Neeraj Sharma/ Sonipat
In ancient times when women around the globe were considered weak and confined solely to household duties, women in ancient Bharat, never occupied such a subordinate position. Whether it was field of education or the battleground, women made significant contributions in both realms. In the Ṛgveda, there is a description of Viśpalā, the wife of the brave king “Khela,” whose leg was severed during battle. Yet, she continued to fight valiantly with an artificial leg made of iron and copper (āyas).
According to the sixth and eighth Brāhmaṇa of the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, during the Rājasūya Yajña performed by King Janaka of Videha, all the learned scholars were invited for a debate. The king announced that whoever proved to be the most learned would be rewarded with 1,000 cows, each adorned with 10 grams of gold. Upon hearing this, Yājñavalkya instructed his disciple Saṃśrava to drive the herd of cows to his āśrama. This provoked eight sages to challenge him, demanding that he first engage in debate before claiming the prize. Yājñavalkya successfully defeated all of them. Finally, Gārgī challenged him, leading to a long and profound debate between the two.
Gārgī, the daughter of Vācaknu, came to be known as Gārgī because she belonged to the lineage of the sage Garga. She also composed several hymns in the Ṛgveda.
According to the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad, Maitreyī was the second wife of Yājñavalkya. She was a Brahmavādinī, who often engaged her husband in discussions concerning the soul (ātman), Brahman, and their interrelation. According to the Mahābhārata, Maitreyī is portrayed as a sādhvī who chose the life of a saṃnyāsinī and remained unmarried.
Ubhaya Bhāratī was the wife of Maṇḍana Miśra and served as the adjudicator during the celebrated debate between Ādi Śaṅkarācārya and Maṇḍana Miśra. When Śaṅkarācārya emerged victorious, Bhāratī declared him the winner but remarked that he had defeated only half of Maṇḍana Miśra, as the wife represents the better half of her husband. Thus, defeating Bhāratī was still pending. Since Śaṅkarācārya, being a brahmacārī, lacked experience in matters concerning the life of a householder (gṛhastha), Bhāratī posed him challenging questions from that domain, leaving him temporarily speechless. Śaṅkarācārya then requested six months’ time to prepare.
A similar narrative of valor and bravery is found in the Rāmāyaṇa concerning Kaikeyī. During the Deva-Asura Saṅgrāma, when King Daśaratha had fainted on the battlefield, Kaikeyī demonstrated exceptional skill and courage by protecting him. In gratitude, King Daśaratha granted her two boons of her choosing.
These accounts from the Vedas, Upaniṣads, and Rāmāyaṇa not only highlight the educational prowess of women but also their extraordinary bravery and valor.