Women enjoyed high status and economic freedom during the Vedic period. They had access to education, with some women attaining high scholarly status by composing Vedic hymns. Professions were not restricted by gender, and women independently earned income from activities like weaving and assisting with agriculture. Marriage was a personal choice, and widows had respected roles they could choose rather than being socially ostracized. However, women's position declined during later Dharmaśāstras and Manusmṛiti texts as patriarchal social structures became entrenched.

1. POSITION OF WOMEN
IN VEDIC PERIOD
BY- SAKSHEE SAHAY
(Enrolment No.- CUSB1813125084)
Section ‘B’, Fifth Semester, Int. B.A. L.LB.(Hons.)

2. Introduction
• In India, it is nowadays, quite mordant to mention that it is a nation where
Goddess is worshipped. According to the National Crime Record Bureau,
the nation had experienced over 7% ascend in the malefaction against
women in 2019 followed by 87 ravishes per day at an average. NCRB
recorded 4,05,861 malefactions against women in 2019.
• During the Vedic era, the status of women was quite good. In fact, it will not
be erroneous to verbalize that, the Vedic period was the ‘Golden Era’ or
‘Feminine Glory’ coupled with prestigious life for women.

3. Education
• To provide education to all children and to avail them to settle in life were the twin
obligations of the Vedic parent and in this, there was initially no discrimination
between a male and a female student.
• The Female students were categorised into two: a) Brahmavahadinis or perennial
students of theology and philosophy, and b) Sadyodvahas or those who perpetuated
their studies till espousement. Brahmavadinis were women of high scholarship.
• Many of them composed hymns which enriched the Vedic literature.
• Many of the women took teaching as a profession and were known as Achagyas.

4. Profession
• Women of the early Vedic period enjoyed absolute economic freedom.
• They engaged in professions for increasing health and well-being, as well as in
teaching professions as achāryās in Rig Vedic society.
• During this period, women additionally earned money through the spinning and
weaving of apparel at home, while withal availing their husbands in agricultural
activities.
• Women had some association with folk public assemblies.
• Bloomfield's view that the Vedic women had nothing to do with the public life has
been refuted by R.S. Sharma, as it pertains to a period when the patriarchal society
was established on a firm footing and women had lost her hold over social and
political structures.

5. Marriage
• In early Vedic family affairs, women who enjoyed both their autonomy and their
role as wives were considered to be ardhangini (better half) and sahadharmini (equal
partner).
• Marriage was never forcibly imposed on women in Rig Vedic society and there was
no concept of Child Marriage.
• Dowry system as such was not known though in some cases when girls had some
physical defects, dowries had to be given.
• The widow had a purposeful life to lead. She had three paths open. Firstly, she
could spend her remaining life in widowhood and was not considered as convivially
inauspicious. Secondly, she could raise children by the system of N~yoga or levirate.
Thirdly, she could remarry.

6. Conclusion
• The dignified role and position of women in the early Vedic period, the Epic
period, and the Jainism and Buddhism period was plenarily abbreviated to one of
virtual subservience during the age of Dharmaśāstras, Mánusmṛiti.
• Women had a significant role to play in the sphere of religion in the early Vedic
period.
• Historical studies and women’s contemporary status have disclosed that albeit
Indian society has never accepted womanhood as being equal since the age of
Dharmaśāstras, Mánusmṛiti, even today women’s stories are reflected perpetually as
intriguing episodes from the archaic period of Indian civilization.