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While brahmavadinis chose the path of Vedic studies, women who opted out of education for married life were called 'sadyovadhus'.

While brahmavadinis chose the path of Vedic studies, women who opted out of education for married life were called 'sadyovadhus'.

== Women and Yajnas ==

== Women and Yajnas ==

No one can recite veda mantras or perform yajnas without having undergone the initiation called as [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]]. It is thus natural that in the early ages Upanayana of girls was as common as that of boys. 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 in the present day.   

No one can recite veda mantras or perform yajnas without having undergone the initiation called as [[Upanayana (उपनयनम्)|Upanayana]]. It is thus natural that in the early ages Upanayana of girls was as common as that of boys. 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 in the present day.   

Atharvaveda (11.5.18) expressly refers to maidens undergoing the Brahmacharya vrata. Manu also includes Upanayana among the samskaras obligatory for girls (2.66).  

Atharvaveda expressly refers to maidens undergoing the Brahmacharya vrata. <blockquote>ब्रह्मचर्येण कन्या युवानं विन्दते पतिम् । (Atha. Veda. 11.7.18)<ref>Atharvaveda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AD Kanda 11 Sukta 7])</ref></blockquote>Manu also includes Upanayana among the samskaras obligatory for girls (2.66). Yama admits the prevalence of Upanayana for girls in earlier ages.<ref name=":0" />

Rarely we see some Rig veda followers still practice the Upanayana samskara and wearing of yajnopaveeta for female children in the present day.  

Rarely we see some Rig veda followers still practice the Upanayana samskara and wearing of yajnopaveeta for female children even in the present day.  

== ब्रह्मवादिनी  Brahmavādinī ==

== ब्रह्मवादिनी  Brahmavadini ==

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).   

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).   

== सद्योवधुः Sadyovadhu ==

== 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.

‘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, at the age of 16 or 17. The education of sadyovadhus comprised the study of important veda mantras and stotras necessary for the usual prayers and yajnas after marriage.<ref name=":0" />Music and dance were also taught to them them; partiality of women to these arts is often referred to in the vedic literature.  

== References ==

== References ==

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

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