Brahmavadini | The forgotten tradition of women scholars in ancient india.

Brahmavadini was the title attributed to women scholars, who dedicated their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and the study of the Vedas. Some were unmarried, living as ascetics and independent of their fathers, brothers or male counterparts. They were paragons of intellectual proficiency, natural philosophy and spiritual enlightenment. They were Rishikis–female sages–in their own right and were revered as teachers, doctors and theorists.

In the early Vedic period of Indian history, circa 1500-500 BC, women’s education was given equal priority, despite the dominant preference of begetting sons in every household. A large number of young girls received both literary and cultural education.

The Sacred Thread ceremony, called Upanayana, Janeau or Poita, was conferred on both girls and boys of all castes at the age of seven. Post this ceremony, children were admitted to Vedic educational institutions also known as Gurukuls. Many of these gurukuls practised co-education. However, with the advent of women teachers, called Upadhyayanis, there were also an increasing number of educational institutions dedicated to girls pursuing higher education.

In the later Vedic period, between 500BC to 200AD, Upanayana for girls was slowly discontinued and Sadyovadhus were given more importance. This turn of events resulted in the decline of the Brahmavadinis. Women lost their independence. Their marriageable age was lowered from 16 to 9 years. They were denied the right to Vedic education and confined to their home.