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Women enjoyed intellectual freedom in ancient India and were able to attend gurukuls alongside boys in their pursuit of knowledge. During the Vedic Age, women like Gargi, Maitreyi, Lopamudra engaged their learned counterparts in debates while women also composed many hymns that are there in the Vedas.
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Vedic Scriptures The Vedas are the primary sacred texts of the Hindus which command the highest authority. Since they were not authored by man but revealed by God to the enlightened rishis they are self-authoritative, needing no external endorsement or legitimacy. Next in importance are the Smruti shastras. Smruti mean "remembrance". The Smruti shastras were written by great seers based on the teachings they remembered from their spiritual masters. The authority of these shastras is derived from the spiritual standing of their authors and their congruence with the Vedas. Yet, since the Smruti shastras are man-made, they are considered secondary to the Shruti shastras. The Smruti shastras include a large number of heterogeneous works like the Dharma Shastras, the Itihasas or epics (Rarnayana and Mahal:Jharata), and the Puranas. The source of the Dharma Shastras lies in one of the six Vedangas (limbs of Veda). Among the Vedangas, the Kalpasutras deal with the correct performance of rituals. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Women in Ancient India Women enjoyed intellectual freedom in ancient India and were able to attend gurukuls alongside boys in their pursuit of knowledge. During the Vedic Age, women like Gargi, Maitreyi, Lopamudra engaged their learned counterparts in debates while women also composed many hymns that are there in the Vedas. Therigatha or ‘Verses of the Elder Nuns’ is a Buddhist Scripture and is the earliest known collection of work composed only by women in 600 B.C. This short collection gives us a peek into the life of women and is a glorious affirmation of the status of women who were equal or more to men in spiritual attainment. Contributions to Therigatha come from a bereaved mother, a nun who was formerly a prostitute, a wealthy heiress who gave up her riches and from the Buddha’s stepmother, Maha Prajapati. Bhikkuni Samyutta is another rich text that details the role of women in the early Sangha. The status of women in the Vedic age and thereafter was quite exalted in ancient India. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Women of Bharat Historic Annie Besant Among the foreigners who made India their home and strived for the revival of the country’s glorious heritage, the legacy of Annie Besant stands unsurpassed. She was a writer and orator and with passion, power, eloquence and sincerity of conviction she sought to awaken India from her deep slumber and recognise her spiritual greatness. She felt that Hindu religion was as vast and deep as an ocean which enabled both extremes- the great and the strong to love and have his or her own religious experience and at the same time its shallow ponds for the weak and timid to safely swim. She felt that education and religion were interconnected and Manava Dharma could be graded according to the inner nature and inclination of each. Before she came to India she passed through various phases of housewife, trade unionist, feminist, atheist and Fabian socialist. One of her greatest contributions is to bring forth to the world, the renowned philosopher J. Krishnamurti. She had brilliant facets to her character and was described as a ‘Diamond Soul’. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Lakshmibai Kelkar Mausiji Lakshmibai was born in the Mahal district of Nagpur in the year 1905. She was named Kamal meaning lotus. Her parents were Bhaskar Rao Datey, a Government servant and Yashodabai a homemaker. In those days of British rule, purchasing and reading papers like ‘Kesari’ written by Lokmanya Tilak was looked upon as an act of treason if one was a Government servant but her mother would purchase the paper and call all the ladies for a combined reading. Thus Lakshmibai’s deep love for the motherland, organising capacity, fearlessness and dauntless spirit came to her from her parents. As a child, the songs, rituals and stories of Hindu legends left an indelible mark on her young mind and she loved going to the temple. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Mirra Alfassa Among the Western Gurus who propagated Hinduism while making India their home, the name of Mirra Alfassa or Mother Mira of Pondicherry shines in the list of saints and seers who tried to bring about a fundamental change in human existence along with her Master Shri Aurobindo which they believed would culminate in a ‘Divine Life on earth’. They believed that there was a new Spiritual Power in the universe called ‘Supermind’ which was an extension of the Divine Consciousness and which could descend into the earth’s atmosphere and effect changes in individual consciousness thus ushering a Divine life on earth. