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In Hindu philosophy, Brahmavadini ("women ascetics"), are women who strive for the highest philosophical knowledge of Brahman, that is, those who strive for greater universal consciousness. This is opposed to a Sadyovadhu, who is normally a sage's wife, and dedicated to domesticity and the welfare of her family. The Sanskrit word brahmavadini is the female equivalent of brahmavadi. According to Monier-Williams’s Sanskrit-English Dictionary, "brahmavādín" means ‘discoursing on sacred texts, a defender or expounder of the Veda, one who asserts that all things are to be identified with Brahman’. It doesn't mean "one who speaks like God".

Notable Brahmavadini

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Notable Brahmavadini include: Vak Ambhrini, Lopamudra, Vishwawara, Sikta, Ghosha, Gargi Vachaknavi, and Maitreyi.

Lopamudra was the wife of the sage Agastya.[1] A hymn in the Rigveda is attributed to her.


Two suktas (hymns) of the tenth Mandala (book) of Rigveda, 39 and 40, each containing 14 verses, have been attributed to Ghosha.[1] The first hymn praises the Ashvins while the second hymn is a personal wish expressing her intimate feelings and desires for married life.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Vedic Women: Loving, Learned, Lucky!". Archived from the original on 2006-11-20. Retrieved 2006-12-24.

📚 Artikel Terkait di Wikipedia

Sulabha

lived during the Mithila Kingdom. She was a Vedic scholar, known as a Brahmavadini. Sulabha was a learned woman who belonged to the mendicant order. She

Upanayana

Upanayana rite of passage, at the age of 8, and thereafter were called Brahmavadinī. They wore a thread or upper garment over their left shoulder. Those

Ghosha

mantradrika, meaning well versed in mantras. She was also known as a Brahmavadini, a speaker or proclaimer of Brahman, and led a purposeful spiritual life

Maitreyi

who never married. In ancient Sanskrit literature, she is known as a brahmavadini (an expounder of the Veda). Maitreyi appears in ancient Indian texts

Gārgī Vāchaknavī

great natural philosopher, renowned expounder of the Vedas, and known as Brahmavadini, a person with knowledge of Brahma Vidya. In the Sixth and the eighth

Court of King Janaka

scholars called as Brahmavadini at the court of King Janaka in Mithila. During the contest of the Bahudakshina Yajna, the Brahmavadini Gargi Vachaknavi

Yajnavalkya

more intrigued to gain spiritual knowledge. Maitreyi was known as a brahmavadini, a discusser of Brahman. Katyayani is merely described as "striprajna"

Female education

period. The educators of this period had divided women into two groups – Brahmavadinis and Sadyodvahas. The former were life-long students of philosophy and