− | 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 the 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 types of Stridhana according to Manusmrti.<blockquote>अध्यग्न्यध्यावाहनिकं दत्तं च प्रीतिकर्मणि । भ्रातृमातृपितृप्राप्तं षड्विधं स्त्रीधनं स्मृतम् । । ९.१९४ । ।<ref name=":1" /> adhyagnyadhyāvāhanikaṁ dattaṁ ca prītikarmaṇi । bhrātr̥mātr̥pitr̥prāptaṁ ṣaḍvidhaṁ strīdhanaṁ smr̥tam । । 9.194 । ।</blockquote>They are, | + | The word Stridhana occurs for the first time in the Agniveshya [[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|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 [[Dharmashastras (धर्मशास्त्राणि)|Dharmashastra]] authors. The first definition of Stridhana is found in the [[Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्रम्)|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 types of Stridhana according to [[Manusmrti (मनुस्मृतिः)|Manusmrti]].<blockquote>अध्यग्न्यध्यावाहनिकं दत्तं च प्रीतिकर्मणि । भ्रातृमातृपितृप्राप्तं षड्विधं स्त्रीधनं स्मृतम् । । ९.१९४ । ।<ref name=":1" /> adhyagnyadhyāvāhanikaṁ dattaṁ ca prītikarmaṇi । bhrātr̥mātr̥pitr̥prāptaṁ ṣaḍvidhaṁ strīdhanaṁ smr̥tam । । 9.194 । ।</blockquote>They are, |
− | ūrdhvaṁ labdhaṁ tu yatkiṁcitsaṁskārātprītitaḥ striyā । bhartuḥ pitroḥ sakāśādvā anvādheyaṁ tu tadbhr̥guḥ ।। 900 ।।</blockquote>Meaning: Whatever is obtained by a woman after marriage from the family of her husband and also what is similarly obtained from the family of her (father's) kinsmen is said to be anvadheya (subsequent gift). Whatever is obtained by a woman through affection after her marriage from her husband or from her parents is Anvadheya. This is the view of Bhrgu. While the Patyadatta type of Stridhana enumerated by Manusmrti is the gift given to a woman by her husband as a token of his love. It is interesting to note that Narada Smrti also enlist 6 types of Stridhana viz. Adhyagni, Adhyavahanika, Bhartrdaya, Bhratrdatta, Matrdatta and Pitrdatta.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>अध्यग्न्यध्यावहनिकं भर्तृदायस्तथैव च । भ्रातृमातृपितृभ्यश्च षड्विधं स्त्रीधनं स्मृतम् । । १३.८ । ।<ref>Narada Smrti, Vyavaharapadani, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Dayabhaga]</ref> adhyagnyadhyāvahanikaṁ bhartr̥dāyastathaiva ca । bhrātr̥mātr̥pitr̥bhyaśca ṣaḍvidhaṁ strīdhanaṁ smr̥tam । । 13.8 । ।</blockquote>The only difference between the list in Manusmrti and Katyayana Smrti versus that of the Narada Smrti is the use of the term Bhartrdaya instead of Pritidatta. And the term bhartrdaya commonly refers to a women's share in the partition of her husband's wealth. Also, these lists dont mean that the illustration of Stridhana is restricted to the number six. Infact, Mitakshara, the commentary on Yajnavalkyasmrti states that the elaboration of sixfold property is not intended as a restriction of greater number. Rather, it should be understood as a denial of a lesser number. This is exhibited in the Vishnu Smrti that includes more than six categories in the interpretation Stridhana.<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>पितृमातृसुतभ्रातृदत्तम्, अध्यग्न्युपागतम्, आधिवेदनिकं, बन्धुदत्तं, शुल्कम्, अन्वाधेयकं इति स्त्रीधनं । । १७.१८ । ।<ref>Vishnu Smrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 17]</ref> pitr̥mātr̥sutabhrātr̥dattam, adhyagnyupāgatam, ādhivedanikaṁ, bandhudattaṁ, śulkam, anvādheyakaṁ iti strīdhanaṁ । । 