Brahmavadinis (ब्रह्मवादिन्यः)

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A BrahmavAdini (Sanskrit ब्रह्मवादिनी) is a highly intelligent and greatly learned woman, who chose the path of Vedic studies. Brahmavādinī literally means ‘the woman who speaks about ब्रह्मन् (Parabrahma or Vedanta)’. The ancient Hindu philosophical concept of 'shakti', the feminine principle of energy, extolls the immense mental and physical capabilities of women.   The mention of female scholars and sages of the Vedic age like Vaak Ambhrni, Romasa, Gargi, Ghosha, Maitreyi and Lopamudra in the Vedic literature corroborates this view. Vedic literature praises the birth of a scholarly daughter in these words: "A girl also should be brought up and educated with great effort and care." (Mahanirvana Tantra ???? ); Devi Mahatmyam proclaims that "All forms of knowledge are aspects of Thee; and all women throughout the world are Thy forms." (Reference will check)

Introduction

Co-education existed in the Vedic period and both the male and female students got equal attention from the teacher. Moreover, ladies from the क्षत्रिय || Kshatriya caste received training in martial arts courses and wielding arms. During the Vedic age, women were assigned a high place in society. They shared an equal standing with their men folk and enjoyed a great liberty that actually had societal sanctions. Women were examples for maintaining the basic principles of Santhana Dharma. After completing their education under a Guru they could perform religious rites.

While brahmavadinis chose the path of Vedic studies, women who opted out of education for married life were called 'sadyovadhus'. As in present day, after marriage, the girl became a 'grihini' (wife) and was considered 'ardhangini' or one half of her husband's being. Both of them constituted the 'griha' or home, and she was considered its 'samrajni' (queen or mistress) and had an equal share in the performance of religious rites.  

Women and Yagnopaveeta

Women in Vedic age who pursued vedic studies, could undergo the sacred thread ceremony or 'Upanayana' (a sacrament to pursue Vedic studies), which is only meant for males even to this day.

ब्रह्मवादिनी Brahmavādinī

Brahmavādinīs underwent the sacrament of upanayana, kept the Vedic fires, studied the Vedas under their own father and lived by begging the food, also under the parental roof. They had samāvartana (valedictory rite at the end of the period of Vedic studies) also. They could then marry and settle down in life. The name ‘brahmavādinī’ seems to have been given due to the fact that the girl could recite (vad = to speak or recite) the Vedas (Brahma = Veda).

These learned women were interested in discussing about ब्रह्मन् or Parabrahman, the Absolute, and perform spiritual practices to realize the same.

Maitreyi - The Brhadāranyaka Upaniṣad calls Maitreyi, wife of Yājñavalkya maharshi, as a ‘brahmavādinī’. Yājñavalkya had two wives Maitreyi and Gaatyayani. Once when he intended to provide for their essential material things in his absence, Maitreyi, disregarding the short-lived transient material wealth, asked him to endow them with the long lasting Knowledge that gives them Ultimate Happiness or Sasvata Ananda. She then learns and engages in Vedanta discussions with her husband Yājñavalkya maharshi.

Gargi - She, a very learned scholar, was the daughter of Vachakna rushi, belonging to the lineage of Garga maharshi. She acquired knowledge of the Vedas and scriptures and became renowned for her proficiency in these fields of philosophy, surpassing men in her knowledge. Her philosophical views also find mention in the Chandogya Upanishad. Gargi, as Brahmavaadini, composed several hymns in Rigveda (in X 39. V.28) that questioned the origin of all existence. 

According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, King Janaka of Videha Kingdom held a Rajasuya Yagna and invited all the learned sages, kings and princess of India to participate. Janaka intended to select a scholar from the assembled group of elite scholars, the most accomplished of them all who had maximum knowledge about Brahman and declared a herd of cows as reward for the same. Yajnavalkya asked that the cowherd be driven to his home. Gargi, as one of the disputants in the debate, questioned Yajnavalkya on his claim of superiority among the scholars. Yoga Yajnavalkya, a classical text on Yoga is a dialogue between Gargi and sage Yajnavalkya. Gargi was honoured as one of the Navaratnas (nine gems) in the court of King Janaka of Mithila.

