The
role of women in Vedic society
Compiled by Ishwa
A great homage to women in Vedic society can be observed
through their immortalized, learned sons in a long line of
42+ named Vedic teachers of the Shukla Yajurveda school.
They were remembered solely through their maternal names!
This is very remarkable for a society which seems to
be patriarchal. The teachers were males, but perhaps
it is also an indication that their initial teachers were
their mothers. The preference over the names of their
fathers indicates the important position of women as mothers
in edic society. At least their mothers were considered that
valuable that they were mentioned in their names. (Another
parallel list gives teachers with their respective paternal
names, synchronizing with 49th ShaaNDilya and 48th Vaastya
of the list with metronymics).
The list with metronymics gives an important name: Tura
Kaavasheya (also a metronymic!). His name and position
provides a relative sheet anchor for a phase in the Vedic
period: he is at the end of the Rigvedic period when the
hymns were collected in a 10 Mandala collection. The
Shatapatha BraahmaNa gives a long list of some 52
generations of teachers, of which some 42 are remembered
through the name of their
mothers. This list acts like a bridge between the end of the
Rigvedic time and the Shatapatha BraahmaNa time. The
BrhadaaraNyaka UpaniShad as fluent continuation of the ShB
material is the next bridge between the Shatapatha BraahmaNa
to the time close to the end of the (older) Upanishad
period. This last list appears to have some 18 new names,
which may be the generations of the 2nd bridge.
Shatapatha
BraahmaNa
ShB
10.6.5.9
átha vamsháh- samaanamaa saánjiiviipútraatsaánjiiviipútro
maáNDuukaayanermaáNDuukaayanirmaáNDavyaanmaáNDavyah-
kaútsaatkaútso maáhitthermaáhitthirvaamakakShaayaNaádvaamakakShaayaNo
vaátsyaadvaátsyah shaáNDilyaachaáNDilyah kúshreh
kúshriryajnávacaso
raajastambaáyanaadyajnávacaa
raajastambaáyanasturaatkaávash.eyaatturah kaávaSheyah
prajaápateh
prajaápatirbráhmaNo bráhma svayámbhu bráhmaNe námah
ShB
14.9.4.30
átha vaMsháh- tádidáM vayam bhaáradvaajiipútraadbhaáradvaajiipútro
vaátsiimaaNDaviipútraadvaátsiimaaNDaviipútrah
paáraashariipútraatpaáraashariipútro
gaárgiipútraadgaárgiipútrah-
paáraashariikauNDiniipútraatpaáraashariikauNDiniipútro
gaárgiipútraadgaárgiipútro gaárgiipútraadgaárgiipútro
baáDeyiipútraadbaáDeyiipútro maúShikiipútraanmaúShikiipútro
haárikarNiipútraaddhaárikarNiipútro
bhaáradvaajiipútraad-
bhaáradvaajiipútrah paíngiipútraatpaíngiipútrah
shaúnakiipútraachaúnakiipútrah-
14.9.4.31
kaáshyapiibaalaakyaamaaThariipútraatkaáshyapiibaalaakyaamaaThariipútra
h
kaútsiipútraatkaútsiipútro baúdhiipútraadbaúdhiipútro
shaálankaayaniipútraachaálankaayaniipútro
vaárShagaNiipútraad-
vaarShagaNiipútro gaútamiipútraadgaútamiipútra
aátreyiipútraad-
aátreyiipútro gaútamiipútraadgaútamiipútro
vaátsiipútraadvaátsiipútro
bhaáradvaajiipútraadbhaáradvaajiipútrah
paáraashariipútraat-
paáraashariipútro vaárkaaruNiipútraadvaárkaaruNiipútra
aártabhaagiipútraadaártabhaagiipútrah
shaúngiipútraachaúngiipútrah
saáMkRtiipútraatsaáMkRtiipútrah
14.9.4.32
aálambiipútraat aálambiipútra
aálambaayaniipútraadaálambaayaniiputro
jaáyantiipútraajjaáyantiipútro
maáNDUkaayaniipútraanmaáNDUkaayaniipútro
maáNDUkiipútraanmaáNDUkiipútrah
shaáNDiliipútraachaáNDiliipútro
raáthiitariipútraadraáthiitariipútrah
kraúncikiipútraabhyaaM
kraúncikiipútrau vaídabhRtiipútraadvaídabhRtiipútro
bhaálukiipútraadbhaálukiipútrah
praáciinayogiipútraatpraáciinayogiipútrah
saáMjiiviipútraatsaáMjiiviipútrah
kaárshakeyiipútraatkaárshakeyiipútrah
14.9.4.33
praáshniipútraat aásurivaásinah- praashniiputrá
aasuraayaNaádaasuraayaNá aasuréraasuríryaajnavalkyaádyaajnavalkyá
uddaálakaaduddaálakó'ruNaadáruNa úpavesherúpaveshih
kúshreh
kúshrirvaajashrávaso vaajashrávaa jihvaávato
baádhyogaajjihvaayaa
baádhyogó'sitaadvaárShagaNaadásito vaárShagaNo
háritaatkáshyapaaddháritah káshyapah
shílpaatkáshyapaachílpah
káshyapah káshyapaannaídhruveh káshyapo naídhruvirvaáco
vaágambhíNyaa
ambhíNyaadityaádaadityaániimaáni shuklaáni yájUMSi
vaajasaneyéna
yaajnavalkyenaákhyaayante
Shatapatha Brahmana list
53. Harita Kâshyapa 53. Prajâpati,
52. Asita Vârshagana 52. Tura Kâvasheya from
51. Jihvâvat Vâdhyoga from, 51. Yajnavacas from
Tura K
50. Vâjashravas from Jihvâvat Vâdhyoga, 50. Kushri from
Yajnavacas
49. Kushri from Vâjashravas, 49. Shândilya from
Kushri,
48. Upaveshi from Kushri, 48. Vâtsya from
Shândilya
47. Aruna from Upaveshi, 47. from Vâtsya
46. Uddâlaka from Aruna, 46. from
Vâmakakshâyana,
45. Yâjnavalkya from Uddâlaka, 45. Kautsa from
Mâhitthi,
44. Âsuri from Yâjnavalkya, 44. Mândavya from
Kautsa,
43. Âsurâyana from Âsuri, 43. Mândukâyani from
Mândavya,
42. Prâshnîputra from Âsurâyana, 42. Prâshnîputra
from Mânduk.,
41. Sânjîvîputra fromPrâshnîputra Âsurivâsin,
40. Prâcînayogîputra from Sânjîvîputra
39. Kârshakeyîputra from Prâcînayogîputra, [Kârsakeyîputra,
M.]
38. Vaittabhatîputra from Kârshakeyîputra, [Bhâlukîputra,
M.]
37. Krauncikîputrau from Vaittabhatîputra, [Vaidabhritîputra,
M.]
36. Bhâlukîputra from Krauncikîputrau,
35. Râthîtarîputra from Bhâlukîputra,
34. Shândilîputra from Râthîtarîputra,
33. Mândukîputra from Shândilîputra,
32. Mândukâyanîputra from Mândukîputra,
31. Jayantîputra from Mândukâyanîputra,
30. Âlambîputra from Jayantîputra,
29. Âlambâyanîputra from Âlambîputra,
28. Sânkrtîputra from Âlambâyanîputra,
27. Shaungîputra from Sânkrtîputra,
26. Ârtabhagîputra from Shaungîputra,
25. Vârkârunîputra from Ârtabhagîputra,
24. Pârasharîputra from Vârkârunîputra (I),
23. Bhâradvâjîputra from Pârasharîputra,
22. Vâtsîputra from Bhâradvâjîputra,
21. Gautamîputra from Vâtsîputra,
20. Âtreyîputra from Gautamîputra,
19. Gautamîputra from Âtreyîputra,
18. Âtreyîputra from Gautamîputra,
17. Gautamîputra from Âtreyîputra,
16. Vârshaganîputra from Gautamîputra,
15. Shâlankâyanîputra from Vârshaganîputra,
14. K.B.Mâtharîputra from Shâlankâyanîputra,
13. Shaunakîputra from K.B.Mâtharîputra,
12. Paingîputra from Shaunakîputra,
11. Bhâradvâjîputra from Paingîputra,
10. Hârikarnîputra from Bhâradvâjîputra,
09. Maushikîputra from Hârikarnîputra,
08. Bâdeyîputra from Maushikîputra,
07. Gârgîputra from Bâdeyîputra,
06. Gârgîputra from Gârgîputra,
05. Pârâsharî Kundinîputra from Gârgîputra,
04. Gârgîputra from Pârâsharî Kundinîputra,
03. Pârâsharîputra from Gârgîputra,
02. Vâtsî Mândavîputra from Pârâsharîputra,
01. Bhâradvâjîputra from Vâtsî Mândavîputra,
00. VAYAM or last ShB teachers
A
rough estimate of 42 x 20-30 years of teachers with
metronymics covers a period of 840-1260 years totally from
Prâshnîputra upto the Shatapatha BraahmaNa period. From Tura
KaavaSheya upto the Shatapatha BraahmaNa period we have
roughly 52 x 20-30 years of teachers with metronymics covers
a period of 1040-1560 years.
BrhadaaraNyaka UpaniShad
VI.5.1: Now the line of teachers: The son of PautimaShii
(received it) from the son of Kaatyaayanii. He from the son
of Gautamii. The son of Gautamii from the son of
Bhaaradvaajii. He from the son of Paaraasharii. The son of
Paaraasharii from the son of Aupasvastii. He from the son of
another Paaraashari. He from the son of Kaatyaayanii.
The son of Kaatyaayanii from the son of Kaushikii. The son
of Kaushikii from the son of Aalambii and the son of
Vaiyaaghrapadii. The son of Vaiyaaghrapadii from the son of
KaaNvii and the son of Kaapii. The son of Kapii – VI-v-2:
From the son of Aatreyii. The son of Aatreyii from the son
of Gautamii. The son of Gautamii from the son of
Bhaaradvaajii. He from the son of Paaraasharii. The son of
Paaraasharii from the son of
Vaatsii. The son of Vaatsii from the son of another
Paaraasharii. The son of Paaraashari from the son of
VaarkaaruNii. He from the son of another Vaarkaarunii. This
one from the son of Aartabhaagii. He from the son of
Shaungii. The son of Shaungii from the son of Saamkrtii. He
from the son of Aalambaayanii. He again from the son of
Aalambii.
The son of Aalambii from the son of Jaayantii. He from the
son of MaaNDuukaayanii. He in his turn from the son of
MaaNDuukii. The son of MaaNDuukii from the son of ShaNDili.
The son of ShaaNDili from the son of Raathitarii. He from
the son of Bhaalukii. The son of Bhaalukii from the two sons
of Krauncikii. They from the son of
Vaidabhrtii. He from the son of KaarShakeyii. He again from
the son of Praacinayogii. He from the son of Saamjiivii. The
son of Saamjiivii from Aasurivaasin, the son of Praashnii.
The son of Praashnii from Aasuraayana. He from Aasuri.
Aasuri –
VI-v-3: From Yaajnavalkya. Yaajnavalkya from Uddaalaka.
Uddaalaka from Aruna. Aruna from Upaveshi. Upaveshi from
Kushri. Kushri from Vaajashravas. He from Jiihvaavat, the
son of BaaDhyoga. He from Asita, the son of VaarShagaNa. He
from Harita Kaashyapa. He from Shilpa Kaashyapa. This one
from Kaashyapa, the son of Nidhruva. He from Vaac. She from
AambhiNi. She from the sun. These white Yajuses received
from the sun are explained by Yaajnavalkya Vaajasaneya.
VI-v-4: The same up to the son of Saamjiivii. The son of
Saamjiivii from MaaNDuukaayani. MaaNDuukaayani from
MaaNDavya. MaaNDavya from Kautsa. Kautsa from Maahitthi. He
from VaamakakShaayana. He from Vaatsya. Vatsya from
ShaaNDilya. ShaaNDilya from Kushri. Kushri from Yajnavacas,
the son of Raajastamba. He from Tura, the son of
KaavaShii/aa. He from Prajaapati (HiraNyagarbha). Prajaapati
through his relation to Brahman (the Vedas). Brahman is
self-born. Salutation to Brahman.
I.
Generations
53th-25th is the same as in the ShB list, 25th is
Vârkârunîputra (I). The 24th is Pârâsharîputra. The BAU list
gives a second Vârkârunîputra (18th position of its own
list), not mentioned in the ShB as also not the names
following him, save for the first one Pârâsharîputra. There
is some discrepancy, which indicates mostly a gap in lists.
Most probably being a new line of teachers attached to the
BAU development was given to fill the gap and development
from ShB to BAU, which makes sense:
18. Pârasharîputra from (Vârkârunîputra II),
17. Vâtsîputra from Pârasharîputra,
16. Pârasharîputra from Vâtsîputra,
15. Bhâradvâjîputra from Pârasharîputra,
14. Gautamîputra from Bhâradvâjîputra,
13. Âtreyîputra from Gautamîputra,
12. Kâpîputra from Âtreyîputra,
11. Kânvîputra from Kâpîputra,
10. Âlambîputra and Vaiyâghrapadîputra from Kânvîputra,
09. Kaushikîputra from Âlambîputra and Vaiyâghrapadîputra,
08. Kâtyâyanîputra from Kaushikîputra,
07. Pârâsharîputra from Kâtyâyanîputra,
06. Aupasvatîputra from Pârâsharîputra,
05. Pârâsharîputra from Aupasvatîputra,
04. Bhâradvâjîputra from Pârâsharîputra,
03. Gotamîputra from Bhâradvâjîputra,
02. Kâtyâyanîputra from Gotamîputra,
01. Pautimâshîputra from Kâtyâyanîputra,
00. VAYAM or last BAU teachers
birth of Buddha
Adding 18 x 20-30 years of the extra teachers in BAU covers
a period
of 360-540 years.
Supposing that the lower limit of the BAU is 500 BCE, as the
BAU is
pre-Bauddha, we could place Tura Kaavasheya in 1040-1560
plus 360-540
years = ca. 1400-2100 BCE. The RV period we have to place
before this
estimated date.
Leaving aside the estimated time, it is clear that, in the
entire interval between end of RV and birth of Buddha, women
(as mothers and perhaps also their teachers) had a special
place, being honoured in a long line of names of their sons.
Perhaps unique in the world, at least being mentioned for
such a long period.
We have later also ShaatakarNi kings having metronymics in
the time
of Shakas and Kushanas: the Gautamiiputras,
VaasiShThiiputras, etc.
regards,
Ishwa
