Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates 鈥楽tatus of Women in the Rukminiharana鈥� of the English study of the Dasarupaka of Dhananjaya: an important work on Hindu dramaturgy (Natya-shastra) from the tenth century dealing with the ten divisions of Sanskrit drama (nata), describing their technical aspects and essential dramaturgical principals. These ten types of drama are categorised based on the plot (vastu), hero (neta) and sentiment (rasa)
Part 13 - Status of Women in the 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺
The Candels were very free-minded administrators. They did not place much restriction on the society. However, people liked to marry within their own castes. The princely society used to have co-wives (蝉补辫补迟苍墨). Brahmins also used to marry more than one woman.
The 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, indicates that in the marriage ceremony, the groom鈥檚 side used to conduct the parade to the bride鈥檚 home (惫颈惫腻丑补测腻迟谤腻), which is observed even now:
鈥�ayi 办峁涐梗峁嘺诲别惫补, 惫颈惫腻丑补测腻迟谤腻rambhasamaya鈥�鈥�
鈥�(搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, C. Dalal, p.52).
The practice used to be that when the groom was passing through the house, the girl used to watch him from the balcony or window.
The same system is indicated by 痴补迟蝉补谤腻箩补 in the 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, when 碍峁涐梗峁嘺 was passing through the palace of 叠丑墨峁补办补, with other kings, 搁耻办尘颈峁嚹� and other female members were watching him from the window with excitement:
鈥�bhart峁沝膩rike, tadatra uparitalam saudha艣ikharam膩ruhya gav膩k峁Ｄ乶tare prek峁Ｄ乿ahe鈥�
鈥�(搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, C. Dalal, p.59).
When groom or bride was leaving from the home the auspicious time was seen by the astrologer:
鈥�膩h奴yant膩m mauh奴rttik膩岣�鈥�
鈥�(搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, C. Dalal, p.49).
There was also the practice that both girl and boy watch each other鈥檚 portrait; and sometimes they got married with each other鈥檚 portraits:
鈥�k峁涐梗峁嘺citrapa峁璦kena p膩峁噄m gr膩hayati鈥�
鈥�(搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, C. Dalal, p.58).
The mother used to get excited for the marriage of her son or daughter. She would even welcome the daughter-in-law or son-in-law personally:
鈥�谤腻尘补办峁涐梗峁嘺耻 varapatn墨kau 膩kar峁噛a pit峁浥泇asu岣� bhavi峁ati parito峁岣�, kim 尘补测腻鈥�
鈥�(搁耻办尘颈峁嚹玥ara峁嘺, C. Dalal, p.53).
The above facts indicate as to what was the status of woman at that period. Further, though the society was very conservative, the Candels were liberal enough to allow women the freedom in choosing their partners in marriage.