Women and early medieval period as reflected in the contemporary epigraphs

In Indian history the period between 8^th century A.D. to 12^th century A.D. witnessed many changes on socio-economic front and thus the position of women of the age also underwent this phase. We find women of the affluent class as educated and involved in administrative works, the donations made by the females to the temples, maths and other such charitable activities have an indirect bearing on the proprietary rights of the fair sex. Though the life of the ordinary women folk was deprived of such rights yet the wide prevalence of the practice of Sati mainly observed by the ladies of the upper strata of the society clearly brings out the subordinate position of women in the patriarchal society of India.