Position of Women in Goa | Goa State PSC (GPSC) Preparation - GPSC (Goa) PDF Download

 Page 1


POSITION OF WOMEN 
Man was engaged from the beginning of the civilisation in 
procuring food and shelter for his family. Women had to 
shoulder the responsibility of rearing children and 
maintenance of the house hold. In Sanskrit housewife is called 
grahini. It is said that the prosperity and reputation of the 
family entirely depend upon the grahini. 1  The position of 
women enjoyed in any society is the index of the civilisation 
and culture of the society. If woman enjoyed good position and 
had status in the society, it ushered in the development of 
the family at the lowest level, and finally the development 
of the society and the civilisation itself. 
From the Vedic period onwards the birth of female child 
was not the occasion of rejoicing. But girls were also taught 
Vedas during the Vedic period. The thread ceremony was also 
performed to female children. There were women scholars like 
Gargi Lopamudra, Visvara, Sikata Nivari and Ghosha. 2  On the 
auspicious occasions both husband and wife had to perform in 
rites (punyE-Vachan)and even now this tradition is current. 
However, by the early centuries of Christian era a 
a general decline of the woman has set in. 
Position of royal woman:  
The earliest reference to the women from royal families 
Page 2


POSITION OF WOMEN 
Man was engaged from the beginning of the civilisation in 
procuring food and shelter for his family. Women had to 
shoulder the responsibility of rearing children and 
maintenance of the house hold. In Sanskrit housewife is called 
grahini. It is said that the prosperity and reputation of the 
family entirely depend upon the grahini. 1  The position of 
women enjoyed in any society is the index of the civilisation 
and culture of the society. If woman enjoyed good position and 
had status in the society, it ushered in the development of 
the family at the lowest level, and finally the development 
of the society and the civilisation itself. 
From the Vedic period onwards the birth of female child 
was not the occasion of rejoicing. But girls were also taught 
Vedas during the Vedic period. The thread ceremony was also 
performed to female children. There were women scholars like 
Gargi Lopamudra, Visvara, Sikata Nivari and Ghosha. 2  On the 
auspicious occasions both husband and wife had to perform in 
rites (punyE-Vachan)and even now this tradition is current. 
However, by the early centuries of Christian era a 
a general decline of the woman has set in. 
Position of royal woman:  
The earliest reference to the women from royal families 
of Goa is from Prithvimallavarman's copper plate which 
mentions that Chetasadevi, the daughter of Nellika on 
triyodasi (13th day) of Shukla paksha of Jyestha donated 
field. 3  From this is evident that the queen could exercise 
influence over the king in making grants to Brahmins. The 
mention to the women of early Chalukya ruler Vijayabhattarika 
who ruled in Iridige Vishaya is found in the copper plate. 4 
 These copper plates also bear testimony to the status and 
position enjoyed by the women from the royal families. For 
exercising influence over the king in issuing grants or 
shouldering administrative responsibility some training and 
education were essential. The women from the royal families 
and the elite were taught writing and reading. The women from 
the ruling dynasties of the region took keen interest in 
patronising ,,learning and art. The chief queen Kamaladevi of 
Peramadi, Kadamba ruler of Goa was a great patron of 
learning. Kamladevi with the assistance of Peramadi founded a 
number of agraharas. In these agrahargs, Veda, VedEngas, 
Nyaya, Mimansa, Siinkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Smriti, ItihTt .'s and 
purana's were taught. The queen Kamladevi built Narayan temple 
and Mahglaxmi temple. 5  
As regards the marriage among the royal families as well 
as other sections of the Hindu society, It was considered as 
one of the important 'sacraments (samskara) The objectives of 
Hindu marriage were duty (dharma), progeny (prals) and 
Page 3


POSITION OF WOMEN 
Man was engaged from the beginning of the civilisation in 
procuring food and shelter for his family. Women had to 
shoulder the responsibility of rearing children and 
maintenance of the house hold. In Sanskrit housewife is called 
grahini. It is said that the prosperity and reputation of the 
family entirely depend upon the grahini. 1  The position of 
women enjoyed in any society is the index of the civilisation 
and culture of the society. If woman enjoyed good position and 
had status in the society, it ushered in the development of 
the family at the lowest level, and finally the development 
of the society and the civilisation itself. 
From the Vedic period onwards the birth of female child 
was not the occasion of rejoicing. But girls were also taught 
Vedas during the Vedic period. The thread ceremony was also 
performed to female children. There were women scholars like 
Gargi Lopamudra, Visvara, Sikata Nivari and Ghosha. 2  On the 
auspicious occasions both husband and wife had to perform in 
rites (punyE-Vachan)and even now this tradition is current. 
However, by the early centuries of Christian era a 
a general decline of the woman has set in. 
