title: Position of Women in Hindu Civilization: From Prehistoric Times to the Present Day
author: A.S. Altekar
description: ''The considerable interest currently being expressed in women and religion has thrown down an important challenge: the need to see women not merely as the passive victims of an oppressive ideology but also, perhaps primarily, as the active agents of their own positive constructs. Twelve contributors study the role of women in Hindu religion by examining textual studies of the part played by women in a variety of religious rituals, both past and present by exploring the socio-religious context of their various communities; and by using specialist material to draw on cross-cultural conclusions.'' ---Roles and rituals for Hindu women, Julia Leslie&#60;br \&#62;&#60;br \&#62;''For the study of the lay-women the author has exploited the material found in the Canonical literature, the Commentaries thereon, the Jatakas and the Milindapanha, while most of the material for the account of the alms-women is gathered from the Vinay-pitaka, the Therigatha and the Commentaries. The study reveals the spiritual experiences of some of the lay-and alms-women. It throws light on the various social conditions prevailing during the lifetime of Buddha and shortly after.'' ---Women under primitive Buddhism, I.B. Horner&#60;br \&#62;&#60;br \&#62;''This is a well rounded text, targeted towards the relationships between Hindu women and society. This interesting and informative work spans almost four thousand years of experience. Position of Women is superbly organized according to the principal divisions of a woman s life, taking one through discussions of issues such as 'The Position of the Widow', 'Dress and Ornaments', 'Marriage and Divorce' and 'Proprietary Rights'.'' - --V. G. Julie Rajan, Hinduism Today, January, 1997&#60;br \&#62;&#60;br \&#62;''For the study of the lay-women the author has exploited the material found in the Canonical literature, the Commentaries thereon, the Jatakas and the Milindapanha, while most of the material for the account of the alms-women is gathered from the Vinay-pitaka, the Therigatha and the Commentaries. The study reveals the spiritual experiences of some of the lay-and alms-women. It throws light on the various social conditions prevailing during the lifetime of Buddha and shortly after.'' ---Women under primitive Buddhism, I.B. Horner&#60;br \&#62;&#60;br \&#62;''This is a well rounded text, targeted towards the relationships between Hindu women and society. This interesting and informative work spans almost four thousand years of experience. Position of Women is superbly organized according to the principal divisions of a woman s life, taking one through discussions of issues such as 'The Position of the Widow', 'Dress and Ornaments', 'Marriage and Divorce' and 'Proprietary Rights'.'' - --V. G. Julie Rajan, Hinduism Today, January, 1997&#60;br \&#62;&#60;br \&#62;''For the study of the lay-women the author has exploited the material found in the Canonical literature, the Commentaries thereon, the Jatakas and the Milindapanha, while most of the material for the account of the alms-women is gathered from the Vinay-pitaka, the Therigatha and the Commentaries. The study reveals the spiritual experiences of some of the lay-and alms-women. It throws light on the various social conditions prevailing during the lifetime of Buddha and shortly after.'' ---Women under primitive Buddhism, I.B. Horner&#60;br \&#62;&#60;br \&#62;''This is a well rounded text, targeted towards the relationships between Hindu women and society. This interesting and informative work spans almost four thousand years of experience. Position of Women is superbly organized according to the principal divisions of a woman s life, taking one through discussions of issues such as 'The Position of the Widow', 'Dress and Ornaments', 'Marriage and Divorce' and 'Proprietary Rights'.'' - --V. G. Julie Rajan, Hinduism Today, January, 1997<br /><br />''For the study of the lay-women the author has exploited the material found in the Canonical literature, the Commentaries thereon, the Jatakas and the Milindapanha, while most of the material for the account of the alms-women is gathered from the Vinay-pitaka, the Therigatha and the Commentaries. The study reveals the spiritual experiences of some of the lay-and alms-women. It throws light on the various social conditions prevailing during the lifetime of Buddha and shortly after.'' - --Women under primitive Buddhism, I.B. Horner<br /><br />''This is a well rounded text, targeted towards the relationships between Hindu women and society. This interesting and informative work spans almost four thousand years of experience. Position of Women is superbly organized according to the principal divisions of a woman s life, taking one through discussions of issues such as 'The Position of the Widow', 'Dress and Ornaments', 'Marriage and Divorce' and 'Proprietary Rights'.'' - --V. G. Julie Rajan, Hinduism Today, January, 1997
zlib_text: **Quotes Basics Science History Social Other Search**
  
   **h o m e**
  
   **w o m e n i n h i n d u i s m**
  
   **c o n t e n t s**
  
  In ancient India, women occupied a very important position, in fact a superior
  position to, men. It is a culture whose only words for strength and power are
  feminine -"Shakti'' means "power'' and "strength.'' All male power comes from
  the feminine. Literary evidence suggests that kings and towns were destroyed
  because a single woman was wronged by the state. For example, Valmiki's
  Ramayana teaches us that Ravana and his entire clan was wiped out because he
  abducted Sita. Veda Vyasa's Mahabharatha teaches us that all the Kauravas were
  killed because they humiliated Draupadi in public. Elango Adigal's
  Sillapathigaram teaches us Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas was burnt
  because Pandyan Nedunchezhiyan mistakenly killed her husband on theft charges.
  
  In Vedic times women and men were equal as far as education and religion was
  concerned. Women participated in the