Question

Which one of the following constituted ‘Stridhana’ owned by women according to the Dharmashastras ?

• A. Grants of land from the king and Brahmanas
• B. Gifts received at the time of marriage and from relatives
• C. Exchange of gifts by the families of the bride and the bridegroom
• D. Equal share of paternal property and assets

Hint:

• Manusmriti warns women against hoarding family property, emphasizing that Stridhana was their primary legal wealth.
• Stridhana was often the only form of financial security a woman held in ancient society.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:

• According to ancient Dharmashastras (legal texts like Manusmriti), women had limited rights to property, primarily categorized as 'Stridhana'.
• Stridhana literally translates to "woman's wealth" and was considered her absolute property, which she could pass on to her children.

Step 1: Defining the components of Stridhana
Stridhana consisted of gifts received by a woman at the time of her marriage (adhya-agni) or during the bridal procession (adhyavahanika).
It also included tokens of affection given by her father, mother, or brother, and gifts received after marriage from her husband's family or her own relatives.

Step 2: Contrasting Stridhana with other property rights
The Dharmashastras generally prohibited women from hoarding family property or their husband's wealth without permission.
While sons had a claim to paternal estate, women were usually excluded from inheriting land or paternal property unless specifically gifted. Stridhana was the only form of wealth over which a woman had significant control, often specifically inherited by daughters.
Therefore, Option (B) correctly identifies the core of what constituted Stridhana.