Brahmavadinis (ब्रह्मवादिन्यः)

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 Vac, Ambhrni, Romasa, Gargi, Maitreyi, Khona (Names in bold could not be found) (Will check again) 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)

Co-education existed in the Vedic period and both the male and female students got equal attention from the teacher. Moreover, ladies from the 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.

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

The present day society does not prescribe yagnopaveeta or the sacred thread for women. 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.

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