Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.s6.37

c12.s6.37

The Śrauta or Gṛihya Sūtras mention Vedic Mantras being uttered by the wife at ceremonies along with her husband [e.g. Āśvalāyana *Śr. S.*, i, 11; *Gobhila Gr. S.*, i, 3; ii, 3; *Āpas.*, xii, 3, 12; *Pārask.*, ix, 2, 1]. Gobhila [*Gr. S.*, i, 3] states that the wife should be educated to be able to take part in sacrifices (*nahi khalu anadhītya śaknoti patnī hotumiti*). Again, Adhikaraṇa III of Chapter I of Jaimini's *Pūrva-Mīmāṁsā* is taken by Sabara Swāmī to deal with the *equal* rights of men and women in the performance of sacrifices, while Madhavāchārya (*Nyāya-Mālā-Vistara*, p. 335), commenting on same states: "Asyaivādhikaraṇasya anusāreṇa ashṭavarshaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ upanayīta taṁ adhyāpayīta ityatrāpi striyopi adhikāraḥ": "Brāhmaṇa boys of eight years are to be initiated and taught and the same right also belongs to girls." Lastly, we may cite the statement of Hemādri that "Kumārīs, unmarried girls, should be taught Vidyā and Dharmanīti. An educated Kumārī brings good to the families of both her father and husband. So she should be married to a learned husband (*manīshī*), as she is a *vidushī*."