Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita
by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words
This page relates 鈥�5h. Dress and Ornaments鈥� of the study on women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. These pages discusses the social aspects of women, education, customs of marriage, practices of polyandry and polygamy, descriptions of female deities and various rites and rituals. It is shown how women earned much praise in ancient Indian society. Included are Sanskrit text and references of the Atharvaveda and commentary by Sayana-Acharya.
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5h. Dress and Ornaments
[Full title: 5. Women in the Atharvavedic Society, (h): Dress and Ornaments]
Though there are certain references, in the Atharvaveda, regarding the dresshabits of the then people, yet, very less are specially concerned to the women. In one mantra,[1] the red-coloured dresses of the women have been referred to. 痴腻诲丑奴测补惫补蝉迟谤补 has been mentioned specially for the bride.[2] Kumba, 办耻谤墨谤补 are also mentioned as the dresses of the women, worn over the head.[3] That the women of that period used to wear ornaments may be known from the epithet 艣耻尘产丑补尘腻苍腻, which is interpreted by S膩ya峁嚹乧膩rya as 艣辞产丑补苍腻濒补峁僰腻谤补测耻办迟腻, i.e. well-ornamented.[4] Wearing of bangles,[5] smearing of the eyes,[6] combing and dressing of the hair[7] by the women are also mentioned in the Atharvaveda.
Footnotes and references:
[3]:
办耻谤墨谤补masya 艣墨r峁峁噄 kumba峁� c膩dhinidadhmasi / Ibid., 6.138.3 鈥� 艣墨r峁峁噄 艣irasi 办耻谤墨谤补m ke艣aj膩la峁� kumbam tad膩bhara峁嘺峁� ca str墨峁嚹乵 / 厂腻测补峁嘺, Ibid.
[4]:
Vide, 厂腻测补峁嘺 on Atharvaveda, 11.1.14
[5]:
cf., Atharvaveda, 6.81.3
[6]:
cf., Ibid., 7.36.1
[7]:
cf., Ibid., 14.2.68