Women

  • Hail the Fire Goddesses

    Hail the Fire Goddesses

    While some have argued that these sati practices were a means by which women protected themselves from being violated by invaders, the fact remains that sati stones began to appear in almost every corner of India, at least five centuries before the rise of the Islamic period of India…

  • Flames of Fidelity

    Flames of Fidelity

    No one knows when the pan-Indian practice of warrior widows burning themselves with (sahagamana) or without (anugamana) the corpse of their husband came to be known as ‘sati’ — a word that means the chaste wife. The inhuman practice was strongly linked to the belief in fidelity-magic; that a woman who thinks of no one…

  • Who Did Draupadi Love?

    Who Did Draupadi Love?

    The story of Draupadi fascinates many because she had five husbands. She did not choose to marry five men—she was instructed to do so. In mythology, no one demands explanations when men have multiple wives. …

  • Holi for Shiva, Holi for Vishnu

    Holi for Shiva, Holi for Vishnu

    Why do we celebrate Holi? The standard answers we get in websites link Holi to Vishnu—he who preserves the world as per Hindu mythology…

  • Faithful Husbands, Faithful Wives of the Ramayana

    Faithful Husbands, Faithful Wives of the Ramayana

    Renuka is polluted in thought. Ahalya is polluted in body. Sita is polluted in reputation. …

  • Ravana’s Women

    Ravana’s Women

    Women are shown as Durga, again a warrior, again alone. Bharat Mata is also alone, with a lion and weapons. God is male here and if not male, certainly violent. …

  • Not Blood Or Bones, But Sweets

    Not Blood Or Bones, But Sweets

    Published on 14th May, 2023, in Mid-day. There is one temple of Sachi, wife of …

  • Are You a Harappan or Vedic Woman?

    Are You a Harappan or Vedic Woman?

    Published on 5th March, 2023, in Mid-day. Harappan cities thrived between 2500 BCE and 1900 …

  • Donation of Courtesans

    Donation of Courtesans

    Published on 17th February, 2023, in Economic Times. Chanakya’s Arthashastra talks about appointing a superintendent …

  • The Forgotten Women Who Helped Shape Jainism

    The Forgotten Women Who Helped Shape Jainism

    Jainism follows the path revealed by 24 sages known as Tirthankara, who appear in every …

  • Bindi: A Homage to the Devadasi

    Bindi: A Homage to the Devadasi

    Published on 20th November, 2022, in Mid-day. Devadasis, a crude catch-all word used to describe …

  • A Brief History of the Lion-Kings of Andhra

    A Brief History of the Lion-Kings of Andhra

    Published on 3rd July, 2022, in Times of India. Everyone knows about the famous Venktateshwara …

  • How Trade Blossomed an Exchange of Ideas Between India and Arabia.

    How Trade Blossomed an Exchange of Ideas Between India and Arabia.

    Published on 26th February, 2022, in Times of India. Indians had been trading with Arabs …

  • Do Vedas Permit a Man to Marry a Man?

    Do Vedas Permit a Man to Marry a Man?

    Published on 30th November, 2021, in Economic Times. The world’s oldest wedding hymn is found …

  • Festival Of Women, By Women, For Women

    Festival Of Women, By Women, For Women

    Published on 12th September, 2021, in Mid-day. The word ‘teej’ refers to the third day …

  • ‘Thali’, ‘handi’, ‘paniki’

    ‘Thali’, ‘handi’, ‘paniki’

    ‘Thali’, ‘handi’, ‘paniki’: Unique Inventions of the Indian Kitchen by Women Who Remain Nameless Published …