2. StrIdhana according to the dharmazAstra-s StrIdhana means 'any valued object of a woman'. Of course, many problems occur when intepreting this definition. The first is what does "valued object" mean, whether it is wealth, riches, movable and immovable property, money, treasure, capital or gift. The second problem is whether this "valued object" can be given to a woman by anyone, or only by her husband or by other of the owner's near relatives, in order to be considered strIdhana. The third problem is whether this item belonging to the woman can be freely used only by her, or can be used by her and the other members of her family; who can enjoy the dhana? Can the gift be of exclusive use of a wife or not? Who has the right of alienating it in the form of gift, sell, and so on? The fourth problem is that of inheritance rights: who is qualified to inherit the dhana?

2.1. The ManavadharmazAstra and the two commentaries of KullUkabhaTTa and SarvajJa-NArAyaNa Manu IX, 194 enumerates six kinds of strIdhana considered to be as the separate property of the woman:

1. adhyagni, "what (was given) before the (nuptial) fire;
2. adhyAvAhanika, "what (was given) on the bridal procession", that is, when the bride is led in procession from the residence of her parents to her husband's house;
3. prItidatta (or prItidhana), "what was given in token of love";
4. "what was received from her brother,
5. her mother,
6. or father".¹¹

"(Such property), as well as a gift subsequent and what was given (to her) by her affectionate husband, shall go to her offspring, (even) if she dies, in the lifetime of her husband.(195) It is ordained that the property (of a woman married) according to the BrAhma, the Daiva, the Arsha, the GAndarva, or the PrAgApatya rite (shall belong) to her husband alone, if she dies without issue.(196)But it is prescribed that the property which may have given to a (wife) on an Asura marriage or (one of the) other (blamable marriages, shall go) to her mother and to her father, if she dies without issue. (197) Whatever property may have been given by her father to a wife (who has co-wives of different castes), that the daughter (of the) BrAhmaNI (wife) shall take, or that (daughter's) issue. (198) Women should never make a hoard from (the property of) their families which is common to many, nor from their own (husband's particular) property without permission. (199) The ornaments wich may have been worn by women during their husband's lifetime, his heirs shall not divide; those who divide them become outcasts. (200)"

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