Position of royal woman:  
The earliest reference to the women from royal families 
of Goa is from Prithvimallavarman's copper plate which 
mentions that Chetasadevi, the daughter of Nellika on 
triyodasi (13th day) of Shukla paksha of Jyestha donated 
field. 3  From this is evident that the queen could exercise 
influence over the king in making grants to Brahmins. The 
mention to the women of early Chalukya ruler Vijayabhattarika 
who ruled in Iridige Vishaya is found in the copper plate. 4 
 These copper plates also bear testimony to the status and 
position enjoyed by the women from the royal families. For 
exercising influence over the king in issuing grants or 
shouldering administrative responsibility some training and 
education were essential. The women from the royal families 
and the elite were taught writing and reading. The women from 
the ruling dynasties of the region took keen interest in 
patronising ,,learning and art. The chief queen Kamaladevi of 
Peramadi, Kadamba ruler of Goa was a great patron of 
learning. Kamladevi with the assistance of Peramadi founded a 
number of agraharas. In these agrahargs, Veda, VedEngas, 
Nyaya, Mimansa, Siinkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Smriti, ItihTt .'s and 
purana's were taught. The queen Kamladevi built Narayan temple 
and Mahglaxmi temple. 5  
As regards the marriage among the royal families as well 
as other sections of the Hindu society, It was considered as 
one of the important 'sacraments (samskara) The objectives of 
Hindu marriage were duty (dharma), progeny (prals) and 
pleasure (Kima). 8 	 There were no pre-puberty marriages in 
Vedic period: However, by e. 200 A.D. the smriti  writers 
started advocating pre-puberty marriages and these became 
popular only among Brahmins. Among Kshatriyas there were no 
child marriages even up to the Vijayanagara period. 7  The 
Kshatriya women particularly from the ro;a1 families had 
considerable freedom in choosing their life partners. The 
references to such svayamvaras are available. 
The matrimonial alliances among the royal families of the 
Deccan were common. There were matrimonial alliances between 
Ishvakus and Kaikeyas. 8  Kadambas of Banavasi and the 
Vakatakas and the Kadambas and Guptas. 9  The Narendra 
inscription records that when the Kadamba king. Chattaya went 
towards  .?the country of Mammuni of Thane, the 
latter welcomed him and gave his daughter to him. He presented 
five lakh gold coins to his son-in-law. 
10 
 Similarly Jayakesi 
I the son of Sastadeva gave his daughter to Chalukyas emperor 
Vikramaditya. Hemachandra refers the royal marriage of the 
Kadambas of Goa and Chalukyas of Gujrat in Devashraya. 
 Mayanalladevi the daughter of Jayakesi I fell in love with 
king Karna of Gujrat and subsequently they were married. 1 1 
The kings married many wives and the favourite among them 
was the chief queen. Due to polygamy practised by many rulers, 
their harems were full of rivalry and jealousy. A queen had 
the title "Whip to the backs of rival wives of high repute." 
Page 4


POSITION OF WOMEN 
Man was engaged from the beginning of the civilisation in 
procuring food and shelter for his family. Women had to 
shoulder the responsibility of rearing children and 
maintenance of the house hold. In Sanskrit housewife is called 
grahini. It is said that the prosperity and reputation of the 
family entirely depend upon the grahini. 1  The position of 
women enjoyed in any society is the index of the civilisation 
and culture of the society. If woman enjoyed good position and 
had status in the society, it ushered in the development of 
the family at the lowest level, and finally the development 
of the society and the civilisation itself. 
From the Vedic period onwards the birth of female child 
was not the occasion of rejoicing. But girls were also taught 
Vedas during the Vedic period. The thread ceremony was also 
performed to female children. There were women scholars like 
Gargi Lopamudra, Visvara, Sikata Nivari and Ghosha. 2  On the 
auspicious occasions both husband and wife had to perform in 
rites (punyE-Vachan)and even now this tradition is current. 
However, by the early centuries of Christian era a 
a general decline of the woman has set in. 
