Can women study Vedas and other hindu holy scriptures?

I have been asked this question so many times by women who wish to study Vedas and many other hindu scriptures.

I have also known that many people (gyan pandits or self proclaimed intellectuals) claim that women should not study Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and various other scriptures.

Not surprisingly many of those who claim this haven't read the the Rigveda.

The Rigveda, the oldest among the four Vedas, is the fountain source of the so-called Aryan culture in all its manifestations that spread beyond the Indian subcontinent to large parts of South and South East Asia, as well as parts of Central Asia.

The Rigveda is the oldest Sanskrit text, consisting of over one thousand hymns dedicated to various divinities of the Vedic tradition. Orally composed and orally transmitted for several millennia, the hymns display remarkable poetic complexity and religious sophistication.

Rigveda is full of Rishikas (female Rishis), who have contributed to writing various ‘riks’ (Rigved shlokas are known as riks).

The notable female rishikas who contributed to the composition of the Vedic scriptures are: The Rig Veda mentions Romasha, Lopamudra, Apala, Kadru, Visvavara, Ghosha, Juhu, Vagambhrini, Paulomi, Yami, Indrani, Savitri and Devayani. The Sama Veda adds Nodha, Akrishtabhasha, Sikatanivavari and Gaupayana.

Moreover there are also stories of various Rishikas like Maitreyi, Gargi, who participating in debates in King Janaka’s court, and no-one ever raised eyebrows or stopped them from participating in the debates.

Even after the Vedic period, universities like Taxila (तक्षशिला) allowed female students. During the debate between Adi Shankara and Mandan Mishra, ‘Ubhaya Bharati’ was the judge, due to her impartiality and deep understanding of scriptures.

This way, any woman, who was interested, was always allowed to pursue the studies. If women can write Vedas, how can they be barred from studying it?

With grace & peace,

holykarma.au