The\u00a0 status\u00a0 of women\u00a0 improved\u00a0 a\u00a0 little during\u00a0 the\u00a0 Buddhist\u00a0 period\u00a0 though\u00a0 there\u00a0 was no tremendous change. Some of the rigidities and restrictions imposed by the caste system were relaxed.\u00a0 Buddha\u00a0 preached equality\u00a0 and\u00a0 he\u00a0 tried to\u00a0 improve the\u00a0 cultural,\u00a0 educational\u00a0 and religious statuses of women. During the benevolent rule of the famous Buddhist kings such as<\/p>\n Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka, Sri Harsha and others, women regained a part of their lost freedom and status due to the relatively broadminded Buddhist philosophy.<\/p>\n Women were not only confined to domestic work but also they could resort to an educational career if they so desired. In the religious field women came to occupy a distinctly superior place. Women\u00a0 were permitted\u00a0 to become \u201cSanyasis\u201d. Many\u00a0 women took a leading\u00a0 role in Buddhist\u00a0 monastic-life,\u00a0 women had\u00a0 their\u00a0 sangha called\u00a0 the Bhikshuni Sangha,\u00a0 which\u00a0 was guided by the same rules and regulations as these of the monks. The sangha opened to them avenues of cultural activities and social service and ample opportunities for public life. Their political and economic status however remained unchanged.<\/p>\n Ancient Women and Education:<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n There are some bright exceptions in this dismal picture. The role of women in Ancient Indian Literature\u00a0 is\u00a0 immense.\u00a0 Ancient\u00a0 India had\u00a0 many\u00a0 learned\u00a0 ladies. There were two\u00a0 types\u00a0 of scholarly women\u00a0\u00a0 the Brahmavadinis, or\u00a0 the women\u00a0 who never\u00a0 married and\u00a0 cultured the Vedas throughout their lives; and the Sadyodvahas who studied the Vedas till they married.<\/p>\n Panini \u00a0mentioned \u00a0of \u00a0female \u00a0students\u2019 \u00a0studying \u00a0Vedas. \u00a0Katyana \u00a0called \u00a0female \u00a0teachers Upadhyaya\u00a0 or Upadhyayi. Ashoka got\u00a0 his daughter,\u00a0 Sanghamitra, inducted\u00a0 into\u00a0 preaching Buddhism. From the Jain texts, we learn about the Kousambi princess, Jayanti, who remained a spinster to study religion and philosophy. Often, Buddhist nuns composed hymns. Women did write Sanskrit plays and verses, excelled in music, painting and other fine arts.<\/p>\n Ancient Women in Politics:<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Women \u00a0often\u00a0 enjoyed \u00a0prominent \u00a0roles \u00a0in\u00a0 politics. \u00a0Megasthenes \u00a0mentioned \u00a0the \u00a0Pandya women running the administration. The Satavahana queen, \u201cNayanika ruled the kingdom on behalf of her minor\u00a0 son. So\u00a0 did Pravabati,\u00a0 daughter of Chandragupta II, on behalf of\u00a0 the minor Vakataka prince. A little after the Gupta period, queens used to rule in Kashmir, Orissa<\/p>\n and Andhra. Princess Vijaybhattarika acted as the provincial ruler under the Chalukya King; Vikramaditya I. Women were provincial and village administrators in the Kannada region.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more such notes, Articles, News & Views Join our Telegram Channel.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/status-of-women-in-vedic-and-post-vedic-period-5-638.jpg\")
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