Monasticism In Indian Women

Priya Diwan

School of Studies in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology,

Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.

Abstract: In the religious and cultural history of India, monasticism has played a long and distinguished role. Efforts for spiritual attainment have taken innumerable forms in the religious history of man, however one form seems peculiar to Indian civilization is sannyasa. This study mainly focuses on the spiritual dimension of sennyese and role of monasticism in the lives of Indian women.The object of this study is intended to review the importance  of forth asrama, sannyasa  in the lives of Indian women  and to give stress  upon  the  need  of good  education  for women with  aim  at all round development of the  human  personality involving  each of its diverse  aspect:  body, speech, intellect,  heart  and spirit.  By a study of lives of great women  in India  the present study seeks a general way what was the position of Indian women  in the past and in the nineteenth  century in the light of Ramkrishna  movement.  The same object is intended to review the prominent role played by Indian women from literary sources such as Veda, Upanlshads, Epics Puranas,  Snirtis  and many other  literary works.

Key words: Monasticism, Sannyasa, Brahrnavadini,

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