Women’s property rights in early medieval India, roughly between 750 and 1206 CE, were shaped by prevailing social customs, religious norms, regional practices and the nature of family and inheritance systems. Although women generally occupied a subordinate position in patriarchal society, they possessed certain forms of property rights, particularly through the institution of *stridhana* (women’s property). *Stridhana* constituted the most important form of property traditionally associated with women. It included gifts received by a woman at the time of marriage, as well as gifts from her parents, husband, relatives and sometimes her children. Movable wealth such as jewellery, ornaments, clothes, money and other valuables commonly formed part of *stridhana*. In principle, such property was regarded as belonging to the woman herself, although the extent to which she could independently control or dispose of it varied according to social circumstances and customary practices. Inheritance rights were more restricted. The dominant patrilineal family structure generally gave preference to male heirs, particularly sons. Land and other immovable property were usually transmitted through the male line. Daughters ordinarily did not receive an equal share in ancestral property, especially after marriage, because