FOUR FEMININE QUALITIES in Tamil literature

 The four feminine qualities, a woman must possess and a man should look for these characteristics in a woman. Physical beauty is not the only primary consideration in arranged marriages. In Love marriages, physical attraction is the primary condition. Anyway, a man appears beautiful to woman and vice versa under the influence of cupid. Most love marriage fails, because it is not actually love rather superficial attraction of senses. Sensible persons should know this, to look for the characteristics of the woman he wants to marry. Also, women should be trained in these virtues and they naturally possess 4 qualities, but being misled by influence of modernism, women are educated otherwise. 

here are the four qualities of chaste women in sangam literature:

1. Accham (fearfulness/ moral restraint or conscience)
2. Madam (Innocence)
3. Nanam (Shyness)
4. Payrippu (fertility)

FEAR

Women shouldn't be daring bold, to commit sinful activities. Often, men misconstrue this as women must be coward. We have many examples from vedic scriptures and ancient history, women are courageous and up-righteous, yet chaste because of moral conscience. She will be fearful of doing wrong acts. 

INNOCENCE

A cultured women is innocent, she is not exposed to immoral activities just like a child. Of course, mass media had done a significant damage to spoil the innocence in women and children. Again, innocence doesn't mean that women must be kept in ignorance. A women must be educated in such a way that her innocence is preserved. 

"In short, these are the twenty alankaras, feminine moods, expressed by the young vraja-gopis. However, according to the spiritual authorities, besides these twenty emotions there are two more: maugdhya, pretence of unknowing; and cakita, pretence of fear."

Vijaya, "What is maugdhya?"

Gosvami, "When the nayika questions the nayaka about matters of which she is actually fully aware whilst skilfully feigning ignorance of the very same matters, this is maugdhya, feigned unknowing."

Vijaya, "What is cakita?"

Gosvami, "When, by pretence, the nayika apparently becomes extremely frightened in her lover's presence whilst really not feeling fear at all, this is known as cakita, feigned fearfulness."

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Jaiva Dharma 35: Madhurya-rasa, Part Five

SHYNESS

This is an unique feminine attribute. A chaste women is uncomfortable in the presence of other men outside her circle of family and friends or around new people. Even within her family circle she exhibits shyness. In those days, women don't walk around freely in the presence of male family members. There is no frequent touching of male members, which is casual nowadays. There is no free interaction between opposite genders.

FERTILITY 

A pure woman is fertile, like that of a viable crop. She is fertile with many good virtues which may be cultivated further for the welfare of family and for producing virtuous children to continue the family lineage. Just like a fertile seed is cultivated into a tree which yields many fruits and seeds.

These characteristics make women respectable, happy and healthy asset to the family and society. In a Vasinava community like Iskcon, women must have these desirable qualities, which protects and stabilizes the unit.