Aryaa, an Anthology of Vedic Women curated by Shivakumar GV (Indica Books) is a collection of short stories about ten iconic ancient Hindu women who had an immense and lasting impact on our civilization. The book introduces each of these incredible women in the voices of different authors who interpret their lives through unique lenses and styles. It is evident that the curator took great care in choosing the stories featured in the anthology.

Each woman represents a different facet of the concept of Hindu womanhood and is highlighted for their Dharmic resilience, diverse life experiences, and awe-inspiring achievements. These are the legends of women who were fiercely independent yet had no hesitation in making sacrifices or taking on challenges to fulfill their responsibilities guided by their inner Dharmic compass. The stories force us to reexamine our beliefs about ancient India and reveal to us that Vedic women had immense freedom and were respected in roles that defied all conventions, from choosing to be single mothers, defending their kingdoms as warriors, being respected for their choice to take Sanyas in pursuit of self-realization, being acclaimed as scholars, choosing to have offspring from multiple companions, and even finding love and marriage in their twilight years.

Women of many diverse backgrounds are represented in the book. From warrior princesses, to Shri Krishna’s sister herself, from Vedic Rishikas to the mother of Bharatvarsha, a range of women of different ages, status, and circumstances are depicted. There are several famous names as well as personalities we are not very familiar with. This balance keeps the readers intrigued to discover more about the household names they know and love while satisfying their curiosity about the women whose lives are relatively lesser known, such as Manipur’s princess Chitrangada of the Mahabharata, who finds an echo of her legendary warrior spirit with the great warrior Arjuna in a light-hearted, accidental encounter full of humor and sparkling romance. Or the luminously woven enduring tale of Maitreyi rising beyond her role as Yajnavalkya’s wife to pursue the yearning of her inner self for Amritatva and leave her responsibilities at the Ashram behind to fulfill her own path to realization. 

The voices of the authors become reflections of the life experiences of living, breathing women, not just names in epics. We get to discover their innermost thoughts, intimate motivations, and agonizing choices when faced with the conflicts and challenges that life often forces upon such pivotal personalities. We experience firsthand the turmoil of Subhadra when she has to cope with the devastation of Shri Krishna’s death, while facing the agonizing departure of her husband Arjuna on his final journey with the Pandavas. Her ability to sacrifice her fears, and overcome her sorrows in order to fulfill her duty as the royal matriarch guiding Hastinapur’s future is awe-inspiring and elicits tears of admiration at her bravery.

The story of Madhavi, Yayati’s daughter is of particular relevance to understanding the civilizational ethos of how ancient Hindu women enjoyed equal rights and had the freedom to make choices regarding their lives in a social milieu that was far more sexually open and safe than today. It is narrated from the perspective of an NRI whose grandparents anchored her to her Indic roots but grew up viewing ancient Hindu women through the judgemental academic prism of a Western lens due to her education. In particular, she is agonized by the story of her namesake, Yayati’s daughter Madhavi, whose life seems to be riddled with misogyny and exploitation. When the protagonist loses her possessions on the streets of Varanasi, divine providence leads her to encounter a mysterious Yogini who begins a fascinating dialogue about ancient women and Madhavi with her.

Through the dialogue, the Yogini begins dismantling the narrator’s assumptions and biases about misogyny and sexual oppression in ancient India. She illuminates the real nature of the cultural ethos and the type of sexual and economic emancipation that Hindu women like Madhavi enjoyed in ancient India. In the end, the mysterious secret of the Yogini who knows so many intimate details about the motivations of Madhavi’s life becomes clearer. It is a masterfully crafted tale that surreptitiously addresses misconceptions in the minds of today’s readers. Like Madhavi, most Hindus today have been similarly brainwashed with the negative characterization of roles and rights of women in Vedic society. Our doubts are cleared gently through the interplay of the protagonist's inner dialogue alternating with her illuminating conversation with the wise Yogini.

