Women's Equality in Hinduism

 The Vedas, the earliest Hindu sacred scriptures, shed light on the social, cultural, and religious facets of ancient Indian culture. Vedic scriptures have sections that highlight the value and achievements of women while still reflecting a patriarchal culture. In the Vedas, women have rights and are given specific tasks that include the following:

Women's Importance is Recognized: Women play an important role in society, which is recognized by the Vedas. They are recognized for their roles as spouses, mothers, and purveyors of great characteristics. In the divine scheme of things, women are referred to be equal partners and are seen as being crucial to the survival and development of the family and society.

Women took part in a variety of religious events and rituals throughout the Vedic era. They served as priestesses and gave sacrifices, prayers, and songs. The Rigveda contains hymns written by women known as rishikas, demonstrating their participation in spiritual and ceremonial practices.

Family Life and Marriage: During the Vedic era, marriage was regarded as a holy institution. It was acceptable for women to pick their spouses, and love marriages were frequent. The Vedas place a strong emphasis on the value of peaceful, respectful relationships between couples. Women had a big part in running the home and raising the kids.

Women's Education :  In the later Vedic Period, women and men had equal access to educational opportunities. It was considered crucial. This persisted for centuries beyond the Vedic Period, which is thought to have ended about 600 B.C.E., until starting to wane after 200 B.C.E.

Both boys and girls were sent to educational institutions known as Gurukulas during the later Vedic Period, when they all participated in the Brahmacharya Ashrama of student life before to marriage and studied a range of disciplines. Women were urged to be knowledgeable in philosophy, logic, and Vedic knowledge, as well as to sing Rig Veda slokas, in order to be qualified for Upanayanam. In comparison to men, women were more likely to study the Atharva Veda.

There was also a system of homeschooling for female students, which was far more popular among the poorer classes who couldn't afford to travel or spend extended periods of time away from home. Daughters, like their brothers, typically helped their fathers with agricultural labour as a result. They learned to milk cows, cut yarn, knit, and sew, as well as becoming skilled in performing arts like dance, painting, and sketching. Women's practical education was stressed in texts like the Taittiriya Sanhita and the Satapatha Brahmana.

Reference:

Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita

by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words