Changes

=== स्त्रीधनम् ॥ Stridhana ===

=== स्त्रीधनम् ॥ Stridhana ===

The word Stridhana occurs for the first time in the Agniveshya Grhyasutra in the context of Kanyadana.<ref name=":7">L. S. Deodhar (2010), [http://www.jstor.org/stable/42931258 Concept of the right of Stridhana in the Smrtis] in Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute (Vol. 70/71), Pune: Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, p.349–357.</ref><blockquote>वधूमताद्भिर्दत्तां प्रतिगृह्णाति स्त्रीधनं च । १.६.१ । <ref>Agniveshya Grhyasutra, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Prashna 1].</ref>vadhūmatādbhirdattāṁ pratigr̥hṇāti strīdhanaṁ ca । 1.6.1 । </blockquote>When a woman receives gifts on various occasions from various persons it becomes her individual property. This is recognized as a separate property called Stridhana by Dharmashastra authors.<ref name=":7" />

The word Stridhana occurs for the first time in the Agniveshya Grhyasutra in the context of Kanyadana.<ref name=":7">L. S. Deodhar (2010), [http://www.jstor.org/stable/42931258 Concept of the right of Stridhana in the Smrtis] in Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute (Vol. 70/71), Pune: Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, p.349–357.</ref><blockquote>वधूमताद्भिर्दत्तां प्रतिगृह्णाति स्त्रीधनं च । १.६.१ । <ref>Agniveshya Grhyasutra, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Prashna 1].</ref>vadhūmatādbhirdattāṁ pratigr̥hṇāti strīdhanaṁ ca । 1.6.1 । </blockquote>When a woman receives gifts on various occasions from various persons it becomes her individual property. This is recognized as a separate property called Stridhana by Dharmashastra authors.

 

The first definition of Stridhana is found in Arthashastra.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>वृत्तिराबध्यं वा स्त्रीधनं ।। ०३.२.१४ ।।<ref>Arthashastra, Adhikarana 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2]</ref> vr̥ttirābadhyaṁ vā strīdhanaṁ ।। 03.2.14 ।।</blockquote>Meaning: Maintenance and ornaments constitute woman's property.<ref name=":7" />

And every property movable or immoveable, given to a woman by anyone, constitutes her own absolute property.<ref name=":2" /> There are 6 typrs of Stridhana according to Manusmrti viz.

And every property movable or immoveable, given to a woman by anyone, constitutes her own absolute property.<ref name=":2" /> There are 6 typrs of Stridhana according to Manusmrti viz.

Gautama also adds that the property descends to her daughters who are unmarried and unsettled. Wherein, unsettled also stands for those who, though married are childless, and without any property of their own, not having obtained a footing in the house of their husbands.<ref name=":4" />

Gautama also adds that the property descends to her daughters who are unmarried and unsettled. Wherein, unsettled also stands for those who, though married are childless, and without any property of their own, not having obtained a footing in the house of their husbands.<ref name=":4" />

Furthermore, Manusmrti clearly indicates that those relations who, in their folly, live on the properties of women, their conveyances and clothes (stridhana), are committing papa (पापम्) and thus, suffer downfall.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://ia801603.us.archive.org/33/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.46010/2015.46010.Manusmrti--Vol-4.pdf Vol.4]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>स्त्रीधनानि तु ये मोहादुपजीवन्ति बान्धवाः । नारी यानानि वस्त्रं वा ते पापा यान्त्यधोगतिम् । । ३.५२ । ।<ref name=":0" /> ''strīdhanāni tu yē mōhādupajīvanti bāndhavāḥ । nārī yānāni vastraṁ vā tē pāpā yāntyadhōgatim । । 3.52 । ।''</blockquote>It is interesting to note that Sarvajnanarayana, in his commentary on Manusmrti called Manvarthavivrti interprets the word Stridhana in a different manner.

Furthermore, Manusmrti clearly indicates that those relations who, in their folly, live on the properties of women, their conveyances and clothes (stridhana), are committing papa (पापम्) and thus, suffer downfall.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Ganganath Jha (1920-39), Manusmrti ([https://ia801603.us.archive.org/33/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.46010/2015.46010.Manusmrti--Vol-4.pdf Vol.4]), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited.</ref><blockquote>स्त्रीधनानि तु ये मोहादुपजीवन्ति बान्धवाः । नारी यानानि वस्त्रं वा ते पापा यान्त्यधोगतिम् । । ३.५२ । ।<ref name=":0" /> ''strīdhanāni tu yē mōhādupajīvanti bāndhavāḥ । nārī yānāni vastraṁ vā tē pāpā yāntyadhōgatim । । 3.52 । ।''</blockquote>It is interesting to note that Sarvajnanarayana, in his commentary on Manusmrti called Manvarthavivrti interprets the word Stridhana in a different manner. He refers to the wealth received by the parents of the bride which is given by the bridegroom.<blockquote>स्त्रिदाननिमित्ते प्राप्तानि धनानि । २.५२ । stridānanimitte prāptāni dhanāni । 2.52 ।<ref name=":7" /> </blockquote>

 

 

He refers to the wealth received by the parents of the bride which is given by the bridegroom.<ref name=":7" />

=== संयुक्तकुटुम्बेषु स्त्रीणाम् अधिकाराः ॥ Rights of Women in Joint Family ===

=== संयुक्तकुटुम्बेषु स्त्रीणाम् अधिकाराः ॥ Rights of Women in Joint Family ===