MALATI and Madhava is the title of a drama by Bhavabhuti, in which the social life of the Hindu race is largely represented. It was translated by Professor Wilson. Malati puts on her bridal dress in presence of the deity. It was customary also amongst the Greeks for the intended bride to pay her adoration to some deity before her marriage, usually to Diana ; but at Athens no virgin was allowed to be married before worshipping Minerva, who was the tutelary deity of the city. Madhava's passion is described as ' Heard, felt, and seen, possesses every thought, Malati alone fills every sense, and pants in every vein.
The passion of Malati is equally intense with that of Juliet ; but her unconquerable reserve even to the extent of denying her utterance tc him she loves more than life, is a curious picture of the restraint to which the manners of Hindu women were subjected, even whilst they were in enjoyment, as appears from the drama, of con siderable personal freedom. Megasthenes tells ue that the Indians of his time did not communicate their metaphysical doctrines to women, thinking that, if their wives understood their doctrines, and learned to be indifferent to pleasure and pain, and to consider life and death as the same, they would no longer continue to be the slaves of others. We find from the later ceremonial sutras (Srauta and Grihya sutra) that women were not allowed tc learn the sacred songs of the Vedas, the know ledge of which constituted one of the principal acquirements of a Brahman before he was admitted to the performance of the sacrifices. Menu ix.
and 18 says, Women have no business with the text of the Vedas, thus is the law fully settled ; having therefore no evidence of law, and no knowledge of expiatory texts, sinful women must be as foul as falsehood itself, and this is a fixed rule.' The practice of the wife worshipping the husband is very ancient. In the drama styled Ratnavali, or the Necklace, Vasavadatta, after worshipping the image of the deity, her attendant says ' The worship of the divinity concluded, be pleased, madam, to pay adoration to your lord. Vasava. Where are the flowers and unguent? ' Kanch. Here, madam.' On which Vasavadatta worships the king. This is conformable to the Bhavishyottara Purana, which directs, having offered adoration to the mind-born divinity, let the wife worship her husband with ornaments, flowers, and rannent. Thinking internally with entire complacency, This is the god of love.'—llind. neat. it. pp. 67, 122, 275 ; Muller, Hindu Literature.