Reading Notes: Nine Ideal Indian Women Part A

For the second set of readings this week, I've elected to move on from Jataka tales briefly and talk about two tales by Maharanee Sunity Devee. I came across this book earlier in the semester and immediately ordered it. I was curious to look into the ideal woman according to these old myths, and wondering whether their standards for women are consistent in any way with our current standards.

These tales I'll be working through come from the book Nine Ideal Indian Women, and as they are considerably longer than the Jataka tales, I'll only be doing two or three at a time. These stories also have more complex timelines and more characters involved, so I think having more detailed discussion is appropriate.

A depiction of Sati being decorated for her visit to her father that would ultimately be her mortal downfall. This is an original print from the books illustrations.

The first story I read was that of Sati, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy king, who married the beggar god Siva. He was considered the beggar god because he had given everything he was master of in the world away to others, and considered all below him his children. Her sweetness of spirit contrasted with his stoicism and strength. I greatly enjoyed this story as it was a good introduction into that theme of gods not being impervious to the affairs of men. She was a human woman, perfect wife to Siva and faithful, but the drama her father caused ultimately caused immense grief for Siva and the destruction of much of the earth before he was able to recover. This story makes it very clear, as will others, that sweetness of spirit and humility were the most valued traits other than beauty, which was seen as a reflection of internal qualities anyway.

This is Sunity visiting her husband while he sits with his other wife - this was the beginning of all of her troubles. 

The second story, much longer than the first, was Sunity. The author's middle name is Sunity, so I wonder if her connection to this story caused her to include much more detail than some of the others. This story was more complex than most of those I've seen - in many, there is happiness, a great sadness, a resolution, and then lasting happiness. This one has many more ups and downs, and does an incredible job of drawing the reader in to the heartbreak felt pretty consistently by Sunity, but also her strength of spirit that makes you root for her and feel that inner element that the gods blessed her for.

So far, I'm greatly enjoying Devee's rendering of these tales, and look forward to finishing the book!



Citation:
Devee, M. S. (2018). Nine Ideal Indian Women. London: Forgotten Books.