Question

As per Sanskrit legal texts women did not have access to property. In reference to the norm how is the case of Prabhavati Gupta exceptional? Explain.

Answer 1

In reference to the norm, the case of Prabhavati Gupta is exceptional for the following reasons:

1. She had access to property rights.

2. The Epigraphical and the textual evidence suggests that while women of the upper class can have access to property rights but cattle and money were generally controlled by men.

3. The inscription shows that she had her authority over land, which she used in granting land to people.  

4. This may have been because Prabhavati Gupta was a queen.

5. It is also likely that the prerequisites of legal documents were not consistently executed.