Question

What was Women's wealth (Streedhan)?

Hint:

Streedhan = Property and gifts exclusively owned by a woman (jewelry, money, land, etc.). It was her personal wealth, independent of her husband, ensuring financial security.

Answer 1

Streedhan literally means "woman’s wealth." It referred to the property, gifts, and wealth that a woman received during her lifetime, especially at the time of her marriage. According to ancient texts like the \textit{Manusmriti}, Streedhan was the woman’s personal property, which she had full rights over and which could not be taken away even by her husband or in-laws.
Streedhan typically included:
- Gifts of jewelry, gold, silver, and clothes given to the bride by her parents, relatives, and husband’s family.
- Land, money, cattle, or movable property received as presents at the time of marriage or other ceremonies.
- Gifts received by a woman at the time of birth of her children, festivals, or family rituals.
The importance of Streedhan lies in the fact that it provided women with financial independence and security in a patriarchal society. Unlike dowry (which was often controlled by the husband’s family), Streedhan legally remained the woman’s own property. It ensured her dignity and acted as a safeguard during times of widowhood or financial crisis.