women in Rg Veda

There are numerous hymns in the Rig Veda indicating the high status accorded to women in the vedic society. RV (10.27.12) explicitly states that the practice of a lady choosing her own husband was in vogue. The hymn (10.85), the marriage hymn, explicitly states that the daughter-in-law should be treated as a queen, sāmrajni, by all the family members especially the mother-in-law, husband, father-in-law. See the text below where 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 honour by most of the sages. Thus the statement that, "women were oppressed in Hindu society even from the vedic times'', made orally and in popular writings by some moderns is nothing but patent falsehood. Some of the quotations given by these critics are from the period of the sūtra books which are dated more than two thousand years later than the Rig Veda. Naturally these critics suppress quotations which speak of the high status of women in the society of Rig Vedic period and the period of Upanishads.
Even today, some orthodox persons deny the right of chanting the Veda to women. However, they cannot cite any authoritative scripture to support their views. Any book in Sanskrit cannot be accepted as a scripture or divine revelation. When the famous poet, Sanskrit scholar and spiritual savant, Vāsishta Gaņapati Muni, the foremost disciple of Sri Ramaņa Maharshi, challenged these orthodox persons to provide evidence to support their claims, no evidence was forth coming.

- Woman is designated as:
1. Aditi, because she is not dependent (Nirukta, 4/22)
2. Aghnyā, for she is not to be hurt (Y.V. 8/43)
3. Bŗhatī, for she is large hearted (Y.V. 11/64)
4. Chandrā, because she is happy (Y.V. 8/43)
5. Devakāmā, since she is pious. (A.V. 14/1/47)
6. Devī, since she is divine (A.V. 14/1/45, Y.V. 4/23)
7. Dhruvā, for she is firm (Y.V. 11/64) ā
8. Havyā, because she is worthy of invocation (Y.V. 8/43)
9. Idā, for she is worshippable (Y.V. 8/43)
10. Jyotā, because she is illuminating, bright (Y.V. 8/43)
11. Kāmyā, because she is lovable (Y.V. 8/43)
12. Kshamā, for she is tolerant/indulgent /patient (A.V. 12/1/29)
13. Mahī, since she is great (Y.V. 8/43)
14. Menā, because she deserves respect (Nirukta 3/21/2)
15. Nārī, for she is not inimical to anyone (A.V. 14/1/59)
16. Purandhih, for she is munificent, liberal (Y.V. 22/22)
17. Rantā, because she is lovely (Y.V. 8/43)
18. ŗtāvarī, ŗtachit, for she is the preserver / forester of truth (R.V.2/41/18)
19. Sanjayā, since she is victorious (R.V. 10/159/3)
20. Sarasvatī, since she is scholarly (Y.V. 20/84)
21. Simhī, since she is courageous (Y.V. 5/12)
22. Shivā, for she is benevolent (A.V. 14/1/64)
23. Shivatamā, since she is the noblest (R.V. 10/85/37)
24. Strī, since she is modest (R.V. 8/33/9, Nirukta 3/21/2)
25. Subhagā, because she is fortunate (Y.V. 8/43)
26. Subhdhā, for she is knowledgeable (A.V. 14/2.75)
27. Sumangalī, since she is auspicious (A.V. 14/2/26)
28. Sushevā, for she is pleasant (A.V. 14/2/26)
29. Suvarchā, since she is splendid (A.V. 14/4/47)
30. Suyamā, since she is self - disciplined. (A.V. 14/2/18)
31. Syonā, for she is noble (A.V. 14/2/27)
32. Vīriņī, since she is mother of brave sons (R.V. 10/86/9, 10)
33. Vishrutā, since she is learned (Y.V. 8/43)
34. Yashasvatī, for she is glorious (R.V. 1.79.1)
35. Yoşhā, because she is intermingled with man, she is not separate (Nirukta 3/15/1)
[Indian Feminism in Vedic perspective, by Shashi Prabha Kumar Reader, Univ. of Delhi, Delhi 110007; Journal of Indian studies, Vol. 1, 1998]

- Women ŗşhis (ŗşhikā) in the Rig Veda Samhitā
(one or more mantra was revealed to each ŗşhikā)
aditi - 4.18
aditirdākshāyaņi - 10.72
apālā ātreyī - 8.91
indrāņī - 10.86
ūrvashī - 10.85
godhā - 10.134
goshā kākshīvatī - 10.39, 10.40
juhūrbramhajāyā - 10.109
tvaşhţa garbhakartā - 10.184
dakshiņā prājāpatyā - 10.107
yamī - 10.154
yamī vaivasvatī - 10.10
rātrīrbhāradvājī - 10.127
lopāmudrā - 1.171
vasukrapatnī - 10.28
vagāmbhŗņī - 10.125
vishvavārā ātreyi - 5.28
sashvatyāņgīrasī - 8.1
shradhdā kāmāyāni - 10.151
shachī paulomi - 10.159
sarparājnī - 10.189
sikatā nivāvari - 9.86
sūrya savitrī - 10.85
romashā - 1.126
saramā devashunī - 10.108
shikhandinyava psarasau kāshyapan - 9.104
jaritā sharņgah - 10.142
sudītīrangirasah - 8.71
indra mataro - 10.153
(The list is not exhaustive)


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