Education of the Girl Child
Vedic literature praises the birth of a scholarly daughter in
these words: "A girl also should be brought up and educated with great
effort and care." (Mahanirvana Tantra); and "All forms of
knowledge are aspects of Thee; and all women throughout the world are Thy
forms." (Devi Mahatmya)
Women, who so
desired, could undergo the sacred thread ceremony or 'Upanayana' (a sacrament
to pursue Vedic studies), which is only meant for males even to this day. The
mention of female scholars and sages of the Vedic age like Vac, Ambhrni,
Romasa, Gargi, Khona in the Vedic lore corroborates this view. These highly
intelligent and greatly learned women, who chose the path of Vedic studies,
were called 'brahmavadinis', and women who opted out of education for married
life were called 'sadyovadhus'. Co-education seems to have existed in this
period and both the sexes got equal attention from the teacher. Moreover,
ladies from the Kshatriya caste received martial arts courses and arms
training.
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