17.18 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: What is given to her by the father, mother, son, brother or what is received at the nuptial fire, what is received as a consolation fee for supersation, what is given by the kindreds as well as her perquisite and subsequent gifts - all this is her Stridhana. It is also interesting to note here that the Vishnu Smrti has mentioned the gift from the son as Stridhana and no other text except the Yajnavalkya Smrti has mentioned the same. The constituent features mentioned by Maharshi Yajnvalkya in the definition of Stridhana are<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>पितृमातृसुतभ्रातृदत्तमध्यग्न्युपागतम् । आधिवेदनिकाद्यं च स्त्रीधनं परिकीर्तितम् ।।१४३।। बन्धुदत्तं तथा शुल्कमन्वाधेयकमेव च । ... १४४।।<ref name=":9">[https://archive.org/details/yajnavalkya-smriti-with-aparadityas-tippani-anandasram-edition/Yajnavalkya%20Smriti%20with%20Aparaditya%27s%20Tippani%20Part%202-%20Anandasram%201904/page/n183/mode/1up?view=theater Yajnavalkya Smrti] (1904), Pune: Anandashram</ref> pitr̥mātr̥sutabhrātr̥dattamadhyagnyupāgatam । ādhivedanikādyaṁ ca strīdhanaṁ parikīrtitam ।।143।। bandhudattaṁ tathā śulkamanvādheyakameva ca । ... 144।।</blockquote>Meaning: What is given to a woman by the father, mother, son or brother or received by her at the nuptial fire, as also that which was presented to her on her husband's marriage to another woman and any other is denominated as a woman's property. That which has been given to her by her kinsmen as well as her fees or gratuity or anything bestowed after marriage. According to the Mitakshara commentary on Yajnavalkya Smrti, the word Adya after Adhivedanika covers the property which she may have acquired by inheritance, purchase, partition, seizure or finding.<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>रिक्थक्रयसंविभागपरिग्रहाधिगमप्राप्तम् एतत्स्त्रीधनम् ।<ref>Vasudev Laxman Shastri Panshikar (1936), [https://archive.org/details/Yajnavalkya.Smriti.with.the.Commentary.Mitaksara.of.Vidnyaneshvara/page/n257/mode/1up?view=theater Yadnyavalkyasmriti of Yogishvara Yadnyavalkya with the commentary of Mitakshara of Vidnyaneshvara], Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press.</ref> rikthakrayasaṁvibhāgaparigrahādhigamaprāptam etatstrīdhanam ।</blockquote>While Bandhudatta is interpreted, in the Mitakshara, as gift from kinsmen from mother's side as well as from father's side. However, the word shulka is interpreted in various ways. According to Katyayana Smrti,<blockquote>गृहोपस्करवाह्यानां दोह्याभरणकर्मिणाम् । मूल्यं लब्धं तु यत्किंचिच्शुल्कं तत्परिकीर्तितम् ।। ८९८ ।।<ref name=":8" /> | + | ūrdhvaṁ labdhaṁ tu yatkiṁcitsaṁskārātprītitaḥ striyā । bhartuḥ pitroḥ sakāśādvā anvādheyaṁ tu tadbhr̥guḥ ।। 900 ।।</blockquote>Meaning: Whatever is obtained by a woman after marriage from the family of her husband and also what is similarly obtained from the family of her (father's) kinsmen is said to be anvadheya (subsequent gift). Whatever is obtained by a woman through affection after her marriage from her husband or from her parents is Anvadheya. This is the view of Bhrgu. While the Patyadatta type of Stridhana enumerated by Manusmrti is the gift given to a woman by her husband as a token of his love. It is interesting to note that Narada Smrti also enlist 6 types of Stridhana viz. Adhyagni, Adhyavahanika, Bhartrdaya, Bhratrdatta, Matrdatta and Pitrdatta.<ref name=":7" /> <blockquote>अध्यग्न्यध्यावहनिकं भर्तृदायस्तथैव च । भ्रातृमातृपितृभ्यश्च षड्विधं स्त्रीधनं स्मृतम् । । १३.८ । ।<ref>Narada Smrti, Vyavaharapadani, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF/%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83 Dayabhaga]</ref> adhyagnyadhyāvahanikaṁ bhartr̥dāyastathaiva ca । bhrātr̥mātr̥pitr̥bhyaśca ṣaḍvidhaṁ strīdhanaṁ smr̥tam । । 13.8 । ।