The story of Damayanti facing the vicarious ups and downs of life due to the unpredictable influence of events beyond her control fills one with compassion for her struggles with fate. Conversely, the story of the iron-willed queen Satyavati, the grandmother of the Kauravas and Pandavas who navigated the twisted intricacies and complexities of royal life, inspires with its rare insight into her immense courage and integrity for ensuring the glory of Hastinapur. In Shakuntala, we get to see an unexplored facet of her dignity in handling challenges, her wisdom as a single mother in grooming her children to become realized beings, and her courage in defending her son’s rights when faced with the ultimate ignominy of Dushayanta denying his relationship with her as a pretense to incite her so that the public cannot doubt the legitimacy of her claim. Only such a phenomenal woman could have given birth to and raised a son like Bharata whose glorious deeds endeared him to become the namesake of our nation.

Each woman traverses her own unique life path in these stories. The story of Ulupi the Naga princess, who boldly chose Arjuna as a husband, despite knowing he would be unable to live with her is fascinating. It illustrates the indomitable courage of a single mother by her own will, raising heroic sons through life’s challenges and training them to become legendary warriors who would eventually play pivotal roles in the Mahabharata War. Taking place in a different era and society very far removed from the present day, we can begin understanding her sacrifices and the motivations behind her behavior.

In Gargi the Brahmavadini, we get to discover how a remarkable intellect shapes her own path of earnest self inquiry, culminating in the timeless Upanishadic debate on inquiry of the Self with Yajnavalkya. Gargi’s scholarly brilliance and her ability to transcend the barriers of knowledge is elevated by her experience as Yajnavalkya’s disciple so that ultimately, she can confidently follow the path of self-realization.

The final story in the book narrates the fascinating legend of Shandilyaduhita as a poem in ottava rima verse form, in the tradition of the ancient bards. It tells the unknown story of a Rishiputri who remained unmarried because she could not find a wise man worthy enough to be her companion and chose to perform Tapasya to acquire immense spiritual merit instead.  At a ripe old age, she prepares to die and transcend to the next plane, but is stopped by Narada who tells her that she must experience the life of a householder before ascending to Swarga. What follows is the incredible story of how the aged Shandilyaduhita searches for a worthy husband to spend one wedding night with her, so she can fulfill Narada’s condition. After much ridicule and disappointing encounters, she finds a soulmate in Shringavat whose enlightened consciousness embraces her wisdom in a bond transcending physical superficialities. The two realized beings share a magical union of body and spirit in a timeless encounter of liberation, after which Shandilyaduhita ascends to the highest planes. It’s a sparkling rendition of one of the most unusual and unconventional love stories ever told with all the reverence that it deserves.

Unfortunately, each woman’s story is only a few pages long and leaves the reader asking for much more. There is plenty of potential to further probe the histories and personalities of such inspiring Vedic women, whose perspectives have rarely been explored in Bharatiya literature. The book left me wanting far more insight into the riveting lives of each of these brilliant women who have enriched our Itihasa in their dignified ways.

Although I can understand why it was necessary, often the italicization of Indic words comes in the way of visual scanning and disrupts the flow of reading. Including images or illustrations of the women or scenes from their lives would also have really enhanced the engagement level. I found myself constantly wishing to associate a face with the protagonists so that I could experience the personalities and imagine the vibrant lives of such iconic women even more vividly. Since these women existed in such ancient times, the imagery would also serve as an effective way to transport us back to their era.

This book is a valuable gift that can spark Indic civilizational consciousness in today’s generation and enrich us to rekindle interest in our timeless intrinsic traditions, civilizational basis, and social ethos. These women's legends have contributed to the evolution of Hindu society as it evolved across millennia. By deftly weaving together the luminous strands of their vibrant lives in human stories that enrich and transform our modern-day perceptions, the book creates a bridge that helps us to reimagine the past through the enlightened lens of Dharmic consciousness. Such well-crafted stories leave a lasting impact in the mind unlike the instant gratification of today’s pulp historical fiction and distorted retelling of our epics. Above all, they inspire us with unforgettable insights about the indomitable courage and wisdom of our ancient women icons, who were incomparable trailblazers and pioneers.

Image source: Musings of Time