What was the status of women in later vedic period?
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According to one view women during the Vedic period occupied an exalted position and they enjoyed a fair amount of personal freedom and equal rights with men. But another view holds that birth of a girl was not a welcome event. However she did not suffer due to that reason. She was given all the privileges entitled to a son. No discrimination was made on the basis of education. At least twenty women composed Rig Vedic Hymns. Gargi and Maitreyi were the leading philosophers of the time.
Women, in the Vedic era, so excelled in the sphere of education that even the deity of learning was conceived of as a female popularly known as ‘Saraswati’. Girls were allowed to enter into the Gurukulas along with boys. There are also instances of female Rishis, such as Ghosa, Kakhivati Surya Savitri, Indrani, Shradha Kamayani, Yami Shachi, Poulomi, Urvashi etc. Marriage in the Vedic Period was considered a social and religious duty and united the couple on an equal footing.
The couple prayed that their love and friendship should not break down. The Vedic literature also contained that the Kshatriya girls were allowed to settle marriages in accordance with their own wishes. This was done through the custom of ‘Swayavara’ or self choice. This is an indicator of their dignified status in the Vedic society.
Women, in the Vedic era, so excelled in the sphere of education that even the deity of learning was conceived of as a female popularly known as ‘Saraswati’. Girls were allowed to enter into the Gurukulas along with boys. There are also instances of female Rishis, such as Ghosa, Kakhivati Surya Savitri, Indrani, Shradha Kamayani, Yami Shachi, Poulomi, Urvashi etc. Marriage in the Vedic Period was considered a social and religious duty and united the couple on an equal footing.
The couple prayed that their love and friendship should not break down. The Vedic literature also contained that the Kshatriya girls were allowed to settle marriages in accordance with their own wishes. This was done through the custom of ‘Swayavara’ or self choice. This is an indicator of their dignified status in the Vedic society.
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