This book examines the existing myths regarding the historical views of women in India: (a) that women in early India were a homogenous category; (b) that the dharmauastras (ancient scripture on code of conduct) are the foundational documents of 'Hindu' way of life, responsible for tightening the noose around the lives of women in India; and (c) that the dharmauastras are the representative texts of Indian tradition, seeking to protect Indian women under specific historical circumstances. The book also argues that gender relations were shaped and manifested differently across different regions and cultures in early India, and that the dharmauastras may neither be considered as foundational documents nor can they be considered as representative texts of Indian tradition. The dharmauastras were only one of the many genres of literature produced in ancient India.