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Mother Sarada Devi In India, the name of one woman stands out as an epitome of self-sacrifice and purity who looked upon herself as a mother of all beings serving them as her children throughout her whole life. This was the great Holy Mother Sarada Devi. She was the spiritual counterpart and wife of the nineteenth-century mystic saint of Bengal Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Mother Sarada Devi is considered the ideal for women in the modern age on account of her simplicity, purity, unconditional love, selfless service and spiritual illumination. She exhorted everyone to develop a personal relationship with God and strive for discrimination and ecstatic love for the Supreme Being. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Rani Durgavati Rani Durgavati was born in the year 1524 at Banda Uttar Pradesh in the fort of Kalanjar. Her father was the Chandel ruler Raja Keerat Rai and her mother was the daughter of the famous Rajput King Maharana Sangha. From a very young age she was well versed in horse riding, sword fighting and archery. She soon grew up to be a brave and beautiful woman and in order to strengthen the dynasty her father got her married to Dalpat Shah who was the eldest son of King Sangram Singh of the Gond dynasty. According to legends she had many suitors but Dalpat Shah was greatly attracted by her courage and beauty but being of a lower caste was not at first granted permission. When he was persistent he challenged her father in battle and won her hand. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Rani Chennamma of Kittur Rani Chennamma was born in the small village of Kakati in Belgaum in the state of Karnataka in the year 1778. Her father was said to be one Dhulappa Desai and finding her to be very intelligent he encouraged her in the knowledge of all fields. From a very young age she received training in sword fighting, archery and horse riding and got private lessons at home. She read Basava Purana and the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata including various history books. She was also said to be a very good hunter. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Rani Padmini Among the great women of India, the name of Rani Padmini of Chittorgarh occupies a place of prime importance as an icon of national honour. Her tale of courage and sacrifice emphasises the importance placed on the honour of Indian women and the sanctity of marriage. In order to avoid capture and dishonour at the hands of Muslim invaders, the women of the royal Rajput clans would perform Jauhar or self-immolation. The Rajputs were a fiercely proud and independent clan, with ideals steeped in tradition and lineage. Rani Padmini or Padmavati, as she was named at birth, was the daughter of King Gandharvasen and Queen Champavati of Singhal. Not much has been mentioned about her childhood and early life, except for the fact that she grew up into a very beautiful woman. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Rani Rashmoni In India Lord Shiva’s consort Mother Parvati or Shakti is considered as the dynamic creative mother aspect of the Godhead. She cannot exist without Shiva and Shiva cannot personify without Shakti. She is the one who creates and at the time of dissolution, it is she who destroys or swallows her own creation. According to the Tantras, the Supreme Energy which is the highest personification of God is feminine. Thus she is contemplated as a Goddess under various names like Durga, Devi, Kali, Lakshmi, Uma, Parvati etc. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Rani Lakshmibai Lakshmibai was born in the year 1828 (though some records state the year as 1835) into a Marathi Brahmin family in the holy town of Varanasi. Her parents were Moropant Tambe and Bhagirathibai. She was named Manikarnika at birth and was nicknamed Manu. She lost her mother at the tender age of four and it was her father who was responsible for bringing her up. Her father worked for the court of Baji Rao Peshwa of Bithoor district who was very fond of her and treated her like his own daughter. Her studies not only included formal education but also horse riding, archery and armament training. Most of her childhood was spent in the palace and her playmates included Tatya Tope and Nana Sahib. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
Women In Jainism Jainism is one of the most ancient religions of India with its core focus being on Ahimsa or non-violence. Also, the main emphasis in Jainism is on liberation of the self or Jiva from rebirth through control of passions and cultivation of Supreme knowledge. This is achieved by stringent disciplines and strict adherence to the doctrines of Jainism thereby eliminating the effects of the consequences of millions of lifetimes to achieve liberation. When this happens one becomes a ‘Jina’ or Conqueror and has no rebirth. The ethical system of Jainism is based on Right Faith, Right Thought and Right Conduct. Email: indianscriptures@gmail.com
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