The Position of Women in Hindu Civilisation, from Prehistoric Times to the Present Day c6.35

c6.35

Down to about the 3rd century B. C. girls could remain unmarried till the age of 16; this will be shown in the next chapter. The period before marriage was utilised for imparting education to them. Down to the beginning of the Christian era *upanayana* or the ceremonial initiation into Vedic studies was as common in the case of girls as it was in the case of boys; this will be shown in Chapter VII. The initiation ceremony was followed by a period of discipline and education which was regarded as very essential to secure a suitable match. The Atharvaveda observes that a maiden can succeed in her marriage only if she has been properly trained during the period of studentship (*brahmacharya*)¹. That women are, like Śūdras, ineligible for Vedic studies is the view of a later age; in prehistoric times lady poets themselves were composing hymns, some of which were destined to be included even in the Vedic Saṁhitās. According to the orthodox tradition itself, as recorded in the *Sarvānukramaṇikā*, there are as many as twenty women among the 'seers' or authors of the Ṛigveda. This tradition, however, is partly unreliable, but internal evidence shows that Lopāmudrā, Viśvavārā, Sikatā Nivāvarī and Ghoshā are undoubtedly the authors of the Ṛigveda 1.179, V. 28, VIII. 91, IX. 81.11-20, and X. 39, and 40 respectively. The authors of X. 145 and 159 are undoubtedly ladies, though it may be doubted whether their real names were Indrāṇī and Śachī as recorded by tradition. Among the authors and scholars to whose memory a daily tribute of respect is enjoined to be paid at the time of *brahmayajña*, a few ladies also are seen to figure; they are Sulabhā Maitreyī, Vaḍavā Prāchiteyī, and Gārgī Vāchaknavī (*Āś. G. S.*, III, 4, 4). These ladies must have made real contributions to the advance of scholarship, otherwise their names would not have been recommended for daily remembrance by posterity for all time to come. It is a great pity that we should know nothing about these lady scholars except their names; their works have been all lost, probably for ever.