DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.636#0400
388 Status of Women. Householder s duties.
Yet it must be carefully noted that the seclusion and
ignorance of women, which are in reality mainly due to
Muhammadan influences, do not exist to the same degree
in provinces and districts unaffected by these influences ; as,
for instance, in the Maratha country, Western India, and
elsewhere.
And as bearing on this point I may here direct attention
to Some of the rules laid down by the ancient Hindu sage
Vatsyayana (author of the Kama-sutra *) in regard to Indian
domestic life, proving that women enjoyed greater liberty
and a higher status in former times.
In the first place he recommends parents to allow their
children complete freedom and indulgence till they are five
years of age. Then from five to sixteen they are to learn
some of the fourteen sciences and the sixty-four arts. Among
the sciences are comprised the Vedas, Puranas, Upapuranas,
law, medicine, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, etc. The
enumeration of sixty-four arts proves the existence of con-
siderable civilization at a time when the greater part of
Europe was immersed in ignorance. Among them are sing-
ing, instrumental music, dancing, painting, composing poems,
chemistry, mineralogy, gardening, the military art, carpentry,
architecture, gymnastics, etc.
After education a man is to become a householder and to
strive after the three great objects of human life—religious
merit (dharma), wealth (artha), and enjoyment (kama)2. He is
to win a suitable wife for himself by his own efforts, and not to
allow others to choose for him. The sage then expatiates on
the most approved methods of making love, and declares that
no fair maiden can ever be won without a good deal of talking.
1 An ancient work quite as old as the first century of our era. I ought
to mention that a book called ' Early Ideas,' by Anaryan, gives a sum-
mary of Vafsyayana's rules, which I have found very well done and very
useful here.
2 These are constantly alluded to in Indian writings. A fourth object,
viz. final beatitude (moksha\ is generally added.
Yet it must be carefully noted that the seclusion and
ignorance of women, which are in reality mainly due to
Muhammadan influences, do not exist to the same degree
in provinces and districts unaffected by these influences ; as,
for instance, in the Maratha country, Western India, and
elsewhere.
And as bearing on this point I may here direct attention
to Some of the rules laid down by the ancient Hindu sage
Vatsyayana (author of the Kama-sutra *) in regard to Indian
domestic life, proving that women enjoyed greater liberty
and a higher status in former times.
In the first place he recommends parents to allow their
children complete freedom and indulgence till they are five
years of age. Then from five to sixteen they are to learn
some of the fourteen sciences and the sixty-four arts. Among
the sciences are comprised the Vedas, Puranas, Upapuranas,
law, medicine, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, etc. The
enumeration of sixty-four arts proves the existence of con-
siderable civilization at a time when the greater part of
Europe was immersed in ignorance. Among them are sing-
ing, instrumental music, dancing, painting, composing poems,
chemistry, mineralogy, gardening, the military art, carpentry,
architecture, gymnastics, etc.
After education a man is to become a householder and to
strive after the three great objects of human life—religious
merit (dharma), wealth (artha), and enjoyment (kama)2. He is
to win a suitable wife for himself by his own efforts, and not to
allow others to choose for him. The sage then expatiates on
the most approved methods of making love, and declares that
no fair maiden can ever be won without a good deal of talking.
1 An ancient work quite as old as the first century of our era. I ought
to mention that a book called ' Early Ideas,' by Anaryan, gives a sum-
mary of Vafsyayana's rules, which I have found very well done and very
useful here.
2 These are constantly alluded to in Indian writings. A fourth object,
viz. final beatitude (moksha\ is generally added.