365bet

Malatimadhava (study)

by Jintu Moni Dutta | 2017 | 52,468 words | ISBN-10: 8120813057 | ISBN-13: 9788120813052

This page relates ‘Women in Public Life in 8th-century India� from the English study on the Malatimadhava of Bhavabhuti:—A Prakarana type of Drama in ten acts revolving around the love-story of Malati (from Padmāvatī) and Madhava (from Vidarbha). This study discusses the history of its author and the literary, social, religious, historical and cultural aspects of the Malatimadhava.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Part 3.4 - Women in Public Life in 8th-century India

During 8th century A.D. women used to participate actively in public life. The marriageable girls enjoyed freedom as they could move in the company of their lovers. It is evident from the ī󲹱 that ī had gone to the garden of Madana where 󲹱 also had gone. There 󲹱 took off the bakula garland from his neck and gave it to her. ī accepted it saying that it was a great favour. Afterwards she disappeared in the great throng of the citizens who moved about at the close of the fair.[1]

Though the girls were kept under the protection of their parents yet they were allowed to move about at the public places, in the gardens and in the temples with their friends. In the 1st act of the ī󲹱[2], ī is found to have gone to the ܲܳ garden accompanied by Lavaṅgikā. At the same place the reference of ī’s going to the temple of Śṃk with 峾Ի岹ī is also found.[3] Apart from these a good number of women were employed as servants to earn their livelihood.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

ԲԳٲ� ca yātrābhaṅgapracalitasya 󲹳ٲ� paurajanasya saṃkulena
vighaṭitāyā� tasyāmāgatoasmi /
Ibid.,I.p.36

[2]:

ԲԳٲ� ca yātrābhaṅgapracalitasya 󲹳ٲ� paurajanasya saṃkulena vighaṭitāyā� tasyāmāgatoasmi /
Ibid., I.p.36

[3]:

adya kṛṣṇacaturdaśīti bhagavatyā mālatī Śaṅkaragṛha� gamiṣyati /
tat eva� kila ܲ岵ⲹ� vardhata iti devatārādha nanimitta� svahastakusumāvacayamuddiśya lavaṅgikādvitīyā�
mālatīṃbhagavatyeva kusumākarodyāneṣyati /
Ibid., III.p.66

Let's grow together!

I humbly request your help to keep doing what I do best: provide the world with unbiased sources, definitions and images. Your donation direclty influences the quality and quantity of knowledge, wisdom and spiritual insight the world is exposed to.

Let's make the world a better place together!

Like what you read? Help to become even better: