प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा (डॉ. ए.एस. अल्तेकर - गुरुकुल एवं बौद्ध विहार शिक्षण इतिहास)

IX] FEMALE EDUCATION 207
Two Classes of Girl Students :—There were no
child marriages in the Vedic period ; as a rule however
girls could not remain unmarried as long as boys as
they had to be younger than their spouses. Majority
of them used to get married at the age of 16 or 17,
and only a few would prosecute their studies after
that age. Girls of the former class were called
Sadyovadhūs, and of the latter class Brahmvādinīs.
The education of the Sadyovadhūs comprised the study
of important Vedic hymns necessary for usual prayers
and sacrifices. Music and dancing were also taught
to them ; partiality of women to these arts is often
referred to in the Vedic literature.¹ Brahmavādinīs
used to marry after their education was over ; some of
them like Vedavatī, a daughter of sage Kuśadhvaja,
would not marry at all (Rām., VII. 17).
Attainments of Lady Scholars :—The attainments
of lady scholars, who remained unmarried for a longer
time, were naturally wider and more varied. In the
Vedic age, they used to acquire thorough mastery in the
Vedic literature and even compose poems, some of
which have been honoured by their inclusion in the sacred
canon. When the Vedic lore and sacrifices became
complex, a new branch of study, called Mīmānsā, came
to be developed in their connection. Though this
was a subject, drier than mathematics, we find lady
scholars taking keen interest in it. Kāśakṛitsnin had
composed a work on Mīmānsā called Kāśakṛitsnī after
him ; lady students who used to specialise in it, were
known as Kāśakṛitsnā.² If lady specialists in a technical

1. S. Br., III. 2. 4. 6 observes that women can be easily won
   over by one who can sing and dance. Appreriation of music and dan-
   cing of course presupposes a training in them.
   2 एवमपि काशकृत्स्निना प्रोक्ता मीमांसा काशकृत्स्नी । काशकृत्स्नी-
   मधीते काशकृत्स्ना ब्राह्मणी । On IV, 1, 14 ; 3, 155.