As per the Nilmata Puran, the women in Kashmir is neither considered as ‘the living torch illuminating the way to hell’ nor ‘the demon who devoured of the intellect of men’, as it is mostly stated. There are proofs that the Kashmiri women never wore a veil and used to move freely in the society – as free as men. The Puran also suggests that the Kashmiri women participated in almost all the religious ceremonies and festivals with her men. Not only the festivals at home, a Kashmiri women is seen celebrating freely outside. Kashmiri’s never had a concept of keeping the ladies specially the wifes’ beyond the walls of the house. In the ancient manuscripts she has been portrayed present in all common days feasts, ploughing the fields and sowing the seed, characterized by music and dancing. In ancient Kashmiri Culture, there was a day, called Iramanjari-pujana which meant festival of flowers, on this day all the females were offered garlands and flowers to show them respect and thank them for the duties they do for society. Many such days were celebrated to honor the household ladies like The new snow fall day was for the sisters, the bright half of the moon day in Magha was for the females whose husbands were alive, Madana Trayodashi was celebrated as the day of love where wifes’ used to get a sacred water bath from the hands of her husbands, on the eve of Sukhasuptika festival wife was portrayed as the charm of the bedroom in the night of Dipmala. It is also mentioned that the presentation of the gifts to the females of the family was of a quite significance. Not only family the females were allowed to accept the gifts from friends or people outside the family. There is no denial that Kashmir since has many water-bodies, the water sport must have been common among the resident. There is a mention that the females in Kashmir enjoyed water-sports. The festival called Sravani was a mandate day for all the maiden girls to play and enjoy in the waters. Playing with their men in the waterbodies was also allowed to the ladies. It is said the the ladies used to dress in their beautiful attire, perfumed with scents and beautified with the ornaments used to play with their men on the last day of the Mahinama celebrations. The life long commitments to their men & happiness to the married life are highly prized by the ladies of Kashmir. The female were never marginalized or de-culturalized. Another major factor that the females in Kashmir had a high position in the society was that the Goddesses like Sakuni, Chakreshwari, Brahamacharini and Grahadevi were worshipped by Kashmiri Pandits. Even rivers in Kashmir were personified as the Godesses like Urna transforms herself into the Vitasta, Aditi becomes the Trikoti, Shachi assumes the form of the Harspatha, Diti becomes the Chandravati and Lakshmi turns into the river Visoka, even Mata Kashmira was said to be the incarnation of Goddess Uma. Although we do not have any proof of any sort of occupations done by females, but it is mentioned in the books that Kashmiris laid stress in making females independant and have their own name in the society. Thus it is said that the since their childhood young girls were trained in fine arts, jobs like knitting and threading and tailoring, educated and allowed to move freely in the society. She was capable of speaking Sanskrit and Prakrit fluently. Every girl had an opportunity to learn spirituality along with modern education as per her potential. She was not considered as a burden, rather by marrying a daughter, the father used to get a high religious merit in the society. She was loved and honored by her husband too. The women in Kashmir was respected in homes and highly esteemed outside the house as well. Our Puran also has the mention of the females outside the family – the prostitutes and the dancers in the temples (devdasis). It is said that Kashmiri society did not decry courtesans, rather the prominent ones had a high political status. Also as mentioned in the Nilmata Puran, there was an importance given to the singing and dancing of the courtesans however not to the sexual intercourse with them. Also as per the ancient manuscripts it is said that the foreign invaders who dominated Kashmir used women as the objects of sexual enjoyment and exploited them. The suppression of the women actually increased in the Mughal rule where the divinity of motherhood was almost lost. Towards 14th century she no longer was educated and also was ceased to dabble in any major event. Now the women lost her liberty, she was no longer free in the society, now the emphasis was not laid on teaching her rather she was made to serve others. Now she no longer was the torch holder of our culture rather her respect in the society was reduced. Pandits still managed to keep intact their respect for females from ages. And now Kashmiri Pandit society still continues to have high regards for the women in their society compared to other communities. She still enjoys the freedom of the society – she has power, exercises responsibilities and enjoys a high status. Kashmiri women still in many ways has a btter social status than her counterparts in rest of the regions and communities. Compiled using data from the sources: Koshur Samachar Nilmata Puran Kashmir Sentinel History of Kashmir
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