Position of royal woman:  
The earliest reference to the women from royal families 
of Goa is from Prithvimallavarman's copper plate which 
mentions that Chetasadevi, the daughter of Nellika on 
triyodasi (13th day) of Shukla paksha of Jyestha donated 
field. 3  From this is evident that the queen could exercise 
influence over the king in making grants to Brahmins. The 
mention to the women of early Chalukya ruler Vijayabhattarika 
who ruled in Iridige Vishaya is found in the copper plate. 4 
 These copper plates also bear testimony to the status and 
position enjoyed by the women from the royal families. For 
exercising influence over the king in issuing grants or 
shouldering administrative responsibility some training and 
education were essential. The women from the royal families 
and the elite were taught writing and reading. The women from 
the ruling dynasties of the region took keen interest in 
patronising ,,learning and art. The chief queen Kamaladevi of 
Peramadi, Kadamba ruler of Goa was a great patron of 
learning. Kamladevi with the assistance of Peramadi founded a 
number of agraharas. In these agrahargs, Veda, VedEngas, 
Nyaya, Mimansa, Siinkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Smriti, ItihTt .'s and 
purana's were taught. The queen Kamladevi built Narayan temple 
and Mahglaxmi temple. 5  
As regards the marriage among the royal families as well 
as other sections of the Hindu society, It was considered as 
one of the important 'sacraments (samskara) The objectives of 
Hindu marriage were duty (dharma), progeny (prals) and 
pleasure (Kima). 8 	 There were no pre-puberty marriages in 
Vedic period: However, by e. 200 A.D. the smriti  writers 
started advocating pre-puberty marriages and these became 
popular only among Brahmins. Among Kshatriyas there were no 
child marriages even up to the Vijayanagara period. 7  The 
Kshatriya women particularly from the ro;a1 families had 
considerable freedom in choosing their life partners. The 
references to such svayamvaras are available. 
The matrimonial alliances among the royal families of the 
Deccan were common. There were matrimonial alliances between 
Ishvakus and Kaikeyas. 8  Kadambas of Banavasi and the 
Vakatakas and the Kadambas and Guptas. 9  The Narendra 
inscription records that when the Kadamba king. Chattaya went 
towards  .?the country of Mammuni of Thane, the 
latter welcomed him and gave his daughter to him. He presented 
five lakh gold coins to his son-in-law. 
10 
 Similarly Jayakesi 
I the son of Sastadeva gave his daughter to Chalukyas emperor 
Vikramaditya. Hemachandra refers the royal marriage of the 
Kadambas of Goa and Chalukyas of Gujrat in Devashraya. 
 Mayanalladevi the daughter of Jayakesi I fell in love with 
king Karna of Gujrat and subsequently they were married. 1 1 
The kings married many wives and the favourite among them 
was the chief queen. Due to polygamy practised by many rulers, 
their harems were full of rivalry and jealousy. A queen had 
the title "Whip to the backs of rival wives of high repute." 
The queen was supposed to treat her subjects both rich and 
poor without discrimination. Queen used to participate in the 
public functions. 12  
Purda System:  
It seems, that by 300 A.D. some royal families thought 
that the women from their families should be seen by the 
selected few while moving in public. However, from the 
evidences it is clear that purda  system was confined to 
northern India. The paintings of Ajanta and the data from 
Dharmashdstras  and classical literature clearly reveals that 
there was no purda system in South India and particularly in 
Goa. 13 
Marriage and dowry system among Brahmins and the masses:  
It has been mentioned earlier that by c. 200 A.D. child 
marriage became common among Brahmins and the masses. The 
intercaste marriages became rare after c. 800 A.D. 14  As in 
other regions of the country in Goa a special social function 
was held when a married girl commenced her first menstrual 
period. From this it is evident that there were pre—puberty 
marriages in Goa also. 15  Due to the rigidity of caste rules, 
finding a suitable match for the girls seems to have become a 
problem for the parents." 
Dowry system is associated with consummation of marriages 
Page 5


POSITION OF WOMEN 
Man was engaged from the beginning of the civilisation in 
procuring food and shelter for his family. Women had to 
shoulder the responsibility of rearing children and 
maintenance of the house hold. In Sanskrit housewife is called 
grahini. It is said that the prosperity and reputation of the 
family entirely depend upon the grahini. 1  The position of 
women enjoyed in any society is the index of the civilisation 
and culture of the society. If woman enjoyed good position and 
had status in the society, it ushered in the development of 
the family at the lowest level, and finally the development 
of the society and the civilisation itself. 
From the Vedic period onwards the birth of female child 
was not the occasion of rejoicing. But girls were also taught 
Vedas during the Vedic period. The thread ceremony was also 
performed to female children. There were women scholars like 
Gargi Lopamudra, Visvara, Sikata Nivari and Ghosha. 2  On the 
auspicious occasions both husband and wife had to perform in 
rites (punyE-Vachan)and even now this tradition is current. 
However, by the early centuries of Christian era a 
a general decline of the woman has set in. 
