WOMEN IN VEDAS,ANCIENT INDIA

WOMEN STATUS IN VEDAS ~ Women's status in vedic period in Bharata before Mughal or other invasions nearly 3000 years ago

An unmarried learned daughter should be married to a bridegroom who like her is learned. Never think of giving in marr...iage a daughter of very young age. (Rig Veda III 55:16)

One finds a similar stanza in the Yajur-Veda which says:

A young daughter who has observed Brahmacharya (i.e. finished her studies) should be married to a bridegroom who like her is learned. (Yajur-Veda VIII. 1)

We find a similar emphasis on female education in the Atharva Veda also. It can therefore be concluded that young girls during Vedic times were given education after undergoing an initiation ceremony just like the boys.

Having thus seen that it was customary during those ancient times for a young maiden to receive education, let us now review the institution of marriage then in vogue. The first marriage that comes to mind is regarding chid marriages. Scholars agree that in the Rig-Vedic period, it was unheard of that a girl should be married before the age of 16. The fact that a young marriage was not recommended can be seen from the Rig-Vedic verse quoted above. (Rig Veda III 55:16). Many marriages like today involved the intercession of the families of those involved, but a maiden was consulted and her wishes taken into account when the matrimonial alliance was agreed upon by the families concerned. Vedic society went out of its way to enable young men and women to intermingle. Carnivals called “Samsanas” used to be organised from time to time when young people of both sexes would assemble and engage in merry making. Young women often married a man whom they met in these gatherings. Given below is a description of a “samana” from the Rig-Veda.

Wives and maidens attire themselves in gay robes and set forth to the joyous feast; youths and maidens hasten to the meadow when forest and field are clothed in fresh verdure to take part in dance. Cymbals sound and seizing each other lads and damsels whirl about until the ground vibrates and clouds of dust envelop the gaily moving throng.

This implies that in Vedic times there was considerable freedom in choosing one’s matrimonial partner. There is no reference in the entire Rig-Veda to child marriage. On the other hand, one finds many allusions to older ladies desirous of finding husbands; such ladies went to the “Samanas” referred to previously in quest of matrimony. One finds some instances of the marriage of women well past the child-bearing age, for instance Ghosa, a well-well known female sage, married only at a late age to the renowned seer Kakasivan.

We now turn to the institution of marriage itself as it existed during Vedic times. It is believed by many, especially in the West, that the concept of genuine love and partnership between husband and wife is alien to Hindu life, attributed to the so-called “arranged marriage system”, that was prevalent in India over the last few centuries, and that women were always routinely maltreated in the homes. From the description of the Vedas, this is not the case. The bride was to assume a position of reverence and even dominance in the household, there was certainly no question of sanctioning oppression either by her husband or in-laws. This would become clear from the following verses:

 “Come, O desired of the gods, beautiful one with tender heart, with the charming look, good towards your husband, kind towards animals, destined to bring forth heroes. May you bring happiness for both our quadrupeds and bipeds.” (Rig Veda X.85.44)

“Over thy husband’s father and thy husbands mother bear full sway. Over the sister of thy lord, over his brothers rule supreme.” (Rig VedaX.85.46)

Happy be thou and prosper with thy children here; be vigilant to rule thy household, in this home. (Rig-Veda X.85.27)
To sum up therefore, one can say that the bride in the Vedic ideal of a household was far from unimportant and contemptible