</blockquote>The only difference between the list in Manusmrti and Katyayana Smrti versus that of the Narada Smrti is the use of the term Bhartrdaya instead of Pritidatta. And the term bhartrdaya commonly refers to a women's share in the partition of her husband's wealth. Also, these lists dont mean that the illustration of Stridhana is restricted to the number six. Infact, Mitakshara, the commentary on Yajnavalkya Smrti states that the elaboration of sixfold property is not intended as a restriction of greater number. Rather, it should be understood as a denial of a lesser number. This is exhibited in the Vishnu Smrti that includes more than six categories in the interpretation Stridhana.<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>पितृमातृसुतभ्रातृदत्तम्, अध्यग्न्युपागतम्, आधिवेदनिकं, बन्धुदत्तं, शुल्कम्, अन्वाधेयकं इति स्त्रीधनं । । १७.१८ । ।<ref>Vishnu Smrti, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 17]</ref> pitr̥mātr̥sutabhrātr̥dattam, adhyagnyupāgatam, ādhivedanikaṁ, bandhudattaṁ, śulkam, anvādheyakaṁ iti strīdhanaṁ । । 17.18 । ।</blockquote>Meaning: What is given to her by the father, mother, son, brother or what is received at the nuptial fire, what is received as a consolation fee for supersation, what is given by the kindreds as well as her perquisite and subsequent gifts - all this is her Stridhana. It is also interesting to note here that the Vishnu Smrti has mentioned the gift from the son as Stridhana and no other text except the Yajnavalkya Smrti has mentioned the same. The constituent features mentioned by Maharshi Yajnvalkya in the definition of Stridhana are<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>पितृमातृसुतभ्रातृदत्तमध्यग्न्युपागतम् । आधिवेदनिकाद्यं च स्त्रीधनं परिकीर्तितम् ।।१४३।। बन्धुदत्तं तथा शुल्कमन्वाधेयकमेव च । ... १४४।।<ref name=":9">[https://archive.org/details/yajnavalkya-smriti-with-aparadityas-tippani-anandasram-edition/Yajnavalkya%20Smriti%20with%20Aparaditya%27s%20Tippani%20Part%202-%20Anandasram%201904/page/n183/mode/1up?view=theater Yajnavalkya Smrti] (1904), Pune: Anandashram</ref> pitr̥mātr̥sutabhrātr̥dattamadhyagnyupāgatam । ādhivedanikādyaṁ ca strīdhanaṁ parikīrtitam ।।143।। bandhudattaṁ tathā śulkamanvādheyakameva ca । ... 144।।</blockquote>Meaning: What is given to a woman by the father, mother, son or brother or received by her at the nuptial fire, as also that which was presented to her on her husband's marriage to another woman and any other is denominated as a woman's property. That which has been given to her by her kinsmen as well as her fees or gratuity or anything bestowed after marriage. According to the Mitakshara commentary on Yajnavalkya Smrti, the word Adya after Adhivedanika covers the property which she may have acquired by inheritance, purchase, partition, seizure or finding.<ref name=":7" /><blockquote>रिक्थक्रयसंविभागपरिग्रहाधिगमप्राप्तम् एतत्स्त्रीधनम् ।<ref>Vasudev Laxman Shastri Panshikar (1936), [https://archive.org/details/Yajnavalkya.Smriti.with.the.Commentary.Mitaksara.of.Vidnyaneshvara/page/n257/mode/1up?view=theater Yadnyavalkyasmriti of Yogishvara Yadnyavalkya with the commentary of Mitakshara of Vidnyaneshvara], Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press.</ref> rikthakrayasaṁvibhāgaparigrahādhigamaprāptam etatstrīdhanam ।</blockquote>While Bandhudatta is interpreted, in the Mitakshara, as gift from kinsmen from mother's side as well as from father's side. However, the word shulka is interpreted in various ways. According to Katyayana Smrti,<blockquote>गृहोपस्करवाह्यानां दोह्याभरणकर्मिणाम् । मूल्यं लब्धं तु यत्किंचिच्शुल्कं तत्परिकीर्तितम् ।। ८९८ ।।<ref name=":8" /> |