Women's Day 2023: Women Philosophers From Vedic Times Up to Now

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Indian women had always been the victims of academic and economic exploitation and the independence to study and achieve economic independence belonged to only the prostitutes of the ancient era. Women had roles assigned to them, and they could not step beyond this line. Freedom of self-expression was denied to them.

Women finally, during the Bhakti movement, were able to break the shackles of tradition, prove their worth to society and seek Godly knowledge, in many ways. During Vedic times, we had women philosophers and saints in plenty. Even towards the beginning of Kali yuga, many women saints were born in this land. They have gone into the annals of history due to the expressions of individuality and inherent capabilities where they outshone men. Here is a list of such women philosophers who outshone men in their fields and proved the worth of womenfolk.

Gargi Vachaknavi

Brahmavadini Gargi Vachaknavi, daughter of Vachaknu, was by birth, a brahmavadini, or a philosopher, who has authored many hymns in the Rigveda. The famous debate between her and yagnyavalkya Rishi during the Brahma Yagnya that was organized by King Janaka of Videha can be found in the 6th and 8th Brahmana of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Finally, during the Brahma yagnya, Yagnavalkya pointed out that her logic had some fallacy in it and hence right answer could not be obtained. Gargi was magnanimous enough to accept her fault and receded from the argument.

Maitreyi

Maitreyi's name finds a mention in puranas which regarded her as the most learned women of her times. Her efforts to popularize education amongst women during those ancient ages is praiseworthy. She was the symbol of academic achievements.We even have an institution in her name in Delhi. She has composed ten hymns of Rigveda where she has talked to Yagnyavalkya about the concept of Atma in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

Princess Hemalekha

Hemalekha's mention is found in the Tripura Rahasya. She was Guru to her own husband and mother in law and others. She leads her worldly husband to the world of spirituality slowly but surely. The entire city during her time had plenty of Brahmagyanis and even parrots during that time were known for brahmagyan.

Queen Chudala

Queen Chudala, was a born spiritual Acharya, who imparted her knowledge on Atma or soul to her husband King Sikhidhwaj. She is mentioned in Yoga Vasishtha. After taking instructions about Brahm GyaanShe attained Brahma Gyan soon after instructions from scholars. Her story is detailed in Yoga Vasistha.

Andal

At the tender age of 15, Andal composed Tiruppavai which is the proof of her immeasurable love and dedication to God. She wrote those 30 Stanzas known as Pasurams in Tamil language for Ranganath which also came to be known as a part of the Divya Prabandha, a compilation of holy works written by Alwars of Vaishnava. ). She grew up with a desire of marrying Lord Ranganatha himself and had a habit of wearing all the garlands herself first, and then offer them to the Lord, after confirming they were okay to be worn. This angered her father but later in a dream he was told by God that her method of worship was divine and pure and hence had immensely pleased the lord and he preferred her way of worship. Noticing her deep love for the Lord Perialwar took her to Srirangam to marry her to Lord Ranganatha. But there she merged with the lord inside the sanctum. She was the author of the celebrated Tiruppavai.

Meera Bai

Sant Meera, more famously known by the name Meera Bai, was a Krishna devotee who lived in the 6th century. She was one of the exponents of the Bhakti movement belonging to North India. She was a Rajput queen belonging to the royal family of Kudki district of Pali, Rajastan India. Surprisingly she was also married to a Rajput prince. Her disinterest in everything except Krishna in her life, angered her husband who in turn gave her a lot of troubles to stop her from pursuing Krishna. Finally, she won and merged with the Lord.

Sarada Ma

Sarada Ma was the wife of Seer Paramahamsa Ramakrishna. But spiritually she was a Guru who was worshipped as Goddess by Ramakrishna. She was a young girl when she married him and thereafter grew in stature due to the divine influence of Seer Ramakrishna. She herself was a Guru to many and was considered as an incarnation of some divine Shakti.

Akka Mahadevi

Akka Mahadevi (c.1130-1160) was a poet and saint of the Veerashaiva Bhakti movement of the 12th century. Her 430 verses poem by name Akka mahadevi vachanagalu and two short books called mantrogopya and yogangatrividhi are her contributions to kannada. Her writings were lesser in number compared to the other poets of the movement. Akka was the title given to honor her place in the galaxy of shaivaite stars of the movement such as Basavanna, Siddharama and Allamaprabhu. She was believed to have been wedded to Lord Shiva on a spiritual and devotional level. She used to refer to him as Chenna Mallikarjuna and the type of devotion that she expressed towards him was called the 'madhurya bhava.'