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Kamat's Potpourri: Social Life in Medieval Deccan : Status of Women more ads  Status of Women in Medieval Karnataka                       by Dr. (Mrs.) Jyotsna Kamat Last Updated : December 20,2007 One would expect that in medieval times women were almost likedomesticated pets caged in the house, considering all the equality and libertarianmovements the mankind has gone though. Lawmaker Manu's oft-quoted statement that women arenot worthy of freedom strengthens this expectation. However, the inscriptions, literarysources and sculptures of the period give an astonishingly different picture of status ofwomen in South India in medieval times.According to B.P.Mazumbar, Northern India did not have any womenadministrators of provinces or kingdoms during this period. In contrast, Karnataka hadwomen who administered villages, towns, divisions and heralded social and religiousinstitutions. Piriyaketaladevi, a queen of Chalukya Vikramaditya VI ruled three villages.According to an inscripture of 1148 A.D. Lakkadevi was a village headman. Jakkiabbe ablyadministered seventy villages after premature death of her husband. Mailalladevi, a seniorqueen of Someshwara-I ruled the important province of Banavasi comprising 12,000 villages.It is evident from a inscripture of 1187 A.D. that the Jain nunsenjoyed the same amount of freedom as their male counterparts. There were female trustees,priestesses, philanthropists, musicians and scholars.The historical sources of the period are abundantly filled withstories of accomplished women of the time. Shantaladevi, the Hoysala queen was an expert insinging, dancing and instrumental music. Fig 242 shows her in a graceful dancing pose. Shealso held durbar with her illustrious husband Vishnuvardhana. Fig 244 shows a rare carvingwhere a woman is shown writing. COURTESANS, TEMPLE GIRLS AND ACTRESSESDescription of courtesans had become an essential part of classics.They were recognized, tolerated and at times held respectable place in the society.Dedicating girls to temples was an ancient practice and by the tenthcentury, it had become well established. They were called Devadasis (servant ofGod) andserved priests, and noble men. Temple grants included expenses for Devadasis. Some of themwere experts of arts including singing, dancing and acting performances. Theinstitution of Devadasis continued sporadically in India till recent times (see Givento Goddess).  BONDMAIDS AND WORKING WOMEN All menial tasks like cleaning in temples and private householdswere undertaken by bondmaids whose position was not high in the society. The saint-poet Basaveshwara tried to better their lot and that of their children by declaring that afterinitiation into Veerashaivism, the latter were to be considered holy and duly honored.In addition to their household duties, women gave a helping hand totheir men in their vocations. The occupation of a nurse (dhatri) was quite common. Womenalso worked in fields.Basaveshwara's theory of Kayaka (Kayakave-Kailasa) , led many womento realize God through their humble occupations.INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGEMarriage was compulsory for all the girls except for those opted forasceticism. Brahman girls were married between ages 8 and 10 from sixth or century onwardsup to the modern times. Polygamy was permitted to all who could afford and it wasespecially popular among Kshatriaysa for political reasons. According toMansasollsa, theking should marry a Kshatria girl of noble birth for a chief queen though he is permittedto have Vaisya or Sudra wives for pleasure.SATI OR SAHAGAMANASati was prevalent amongcertain classes of women, who either took the vow or deemed it a great honor to die on thefuneral pyres of their husbands. Ibn Batuta observed that Sati was considered praiseworthyby the Hindus, without however being obligatory. The Agni Purana declares that the womanwho commits sahagamana goes to heaven and Medhatiti pronounced that Sati was like suicideand was against the Shastras. In an age of such divergent views, women of the Deccanfollowed a middle path. They were not coerced, although several wives committed Sati. Themajority of the widows did not undergo Sati. (see: Love?Duty? or Sacrifice?)Mahasati stones were erected in memory of brave women who committedSati and are periodically worshipped. The number of such stones are a few, indicating asmall number of such women. There are no instances of remarriage of widows. (seealso: Hero-stones)WIDOWSAlberuni writes that Indian women preferred self immolation by Satito the suffering of life of a widow. Ibn Batuta also felt that the plight of widows wasmiserable. A widow was considered an inauspicious person and was prohibited from wearingcolorful clothes, ornaments, decorate hair, as is seen from descriptions in literature.However, there are no concrete pointers to indicate that widows hadto shave their heads, as became the norm in later years (see: Plight of Widows in India)OTHER NOTESA few women of the time who despised their husbands, attracted othermen by wanton behaviors. A sculpture in Bhatkal depicts a case of a woman's infidelity. Ahusband catches the paramour of his wife red-handed and is about to punish him. The wifeis shown as pleading for her lover (figure 246).Pictures 247 and 248 show punishments to women forimmoral behavior. There was a class of men who believed in the superiority of women.Somadeva thought that discrimination between men and women was valid in respect ofphysical ability, but the latter were superior in intellectual ability. Achale was a ladyof rare distinction and it is said that Chandramauli, a minister of the Hoysala Kings wasa befitting husband for her. This is an expression used contrary to the normal belief of awife being worthy of her husband.The women of medieval Deccan were complimentary to men and notcompetitive in all fields and they together made a complete unit. Women faced hardshipsbravely, and excelled in the field of charity, exhibiting their sense of social service.They were good housewives, pursued fine arts and when given a chance, shone as goodadministrators and fought battles. In spiritual field also, they made their contributions.  Excerpted from Author's 1980 Book, SocialLife in Medieval Karnataka, Abhinav, New Delhi.  Women of India  Index See Related Topics at Kamat's Potpourri The Women of India -- table of contents Social themes at a temples in Bhatkal Vijayanagar Kings of Medieval Deccan Ancient India -- Land of Mystery Karnataka Potpourri India in India Ink - more line-drawings by K. L. Kamat Jyotsna Kamat's Home Page References Kamat Jyotsna, SocialLife in Medieval Karnataka, Abhinav, 1980. Kamat K.L., The Timeless Theater , CyberCrow, 1999 Alberuni's India, 1988 Kamat's Potpourri  Timeless Theater Ancient India Women   © 1996-2007 Kamat's Potpourri. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without prior permission. Standard disclaimers applyMerchandise and Link SuggestionsSick of looking in the mirror and not seeing the body you desire? Sick ofcrash diets and seeing no immediate results at the gym? Have you spent hundredsof dollars on the ever changing fitness fads? Put down the shakes and stoppopping the pills and look into chicagocosmetic surgery. Visit today! Chicago Cosmetic Surgery.net!Explore More: Social, Life, Medieval, Deccan, Status, WomenAn Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems --BookBoom!: Voices of the Sixties Personal Reflections on the '60s and Today --BookTop of Pagevar dc_maxLinks='5';var dc_UnitID = 14;var dc_PublisherID = 3491;var dc_AdLinkColor = 'blue';var dc_adprod='ADL'; _uacct = "UA-772943-1";urchinTracker(); |
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