Women’s Education in Ancient India
Keywords:
women, ancient, education, free, mantras, philosophy, societyAbstract
The general position of women in ancient India was unique. They enjoyed high status and independence in the society. An unmarried young learned daughter ought to be married to a learned bridegroom. Early marriage was not in vogue in those days. Even girls could freely choice their husbands. The customs of infant marriage and enforced widowhood were not prevalent in Vedic India. Women in ancient India had free access to education. They were expected to participate in Vedic sacrifices and utter mantras. Even some of the hymns of the Rigveda were composed by poetesses. We get references of such learned ladies as Visvavara, Lopamudra, Apala, Urvasi, Ghosa, Sulabha, Lilabati, Maitreyi, Saswati, Kshana, Gargi and others. Maitreyi, the celebrated wife of the most learned philosopher of ancient India, Yajnavalka, used to hold discussion on abstruse philosophical questions with her husband.
References
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3. Gautam Griha Sutra 2.1. 19.20 cited, above mentioned
4. Ashava lion Griha Sutra 3.4, quoted,
5. Hariat samskara prakash, quoted above, Ibid
6. Theri Gatha, Mishra, Ibid
7. Jataka, page 301, Ibid
8. Manusmriti, 2.56,9.18 Ibid
9. Shatapath Brahmin, 2.8. 3 Ibid
10. Boudhayana Dharmasutra 4.45 Above
11. Manusmriti quoted Ibid
12. Koram Purana quoted Ibid
13. Brihadaranyaka Purana quoted Ibid
14. Mahabharata 4.1.14.3.155, Nilkanth Tika with Kolkata 1946
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17. Mahabharata, above mentioned
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19. Ibid 20. Ramayana 2.
20. 20.16,4.16.12 Ibid
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22. Ibid
23. Gita, 9.32 Udrit, Sharma, Ibid, page 66
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25. Uttararamachari T, Issue 2, Mitra Ibid, 537
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27. Malti Madhava Issue 1 Egypt, Ibid
28. Vayu Purana 72.13-15 Brahman Purana, 30.28.29 Mishra Ibid
29. Vishnu Purana 3.10.19
30. Brahmin Purana 2.13.20
31. Matsya Purana 20-27 Quoted Egypt Above
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33. Manusmriti 2.67
34. Rigveda 8.91.56
35. Above 1.2.3.6
36. Above 1.92.4
37. Tetria Samhita 6.1.65 Shatapatha Brahmin 14.3.1.5 .35 Ibid
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