Lopamudra - Lopamudra was the wife of Sage Agasthya. He was a great sage and a man of extraordinary spiritual power. Once it is said that when he was visiting heaven he saw his deceased ancestors with their head downwards. This was a sign of them going to hell. Agasthya was disturbed and when asked them the reason, they said that there was no lineage to continue as he was not married and had no child hence it was Agasthya’s fault. For this purpose he embarked on an unusual course of action. By his yogic powers he created a female who would possess all those characteristics and virtues that would be appropriate in the wife of a renunciate. Meanwhile the King of Vidharbha was noble and virtuous but being childless he was undertaking penances for the gift of a child. Agasthya through his divine powers came to know the plight of the King and arranged for the child to be born as his daughter. The child was named Lopamudra and she grew up in the lap of luxury with the best possible education. When she grew up and reached marriageable age Agasthya approached the King and asked for her hand in marriage. The King was stunned as Agasthya was a renunciate but Lopamudra was insistent that he accept the proposal. Already understanding his daughter’s strength of mind and character, the King agreed and Lopamudra left the riches of the palace to live in the forest at the hermitage of Agasthya. She was a dutiful wife and obeyed his every wish and served him faithfully. When Agasthya told her that he could never give her a royal life Lopamudra asked him to give her the wealth of his knowledge. Lopamudra is said to have written a two stanza hymn asking for Agasthya‘s love and attention as he was always immersed in his austerities. The Rig Veda includes long dialogues between Agasthya and Lopamudra which reflects on the great intelligence and character of Lopamudra. It is said that both of them together were renowned for spreading the eminence of the Lalitha Sahasranama which is the thousand names of the Divine Mother. It is said that Lopamudra has reincarnated as the sacred river Kaveri in present times.

Romasa - Romasa was one of the woman seers to whom hymns of the Rig Veda were revealed. She was a Brahmavadini who underwent the upanayana or thread ceremony, Vedic study and Savitri Vachana (higher studies). She revealed the 126th hymn of the first book of the Rig Veda. Numerous mantras of Sama Veda are also attributed to Romasha. Romasa was said to be the daughter of Brihaspati and the wife of King Swanaya Bhawayabya.

Ghosha - She is revered as a rishika, who was the daughter of Rishi Kakshivan (a descendent of Angiras) and granddaughter of Dirgatamas. As she suffered from a skin ailment(leprosy) from childhood she was unable to get married. She dutifully served her father but continuously prayed to the Ashvini Kumars the divine physicians who were endowed with the power of rejuvenation. Pleased with her deep and sincere prayers the Ashvini Kumars taught her Madhu Vidya, the Science of secret learning which granted her youth and great knowledge and cured her of her ailment due to which she subsequently got a worthy husband. She composed two Rig Veda hymns 39, 49 of Mandal ten each containing 14 verses. The first eulogises the Asvini Devatas and the second is a personal wish expressing her intimate desires and feelings for married life. Her son Suhastya also composed a hymn in the Rig Veda.

Vaak Ambhrni - She is the daughter of Rishi Ambhruna was another famous woman seer of Vedic times. The Devi Sukta in the Rig Veda is attributed to her. She became a Seer inspired with the knowledge of the Self through whom the Goddess Vak proclaimed her own glory. The Devi Sukta is also known as Ambhrni Sukta and it consists of 8 verses and is dedicated to Vak(speech).This hymn is recited at the end of the recitation of Devi Mahatmyam and it sprang forth from the deep recesses of her heart when she was in communion with Brahman. It occurs in the 10th Mandala as Suktam number 125.

सद्योवधुः Sadyovadhu

‘Sadyovadhus’ were those who became vadhus or brides straight-away, (sadyas = at once) on the attainment of puberty, without undergoing the training in the Vedic studies. In their case, the upanayana ceremony was performed just before marriage, as a formality. The practice of performing upanayana for women and teaching them the Vedas also, seems to have disappeared even by the time of the Manusmrti (composed much earlier than A. D. 200). The word brahmavādinī is sometimes applied to the famous Gayatrīmantra also.

References

Brhadāranyaka Upaniṣad 4.5.1 The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore