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What roles did women perform in Vedic and early Indian society?
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- The Vedic period is often described as a period during which women held a high and respectful position in society.
- This tradition of respect for women is evident in texts composed after the Vedic period too, such as the Manu-smriti .
- Manu-smriti 3.56:
- "Where women, verily, are honoured, there gods rejoice; where, however, they are not honoured, there all sacred rites prove fruitless."
What different roles did women perform?
Women's work in early India
| Heading | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarly and religious life | Participated in scholarly learning; performed rituals alongside men; several Rigveda hymns are attributed to women sages, most notably Apala, Vishvavara, Ghosha, Lopamudra | Rigveda |
| Public and social life | Took part in chariot races and social gatherings, including the sabha | Textual references |
| Divine representation | Goddesses such as Usha (goddess of dawn) and Aditi (mother of the gods) occupied significant, revered positions | Vedic culture |
| Governance | Prabhavati Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II, ruled as regent (someone who rules on behalf of another, typically because the actual ruler is too young, absent, or otherwise unable to rule) in the Vakataka kingdom and issued land grants in her own name | Gupta-Vakataka period records |
| Religious patronage | Queens and royal women played roles in governance and religious patronage; women appear as donors on votive inscriptions (text engraved on stone, metal, or other materials, dedicating a gift, sculpture, or structure to a deity or sacred place) | Post-Maurya period records |
| Agrarian and economic work | Performed planting, weeding, husking, winnowing paddy; also cattle rearing, spinning, fishing, salt production, garland selling | Sangam literature |
| Cultural and literary life | Poetesses, potters, bards (performers who composed and recited poems or songs, often about heroic deeds), and dancers contributed to cultural, literary and social life in southern India; Avvaiyar (poetess) and Vennikuyattiyar (woman potter) named | Sangam literature |
| Temple building and patronage | Sembiyan Mahadevi supported temple building and religious institutions | Chola-period inscriptions |
How did women’s position change over time, and which individual women illustrate their continuing public role?
Earlier (Vedic period)
Later (over time)
Women held a
high and respectful position
in society
Position and roles of women
fluctuated, even declined
, as social and political conditions changed
Participated in scholarly learning and rituals alongside men
Despite the decline,
many examples continue
of women contributing to household management, agriculture, crafts, and religious practices
- The chapter therefore notes both change and continuity: women's position and roles fluctuated, even declined , while many examples still show women contributing to household management, agriculture, crafts and religious practices.
Which influential women appear during this period?
Name
Details
Apala, Vishvavara, Ghosha, Lopamudra
Women sages to whom several Rigveda hymns are traditionally attributed
Prabhavati Gupta
Daughter of Gupta ruler Chandragupta II; ruled as regent in the Vakataka kingdom; issued land grants in her own name
Avvaiyar
A celebrated poetess of Sangam literature
Vennikuyattiyar
A woman potter named in Sangam texts
Sembiyan Mahadevi
A Chola-period royal woman who supported temple building and religious institutions
- Literary works of the Gupta-Vakataka period (around the 4th to 6th centuries CE ) feature female characters depicted as highly educated and skilled in the arts .
What Have We Learned
- Vedic women: high, respectful position, echoed later in the Manu-smriti.
- Manu-smriti 3.56: where women are honoured, gods rejoice; if not, rites are fruitless.
- Women's position fluctuated and even declined over time, but their contributions to household, agriculture, crafts and religion continued.
- Rigveda women sages: Apala, Vishvavara, Ghosha, Lopamudra.
- Goddesses: Usha (dawn), Aditi (mother of the gods).
- Prabhavati Gupta: daughter of Chandragupta II, ruled as regent in the Vakataka kingdom, issued land grants in her own name.
- Sangam literature: Avvaiyar (poetess), Vennikuyattiyar (woman potter); women in agrarian and economic work.
- Sembiyan Mahadevi: Chola-period royal woman, supported temple building.
Section Summary - Role of Women
Learning
Rigveda hymns attributed to women sages
Public life
Took part in the sabha, gatherings and chariot races
Respect
Manu-smriti - where women are honoured, gods rejoice
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Women held a respected place in scholarly, religious and public life
