Women in ancient Bharat

Sometimes it makes me think, why Rishikas and other women have no historical records taught to us. Is it that hard to find out there importance in our society. Some vested interest in India hid these documents under the carpet.

Women in India had a huge role in developing cultural science, medicine and literature. They have had role in writing various scripts including Vedas and had redirected this society to an extraordinary success of peak.

Sometimes our own history can teach a lot things to us. Today let's see what was the status of women in ancient society of Bharat. People in those days had no gender discrimination. Women enjoyed respectable position in households. In the ancient times, women used to take participation in economic affairs of the society. Even today as well, when a bride enters, she is called "Lakshmi". If being women had been bad in those days, brides would have not been called Lakshmi.

They also took important positions in Sabhas of their tribes. They used to study Vedas & teach in Gurukuls. Many Vedic hymns were written by them. Women also used to perform sandhya vandanam. Sita used to perform it daily in the evening.

A passage from Sundarkand:

Hanuman entering Lanka saw a river on his way. He fell down from the mountain like a beloved (young wife) who fell down after jumping from the lap of a loved one shone by trees whose ends fell down in water or like a woman in anger being detained by her near and dear. That great Hanuman again saw that river with water, turning back like a beloved woman reaching her beloved again, being reconciled to her beloved one. He also saw one shimshupaa tree golden in colour covered with many groups of creepers and with many leaves surrounded everywhere with platforms made of gold. After climing up that shimshupaa tree with well flowered ends, beautiful tree, mature with young shoots and leaves and covered by leaves, Hanuman thought that Seetha might come to that mountain or pond or garden for relief. संध्या काल मनाः श्यामा ध्रुवम् एष्यति जानकी | नदीम् च इमाम् शिव जलाम् संध्या अर्थे वर वर्णिनी || ५-१४-४९ Meaning: The ever youthful one with the best complexion, Seetha interested in the rites of Sandhya time will definitely come to this river with the auspicious water for Sandhya rite. Hanuman reveals that Janaki is interested in performing sandhya vandana.

Hymns were written down with the help of Lopamudra, wife of Rishi Agustya.

Manu had 2 sons & 3 daughters: Akuti, Devahuti and Prasuti. This man educated his daughters well.

Manusmriti: यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता: । यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रियाः ||(3:43) Meaning: Where Women are honoured, divinity blossoms there, and where ever women are dishonoured, all action no matter how noble it may be, remains unfruitful.

This is the famous verse form manusmriti.

Some well known women figures in Hostory have contributed in shaping our society.

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐢, one of the daughters of the Great Manu in language, literature and Philosophy, writes : “When I close my eyes, I can visualize the first Monarch of human race, sitting on the banks of river Saraswati, affectionately watching over his daughter as she pens the most ancient hymns in the most ancient book of spiritual and philosophical thoughts” – Rig-Veda.

𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐢 𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢: daughter of save Vachaknu. According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Gargi was awarded cows by King Janak for challenging great sage's knowledge. Gargi came up with most wise questions in the whole assembly about universe and Atman.

𝗦𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗵𝗮: She immensely contributed in rig vedas & prepared mantra on Ashwini kumars & doctors. It is said that Sage Ghosha suffered with leprosy and was cured by Aswini Kumars. 𝐒𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐲𝐢: According to Mahabharata, she is an unmarried philosopher. She is another prominent figures in Upanishad. She composes: 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 ..𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘴𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳. -Brihadaranyaka

We must ask a question to ourselves. If is okay to depend on the west for what our culture was? Many clear evidences shows how Max Muller and others mistranslated the shastra. They were not the only ones to translate them. Shastra existed before them too. Instead of trusting on them, we can at least search things ourselves. It is not a great thing to vanish the history of women from our culture. Let's give importance to the ancient. Because "ANCIENT WILL RISE AGAIN"