What Does Veda Say About the Inheritance Rights of Daughters?

We saw that Surya's daughter is about to get married to Soma Deva. She is appreciating the qualities of her bridegroom. He is so great that he is the nourisher of the Devas. We saw how Soma is part of the cycle that involves Devas, Soma, plants, cows, Manushyas, and Yajnas. This is how the universe is sustained.

One of the mantras revealed to Sooryaa says:

The chariot mounted on which the bride proceeds to her husband's home is her mind. We give too much importance to the body. It is the mind that is important. Her mind has to be with her. Her mind has to take her to the marital home. She should not leave behind her mind in her parental home. That is why, initially itself, she is talking about the qualities of her would-be husband. She is well aware of the qualities in her husband.

Husband means the entire family. How good they are! Here also, she appreciates her husband because he is a giver, he is a provider, not a taker. Only someone who is ready to give, not demand, can be a good husband. This is what Sooryaa appreciates in her husband. These thoughts are what are carrying her to her new home.

Here again, the two wheels of this chariot are compared to the ears, to her ears, which are eager to perpetually hear about the virtues of her family. This is not a situation where the girl has come to a marriageable age, and somehow send her away, get rid of the liability. This is Vedic marriage. People think tradition is that parents decide, and the girl marries whoever they show. This mantra is not saying that.

The girl is well aware of whom she is marrying to the extent that she can narrate the qualities of her would-be husband and his family. She is excited to be a part of that family, to be his wife. The bride sees the groom for the first time in the marriage hall—this is not the case in Vedic marriage. She is well-informed. She is well-informed, meaning she is also part of the decision. Otherwise, why should she have all the information? If it is the father's decision or the parents' decision, why should the bride have all this information? Among Kshatriyas, Swayamvara was the norm. The bride decides whom to marry.

Dowry and Daughter's Inheritance Rights

As per law, we have both an Anti-Dowry Act and the Hindu Succession Act. The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 makes the demand for dowry a crime. Dowry, as per this act, is a demand for money or property in connection with marriage. This is illegal. This is punishable, at least among Hindus.

As per the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, amended in 2005, daughters have equal rights in parental property. Some nuances are there—if it is ancestral property, then equal; if it is self-earned property of parents, then the will prevails. In the absence of a will, then it is an equal right.

Let us see what is there as per the Vedic system. In Veda, presents given to the daughter at the time of marriage are called Vahatu. This is something that the parents of the bride give willingly, joyfully, or voluntarily. There is no demand.

The definition of Vahatu is: 'कन्याप्रियार्थो दातव्यो गवादिपदार्थो वहतुः'

The purpose mentioned is very important. Vahatu is being given for the happiness of the daughter, for her welfare and goodness—not as per a demand. The parents are happily giving it to their daughter for her happiness. They are so eager about her happiness that they give it to her one day before the marriage.

The parents are not even saying, 'After we are gone, you can take half of what we leave behind.' They are so keen about her happiness that they give it one day before itself. This is specified in this mantra by mentioning Nakshatras. If the bride is going to her marital home on Pahlguni Nakshatra, then Vahatu goes on Magha Nakshatra itself, one day before.

Isn't this what every parent wants—that their daughter should live in comfort and happiness? Today, some girls say, 'I will only marry someone who wouldn’t take dowry.' Absolutely, don’t marry someone who demands dowry, who asks, 'How much are you going to bring?' That reveals the character of the person. There will be demands in the future also. You are right.

But whatever your parents give you out of love and affection, be ready to accept that. There is no need to say no to that. There is nothing wrong with this as per Dharma and as per law.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi