Women as Rishikas in the Vedas

The Rig Veda is the only scripture in which the Divine Truths are revealed to women sages and in which hymns describing these revelations, like those by the woman sage Vak Ambrini find a prominent place in the Rig Veda Samhita . There are more than thirty women sages in RV with specific hymns associated with them.

There are numerous hymns in the Rig Veda indicating the high status given to women in vedic society. The Rig Veda states that the lady should her choose her own husband and the marriage hymn states that the daughter-in-law should be treated as a queen, samrajni, by all the family members especially the mother-in-law, husband, father-in-law. The bride was exhorted to address the assembly:

10.85.26: . . . . Become the house-hold's mistress; Ruler of the home, you will address the religious assembly.

To be asked to address the assembly was regarded as an honor by most sages.

Epithets for women in the Vedas

It is noteworthy that in the Vedic literature although a woman's prime role is portrayed as a wife only, yet several other aspects of feminine form are also suggested by various names and epithets used to denote a woman. It is quite interesting to derive the exact meaning of these words because it may help in giving a better idea of different roles of woman in home and in society. For instance, a woman as wife is denoted by three words; jaya, jani and patni. Of these, jaya is the woman who gives birth to one's progeny, jani is the mother of children and patni is the co-partner in the religious duties.

Similarly woman are designated as:

Aditi

because she is not dependent

Aghnya

for she is not to be hurt

Brhati

for she is large hearted

Chandra

because she is happy

Devakama

since she is pious.

Devi

since she is divine

Dhruva

for she is firm

Havya

because she is worthy of invocation

Ida

for she is worshippable

Jyota

because she is illuminating : bright

Kamya

because she is lovable

Kshama

for she is tolerant, indulgent, patient

Mahi

since she is great

Mena

because she deserves respect

Nari

for she is not inimical to anyone

Purandhih

for she is munificent, liberal

Ranta

because she is lovely

rtavari

rtachit, for she is the preserver, forester of truth

Sanjaya

since she is victorious

Sarasvati

since she is scholarly

Simhi

since she is courageous

Shiva

for she is benevolent

Shivatama

since she is the noblest

Stri

since she is modest ,

Subhaga

because she is fortunate

Subhdha

for she is knowledgeable

Sumangali

since she is auspicious

Susheva

for she is pleasant

Suvarcha

since she is splendid

Suyama

since she is self - disciplined.

Syona

for she is noble

Virini

since she is mother of brave sons

Vishruta

since she is learned

Yashasvati

for she is glorious

Yosha

because she is intermingled with man, she is not separate

Women rshis (rshika) in the Rig Veda Samhita

(one or more mantra was revealed to each rshika)

Verse	Rishika
4.18	Aditi
10.72	Aditirdakshayani
8.91	Apala atreyi
10.86	Indrani
10.85	Urvashi
10.134	Godha
10.39, 10.40	Gosha Kakshivati
10.109	Juhurbramhajaya
10.184	Tvashta Garbhakarta
10.107	Dakshina Prajapatya
10.154	Yami
10.10	Yami Vaivasvati
10.127	Ratrirbharadvaji
1.171	Lopamudra
10.28	Vasukrapatni
10.125	Vagambhrni
5.28	Vishvavara Atreyi
8.1	Sashvatyangirasi
10.151	Shradhda Kamayani
10.159	Shachi Paulomi
10.189	Sarparajni
9.86	Sikata Nivavari
10.85	Surya Savitri
1.126	Romasha
10.108	Sarama Devashuni
9.104	Shikhandinyava Psarasau Kashyapan
10.142	Jarita Sharngah
8.71	Suditirangirasah
10.153	Indra Mataro

(The list is not exhaustive)

Notes

1. Indian Feminism in Vedic perspective, by Shashi Prabha Kumar Reader, Univ. of Delhi, Delhi 110007; Journal of Indian studies, Vol. 1, 1998
2. Most of this article was taken from "Vedah.com"

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari

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