. Kālidāsa[2] gives lot of references to separated women, who are careless about their dressing.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
IV.42, III.264.42, 74.8,V.34.8
[2]:
Uttaramegha