The Inheritance Rights of Widows in Early Bengal

An Analysis of Jīmūtavāhana’s Dāyabhāga

Abstract

This paper provides a critical examination of widows’ inheritance rights in early Bengal, with a focus on Jīmūtavāhana’s Sanskrit treatise Dāyabhāga (12th century CE). This paper delves into the historical, legal, and social fabrics that have shaped and reshaped the property rights of widows in early Bengal. It examines distinctions in the inheritance rights of maidens, wives, and widows, as well as the conditions under which widows could claim their husband’s property. Furthermore, this paper examines the Dāyabhāga’s provisions for widows’ inheritance and why Jīmūtavāhana empowered widows in Bengal with property inheritance rights. By closely analyzing Jīmūtavāhana’s normative text, the paper illuminates the intricate and sometimes contradictory nature of women’s rights in early Bengal, offering insights into the broader status of women in early Indian society. Finally, my analysis highlights the changing social, religious, and economic circumstances in early Bengal that acted as catalysts for recognizing widows’ legal property rights.