Though the term chastity is used in relation to the sexual behavior of men and women, somehow it limited its meaning in due course to the sexual manners of women or rather became a term to chastise women. Yes, it is a jewel to be protected at any cost and the preservation of which becomes the obligation of a female, even if it is at the cost of her life. The male egotism, curious to establish their authority over women made literature and media their weapons and often they created myths on chastity to threaten women of constant vigil over the same. These myths are patriarchal in nature, designed to satisfy the male imagination and cravings. They reflect men’s subliminal desires to subdue women and fear about an intruder into his realm. Here …show more content…
Kanthallur Rajan Mahendra Varman marries Devanayaki and acknowledges her as his eighth queen. At the end of seven days’ pooja, Devanayaki has been directed to wear Aratthali after rituals lasting for a long time. Aratthali was supposed to cover the vagina at front and it was designed in such a way that every physical need was met without any difficulty except the sexual intercourse. The belt or device had a small lock which is called Gharbha Soothram. The key hole of Gharbha Soothram is so small that it can be seen in a close inspection only. The key of the Aratthali is kept by Maharaja and his royal sign is engraved on the Aratthali. When Devanayaki complains of the difficulty for normal walk, her rival advises her that she will be accustomed to that within days and it will become a part of the body. Her rival compares that to building a wall around the castle in order to fortify it. The concept of Aratthali is derived from patriarchal and colonial notion that women and land are the properties of men and it is their duty to safeguard them while even women don’t have any kind of right over their own bodies. This Aratthali jog our memory to chastity belt which were said to be used as an anti-temptation mechanism during the Crusades. When the knight left for the …show more content…
The ordeal by fire or snake to prove purity of a woman is not a novel idea in Indian English Literature while it never cited an instance to prove the same for a man. There was Sita in our great literature who had to undergo fire ordeal in order to convince Rama and his countrymen of her purity. We revere Tara, Mandodari and Savitri who were embodiments of wifely qualities, the most important one being the devotion, devotion even to the extent of carrying one’s husband to a concubine’s house or to the extent of approving the abduction by her husband of another’s wife. Chastity for women is undoubtedly defined and explained, however the institution of extramarital relationships for men is accepted. That is why Indian society still admires Kannagi like figures who will woo sufferings even for her infidel husband. She has been deified in temples and has earned praise as an epitome of wifely devotion, chastity, acclaimed and adored as the embodiment of forgiveness, while the same misdemeanor from Kannagi would have ended in her death. These stories are transmitted to strike a chord with women so that they will not dare to flout traditions and etiquette set for them by their male