Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s9.1126

v2.c4.s9.1126

In Vedic India by far the greater part of a woman’s life was taken up in her marriage and marital relations (see Pati and Mātr). There is no trace in the Rigveda of the seclusion of women, which was practically complete in all but the earliest Epic:⁴ the maiden may be assumed to have grown up in her father’s house, enjoying free intercourse with the youth of the village, and sharing in the work of the house. Education⁵ was not denied to them, at any rate in certain cases, for we hear in the Upaniṣads of women who could take no unimportant part in disputations on philosophical topics. Moreover, women were taught to dance and sing, which were unmanly accomplishments.⁶