Women in Hinduism

This article is about the position of women in the religious texts of Hinduism. For the position of women in India, see Women in India.

Diverse views on women and their roles exist within Hinduism.

Ancient and medieval era Hindu texts differ in their positions on the duties and rights of women. The texts describe eight kinds of marriage, including consensual arranged marriage (Brahma or Devic), unceremonial marriage by mutual agreement (Gandharva), and rape, which is considered sinful (Paishacha). Scholars state that Vedic-era Hindu texts did not mention dowry or sati, which likely became widespread in the second millennium AD. Throughout history, Hindu society has seen many female rulers, such as Rudramadevi, religious figures and saints, such as Andal, philosophers, such as Maitreyi, and female practitioners/conductors of Vedic Hindu rituals.

The status of women in Hinduism experienced a decline during the inter-imperial period, the Dharmasastras such laws of Manu imposed restrictions upon female sexuality and approved child brides.

Hinduism, states Bryant, has the strongest presence of the divine feminine among major world religions, from ancient times to the present. There are major goddess-centric Hindu traditions and denominations, such as Shaktism. Numerous matriarchal Hindu communities exist.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.