The Early Vedic Age can be defined as a period when women were given equal rights with men. Justify this statement with examples. Also find the reasons for the subsequent decline in the position of the women in the Later Vedic Age.

During Rig vedic period, the institution of marriage had become sacred. The daughters were given the freedom to choose their husbands. Widow remarriage was prevalent. There are no examples of child marriage. Women enjoyed right to property and their participation in Yajnas was necessary. This suggests that during the early Vedic Age women were given equal rights with men.

The reasons for the subsequent decline in the position of the women in the Later Vedic Age are as follows:

1. Dominance of Priestly Class: Religious rituals became more complex and male-dominated, reducing women's role in spiritual life.
2. Growth of Patriarchy: Society became more patriarchal, with emphasis on male authority.
3. Early Marriages: Girls were married at a younger age, limiting their educational and personal development.
4. Exclusion from Education and Rituals: Women were gradually excluded from Vedic education and yajnas.