- patriarchal 🕺
- deterioration in position of women & backward classes had already taken place
- rise in prostitution
- post-maurya age: stereotyping, objectification of women
- political rights denied to women
- women not allowed to read, write, listen to Vedic scriptures
- Guptas initiated reformation of society
Stuff that happened during Gupta Period
- allowed widow remarriage
- women allowed to listen vedic scriptures
- however, difference in status of upper caste, lower caste women
- UC: not allowed to seek independent source of living; must be dependent on parents, husband
- LC: allowed to seek independent sources of living
- to uplift position & image of women, they were often compared with form of goddess
- Katyayana (famous lawgiver) explained Stree Dhana
- valuable gift given to girls at time of marriage
- not dowry; only girl has right to sell it
- in rear end of Gupta period, practice of Sati started
- recorded evidence of Sati found in Eran Inscription of MP (510AD)
Emergence of Shudra in Post Maurya Age
Chandalas
- Anirvasit shudra, concentration in graveyards
- animalistic beliefs, food behaviour
- several disabilities imposed on them by rulers
- eg. they needed to blow horn, beat drum when they entered village
- not allowed to enter village during early morning or late evening