Position of royal woman:  
The earliest reference to the women from royal families 
of Goa is from Prithvimallavarman's copper plate which 
mentions that Chetasadevi, the daughter of Nellika on 
triyodasi (13th day) of Shukla paksha of Jyestha donated 
field. 3  From this is evident that the queen could exercise 
influence over the king in making grants to Brahmins. The 
mention to the women of early Chalukya ruler Vijayabhattarika 
who ruled in Iridige Vishaya is found in the copper plate. 4 
 These copper plates also bear testimony to the status and 
position enjoyed by the women from the royal families. For 
exercising influence over the king in issuing grants or 
shouldering administrative responsibility some training and 
education were essential. The women from the royal families 
and the elite were taught writing and reading. The women from 
the ruling dynasties of the region took keen interest in 
patronising ,,learning and art. The chief queen Kamaladevi of 
Peramadi, Kadamba ruler of Goa was a great patron of 
learning. Kamladevi with the assistance of Peramadi founded a 
number of agraharas. In these agrahargs, Veda, VedEngas, 
Nyaya, Mimansa, Siinkhya, Yoga, Vedanta, Smriti, ItihTt .'s and 
purana's were taught. The queen Kamladevi built Narayan temple 
and Mahglaxmi temple. 5  
As regards the marriage among the royal families as well 
as other sections of the Hindu society, It was considered as 
one of the important 'sacraments (samskara) The objectives of 
Hindu marriage were duty (dharma), progeny (prals) and 
pleasure (Kima). 8 	 There were no pre-puberty marriages in 
Vedic period: However, by e. 200 A.D. the smriti  writers 
started advocating pre-puberty marriages and these became 
popular only among Brahmins. Among Kshatriyas there were no 
child marriages even up to the Vijayanagara period. 7  The 
Kshatriya women particularly from the ro;a1 families had 
considerable freedom in choosing their life partners. The 
references to such svayamvaras are available. 
The matrimonial alliances among the royal families of the 
Deccan were common. There were matrimonial alliances between 
Ishvakus and Kaikeyas. 8  Kadambas of Banavasi and the 
Vakatakas and the Kadambas and Guptas. 9  The Narendra 
inscription records that when the Kadamba king. Chattaya went 
towards  .?the country of Mammuni of Thane, the 
latter welcomed him and gave his daughter to him. He presented 
five lakh gold coins to his son-in-law. 
10 
 Similarly Jayakesi 
I the son of Sastadeva gave his daughter to Chalukyas emperor 
Vikramaditya. Hemachandra refers the royal marriage of the 
Kadambas of Goa and Chalukyas of Gujrat in Devashraya. 
 Mayanalladevi the daughter of Jayakesi I fell in love with 
king Karna of Gujrat and subsequently they were married. 1 1 
The kings married many wives and the favourite among them 
was the chief queen. Due to polygamy practised by many rulers, 
their harems were full of rivalry and jealousy. A queen had 
the title "Whip to the backs of rival wives of high repute." 
The queen was supposed to treat her subjects both rich and 
poor without discrimination. Queen used to participate in the 
public functions. 12  
Purda System:  
It seems, that by 300 A.D. some royal families thought 
that the women from their families should be seen by the 
selected few while moving in public. However, from the 
evidences it is clear that purda  system was confined to 
northern India. The paintings of Ajanta and the data from 
Dharmashdstras  and classical literature clearly reveals that 
there was no purda system in South India and particularly in 
Goa. 13 
Marriage and dowry system among Brahmins and the masses:  
It has been mentioned earlier that by c. 200 A.D. child 
marriage became common among Brahmins and the masses. The 
intercaste marriages became rare after c. 800 A.D. 14  As in 
other regions of the country in Goa a special social function 
was held when a married girl commenced her first menstrual 
period. From this it is evident that there were pre—puberty 
marriages in Goa also. 15  Due to the rigidity of caste rules, 
finding a suitable match for the girls seems to have become a 
problem for the parents." 
Dowry system is associated with consummation of marriages 
as dakshina. Hence this is called Varadakshina (the gift 
offered to the bride grooms). This gift consisted of cash or 
gold. 17  Among the masses the amount of the dowry was not 
sizable. The father of the bride offered dowry according his 
capacity. The Konkani proverb cautions the bride-groom not to 
be fascinated by the amount of dowry offered by the father-in-
law. If the bride-groom accepts huge amount of dowry, he would 
be a slave of his wife (at least a hen-packed husband) 18 . 
Another Konkani proverb says that the culture which the mother 
of the bride has transmitted to the daughter remains but not 
the dowry given by the father. 19  Dowry is not permanent asset 
and this might vanish if it is not in the sate custody of the 
newly married boy. Therefore, the society which coined these 
proverbs was against the dowry system and attached 
considerable importance to the cultural background of the 
bride. Yet another proverb of Konkani adumbrates the similar 
sentiments. Observe the mother and then marry the girl, as you 
taste the quality of the milk while purchasing the buffalo. 20 
 From the above proverbs it is evident that mother had an 
important role to play in educating the girl in shouldering 
the responsibility of the joint family. A girl who had not yet 
reached teen-age has to go to the house of in-laws and the 
husband of the girl was one of the member of the joint 
family. The family consisted of father-in-laws, brother and 
their wives, the brothers and sisters of husband etc. 
Therefore, the mother had to train her daughter to serve the