Hindu philosophy Hindu philosophy or Vedic philosophy is the set of philosophical systems that developed in tandem with the first Hinduism, Hindu religious traditions during the Iron Age in India, iron and Classical India, classical ages of India. In Indian ...

, Brahmavadini ("women ascetics"), are women who strive for the highest philosophical knowledge of

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...

, that is, those who strive for greater universal consciousness. This is opposed to a ''Sadyovadhu'', who is normally a sage's wife, and dedicated to domesticity and the welfare of her family. The Sanskrit word ''brahmavadini'' is the female equivalent of ''brahmavadi''. According to

Monier-Williams Sir Monier Monier-Williams (; né Williams; 12 November 1819 – 11 April 1899) was a British scholar who was the second Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University, England. He studied, documented and taught Asian languages, especially ...

’s ''Sanskrit-English Dictionary'', "brahmavādín" means ‘discoursing on sacred texts, a defender or expounder of the ''Veda'', one who asserts that all things are to be identified with Brahman’. It doesn't mean "one who speaks like God".

Notable Brahmavadini

Notable Brahmavadini include: Vak Ambhrini,

Lopamudra Lopamudra, also known as Kaveri, Kaushitaki and Varaprada, was a philosopher according to ancient Vedic Indian literature. She was the wife of the sage Agastya who is believed to have lived in the Rigveda period (1950 BC-1100 BC) as many hymns ...

, Vishwawara, Sikta, Ghosha, Gārgī_Vāchaknavī , and Maitreyi. Lopamudra was the wife of the sage

Agastya Agastya was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the Indian tradition, he is a noted recluse and an influential scholar in diverse languages of the Indian subcontinent. He is regarded in some traditions to be a Chiranjivi. He and his wife ...

. A hymn in the

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

is attributed to her. Maitreyi, the wife of

Yajnavalkya Yajnavalkya or Yagyavalkya (, International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST:) is a Hindu Vedic sage prominently mentioned in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (c. 700 BCE) and Taittiriya Upanishad, ''Tattiriya Upanishad''., Quote: "Yajnav ...

, is accredited with about ten hymns in

Rig Veda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

. Two ''sukta''s (hymns) of the tenth ''Mandala'' (book) of

, 39 and 40, each containing 14 verses, have been attributed to Ghosha. The first hymn praises the

Ashvins The Ashvins (, ), also known as the Ashvini Kumaras and Asvinau,, §1.42. are Hindu deities, Hindu Divine twins, twin gods associated with medicine, health, healing, sciences, and the twilight. In the ''Rigveda'', they are described as youthf ...

while the second hymn is a personal wish expressing her intimate feelings and desires for married life.

References

{{Authority control Ancient Indian writers Ancient Indian women writers

Notable Brahmavadini

See also

References