This represents a glorious epoch in history, about which we know very little indeed. The description of this golden age of the past by Yama is in substantial agreement with that of Harita. 'In olden days the investiture with the girdle of Muaja grass was sanctioned for unmarried girls; so was the teaching of Vedas and the uttering of Gayatri prescribed for them. They should be taught by a father, uncle or brother and not by others; and the begging of alms is ordained to take place in their own house only. Wearing of skins and the ragged clothe, as well as the Jata or plaited hair, has to be discarded'. 49

We cannot historically trace the time when women were allowed to teach the Vedas. Tradition has not handed down to posterity the literature detailing the activities of these women. Be that as it may, we cannot doubt the truth of this statement. Socially and politically the struggles of the country were from within and though hordes of foreign tribes like the Hunas and the Arabs were pouring into the Indo-Gangetic plain and western India, their influence was not palpable, but from the beginning of the eleventh century a new change came in with the repeated attacks of the Muslim invaders who not only carried away the wealth of India but also women whom they took as slaves.

With this important change in the political outlook, the elders of society began to devise means of reclaiming these unfortunate abducted women into the folds of Hindu society. A Smriti was composed which was attributed to Devala, consisting of ninety-six verses, which recorded only the expatiatory ceremonies to be performed both by men and women living in Mlechchas' houses, before they could be absorbed back into Hindu society.

The rigidity of the penance depended on the extent of the crime committed. Women of all the four cases, who bad been either carried away by force, or had transgressed the moral code were allowed to return after the performance of these rites, but the extent of Prayaschittam or expatiation was less in the case of the lower castes.