Women

In the dharma literature, women from
all social groups were considered at the
same ritual level as shudras—they could
not undergo a second birth, were forbidden to hear the Vedas, were forbidden to
perform certain religious rites, and in
many places could not own property or
resources, except by extension through
their husbands. At the same time,
women played (and play) an immensely
important part in Hindu religious life, as
daughters, mothers, wives, and patrons.
According to the traditional dharma literature women had their own special
role to play, based on their status as
women. See also stridharma.