The Sutras, Epic and Early Smritis on Women (500BCE-500CE)

The age ofsutras, epic and early smritis extends from 500BCE to 500CE. It is one of the most important periods in Indian history as far as status of women is concerned. This period witnessed various foreign invasions namely the Indo-Greek, the Shakas andthe Kushanas. This was also the phase when many changes were taking placein the socio-economic spheres of the life. The textual sources during this period for constructing social history are mainly the sutras, epics and smritis. These sources throw ample light on the conditions of women, shudras andthe working class. In this essay the emphasis would be on women only. The quest here is to highlight how the law makers laid down the rules that were expected to be followed by women of both the lower and the upper strata of the society. Since gender rules aremajor instruments to safeguard patriarchal institutions, the lawmakers during this phase framed many new laws which resulted in the withdrawal of women from all important public spheres of life. This essay will also focus on the status of women keeping in perspective the changes that was happening inthe economic, political and social spheres of life.