India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashtadhyayi c10.s1.54

c10.s1.54

(6) *Women Students*—*Sūtra* IV.1.63 (*Jāte-rastrī-vishayād-ayopadhāt*) as interpreted by Patañjali shows that a woman could be a member of intellectual fellowships like *Charaṇas* which were socially assuming the status of *jāti* or caste (*Charaṇa* as *jāti* is admitted in *gotraṁ cha charaṇaiḥ saha*). The term *Kaṭhī*, for instance, denoted a female member of the Kaṭha school, an individual regarded as foremost of her class being called *Kaṭha-vṛndārikā*, and another deserving of special distinction as *pūjyamāna-Kaṭhī* (II.1.62). The term *Kaṭha-māninī* points to proud honour felt owing to academic lineage as a *Kaṭhī*. *Kaṭhajātīya* and *Kaṭhadeśīya*, understood in the light of Pāṇini V.3.67 (*Īshadasamāptau etc.*) were applied to those who were not full-fledged members of the Kaṭha School, i.e. not endowed with the learning born of academic life therewith but belonging to the fellowship (*jāti*) or the region (*deśa*) of the Kaṭhas.