Literally, the word stridhana means ‘woman’s property’. More elaborately, it refers to ‘separate property of a married woman’. It includes gifts received before, during, or after marriage from family or strangers, and property acquired by her own earnings or skills, over which she has full, unrestricted control, and ownership. The nature of property can be movable or immovable (jewellery, cash, land, etc.).

Traditionally, it was governed by ancient Hindu law. However, Section 14 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, brought a fundamental change in the concept of stridhana. This change is in terms of rights of absolute ownership, i.e., she can enjoy, manage, sell, or gift it freely, unlike a limited ‘woman’s estate’.