WOMEN: In Vedic Period.

We are in the 21st century, India offers a lot of opportunities to women, with women having a voice in everyday life, the business world as well as in political life. Nevertheless, India is still a male-dominated society, where women are often seen as subordinate and inferior to men. Still, discrimination, intolerance, and small-mindedness are highly visible in rural as well as in urban areas, throughout all strata of society. While women are guaranteed equality under the constitution, legal protection has a limited effect, where patriarchal traditions prevail.

“It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is impossible for a bird to fly on only one wing.” — Swami Vivekananda

Today's social structure of patriarchy, which is practiced for thousands of years. A general conception is made root in people's mind, that women should only look after the house and kids. In the last decades, a lot of measures were taken to wipe out this misconception. But, the process is again slow and bound to urban society. 

The dignity of women has become a topic of not concern. They were treated as an inferior entity even in own home. And it is being practiced for so long, that they accepted this oppression as their destiny.

Is the attitude of the Indian society the same from the beginning? Take a look back, from the very beginning of society. 

The oldest of Vedas, Rig Veda is composed of at least twenty women. Mata Gargi Vachaknavi and Mata Maitreyi were the leading philosophers of the time.

Mata Gargi Vachaknavi

Gargi Vachaknavi was an early women scholar and intellectual. She had a profound interest in Vedas and philosophy and is also a part of the creation of some hyms in Rigveda. In Janak's Jnyan Sabha she was the only one to question the very known scholar of that time Rishi Yadnyavalkya about the origin of all the existence. Rishi Gargi has bestowed the title of Bramhavadini ( one who has realized Bramha- the super consciousness). Her dialogue with Rishi Yadnyavalkya is preserved in Brihadaranyak Upanishad. 

Mata Maitreyi

Maitreyi was the daughter of Mitra Rishi and the niece of Gargi and was born in Mithila. She was very well versed in the Shastras taught to her by her father and from a young age was unattached to material things and had reached an exalted state of spiritual purity. She wanted to be a spiritual disciple of Sage Yajnavalkya who was a Rishi and a householder as was common in those times and practice her sadhana. 

There are also instances of female Rishis, such as Ghost, Kakhivati Surya Savitri, Indrani, Shradha Kamayani, Yami Shachi, Poulomi, Urvashi, etc.

They were so excelled in the sphere of education that even the deity of learning was conceived of as a female popularly known as ‘Saraswati’. 

The Vedic literature also contained that the girls were allowed to settle marriages by their wishes. This was done through the custom of ‘Swayavara’ or self-choice. This is an indicator of their dignified status in the Vedic society.

Women are accorded the greatest respect in Vedas. No religion, philosophy, or even modern feminism can match the same. Here are certain verses from Vedas to support the statement.

Atharva Ved

Atharva 11.1.17

These women are pure, sacred, worth being worship, worth being served, of great character, scholarly. They have given subjects, animals, and happiness to the entire society.

Atharva 11.5.18

In this mantra of Brahmcharya Sukta, it is emphasized that girls too should train themselves as students and only then enter into married life. The Sukta specifically emphasizes that girls should receive the same level of training as boys.

Atharva 14.2.71

Hey wife! I am knowledgeable and you are also knowledgeable. If I am Samved then you are Rigved.

Atharva 7.38.4 and 12.3.52

Women should take part in the legislative chambers and put their views at the forefront.

Atharva 12.2.31

Ensure that these women never weep out of sorrow. Keep them free from all diseases and give them ornaments and jewels to wear.

Atharva 12.1.25

Oh, motherland! Give us that aura that is present in girls.

Atharva 2:36:5

Oh, bride! Step into the boat of prosperity and take your husband beyond the ocean of worldy troubles into realms of success.

Yajurved Veda

Yajur veda 20.9

There are equal rights for men and women to get appointed as ruler.

Yajur veda 31.11

In this mantra the Brahman, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra are there in each human body. Brahmin from the head, king from the shoulders, vaishya from the thigh, and shudra by feet. The progeny of the shudra through his karma(actions) can grow to be a Brahman.

Yajur veda 16.44

There should be a women's army. Let the women be encouraged to participate in the war.

Yajur veda 10.26

In this mantra, it is enforced that the wife of the ruler should give education of politics to the others. Likewise, the king does justice for the people, the queen should also justify her role.

Rig Veda

Rig 3.31.1

The right is equal in the fathers' property for both son and daughter

Rig 10.159

A woman speaks after waking up in the morning, “My destiny is as glorious as the rising sun. I am the flag of my home and society. I am also their head. I can give impressive discourses. My sons conquer enemies. My daughter illuminates the whole world. I am the winner of enemies. My husband has infinite glory. I have made those sacrifices that make a king successful. I have also been successful. I have destroyed my enemies.”

Rig ved 1.164.41

One ved, two ved, or four ved along with ayurved, dhanurved, gandharved, aarthved, etc in addition to education, kalp, grammar, nirukt, astrology, meters i.e the six vedaang should be attained by the clear-minded woman, which is equivalent to the crystal-clear water and spread this diversified knowledge among the people.

Like wise in so many other mantras a woman has been presented to play an essential role in the family and as wife. Similarly, she has been given the lead stage in society works, in governmental organizations, and for ruling the nation is also mentioned in Veda.

There was no seclusion or purdah system, woman moved freely and participated in the public feasts and festivals. There is no reference to Sati (burning of widows) and practice niyoga (married to any of the brothers of dead husbands).

In the Vedic period, She who studies Vedas after upanayana and then gets married is Brahmavadini, she who gets married immediately after upanayana and then studies Vedas is Sadyovadhu.

There is a big misinterpretation of Manusmriti, that, it is anti-women. But, that's all the truth, Manusmriti Shlokas were wrongly translated by different times in history. Keep in mind that these texts were the law book of that very time, it can't be justified one hundred percent in the present world.

Here are some shlokas from Manusmriti:

Manusmriti 3.56

यत्र नार्यस् तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः।

यत्र एतास् तु न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास् तत्र अफलाः क्रियाः ॥

"Wherever women are given their due respect, even the deities like to reside, and where they are not honored, there all rites are fruitless."

Manusmriti 3.57

Where the Women's live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers.

Manusmriti 9.28

Off-spring, religious acts, faithful service, highest happiness,—all this is dependent on the wife; as also the attainment of heaven by oneself as well as by his forefathers.

Manusmriti 9.26

There is no difference between the goddess of fortune and the woman who secures many blessings for the sake of protecting her household, Yajnas with husband, who are worthy of worship and who form the glory of their household.

Manusmriti 8.372

The offending male, who offends a maiden, don’t respect women, he should make to lie down upon a red-hot iron bed; they shall put wooden-logs over him, so that the sinner may be burnt.

All Verses which we often think as against women are not like we read, Sri Manusmriti is law book of Satyug, not Kaliyug. Maharaj Manu has never ever written against Dharma, he had always respected Women, while those Sanskrit scholars like Max Mullar, had written many Bogus translations, even have created their own verses, distorting the great lawbook “Sri Manusmriti”.

However, the situation changes in later eras, mainly because of Islamic Invasion. But, now we are free, and it is the time when we have to treat the women way, they deserve.

This is how Vedas directs us to practice as a society.