Since child-marriages were common, position of child-widows was pitiable, since their very existence or seeing their face early in the morning was considered a bad omen.
They tried to lead a pious and austere life presently to earn auspicious existence in next birth.
But the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 has removed all such obstacles which restrain a widow from taking an adoption.
But during the later Vedic age and the early medieval era, the sublime status of women went on a downslide.