Concept of Stridhana or Woman's Property in Hindu Law

The word ‘Stridhana’ is equated with the practice of dowry but in Hindu law, the word means ‘woman’s property.’ The word has different meanings when used in connotation with different schools of Hindu law. For instance, Yajnavalkya defined Stridhana with a broad perspective, spanning whatever is given as gifts before the nuptial fire by the bride’s father, mother, husband or brother or kindred or presented to by her husband on marrying another wife.

Hindu Law: Commentators on Stridhana or Dowry

In Hindu law, there are about 80 different sages who were authors of Smritis, and from this, eight commentators were highly referenced and followed based on their interpretations of the term Stridhana. They are:

• Manu
• Narad
• Vishnu
• Katyayana
• Apastamba
• Vyasa
• Devala
• Yajnavalkya

Hindu Law: Six Types of Stridhana or Woman's Property

The ancient Hindu law giver, Manu, covered six types of Stridhana:

• Gifts that are made before the nuptial fire before which a Hindu groom and bride are wed.
• Gifts that are made at the time of the bridal procession while the bride is being taken from her parental home to her new home, namely, that of her husband.
• Gifts that are given as a token of love from her in-laws and her elders in the family.
• Gifts from the father.
• Gifts from the mother.
• Gifts from the brother.

Hindu Law: Gifts from Strangers Are Not Stridhana or Woman's Property

Another highly revered Hindu thinker, Katyayana also enumerates six types of Stridhana but he excluded the category of gifts from strangers to the bride stating that such gifts belong to the husband’s dominion and this cannot be treated as a woman’s property.