On the occasion of International Women’s Day today, let’s learn about a woman Adi Shankaracharya revered for her knowledge and impartial decision-making.

During Adi Shankara’s time, Vedanta had gotten marginalized, and whatever was remaining was divided into many different factions.

Adi Shankara realized that the only way to rejuvenate it was to get everyone under one umbrella. For that, as per the traditions of those days, he decided to debate renowned people from each of those factions.

Those days, for debates, both participants would agree on the framework and choose a judge whose decision they will not question. Then they would debate within the agreed framework.

One day, in pursuit of this goal of uniting all factions, Adi Shankara reached the house of Mandan Misra, a famous philosopher of the Karma-Mimamsa.

They both agreed on the framework of debate, where if Adi Shankara defeats Mandan Misra, he and his group will become Shankara’s followers. But, if they win, Adi Shankara would have to become their follower.

When the matter came to the choice of Judge, Adi Shankara suggested the name of Ubhaya Bharati, wife of Mandan Misra himself.

Ubhaya Bharati was renowned in her own way, and Adi Shankara had complete faith in her independent decision-making.

The debate lasted for several days, and after seeing Mandan Misra’s inability to answer Adi Shankara’s question, Adi Shankara was declared the winner by Ubhaya Bharati.

But, given that she was the wife (अर्धांगिनी) of Mandan Misra, she challenged Adi Shankara for the debate and gave him a very tough fight.

While the story goes on, significant points to note here are:
1. NO ONE blinked an eyelid when Ubhaya Bharati was nominated to judge the debate.
2. NO ONE questioned her impartial decision-making abilities.
3. NO ONE, including Adi Shankara or commentators who came after him, had issues when she challenged him to debate.

Not only Ubhaya Bharati but there are countless examples of such exemplary female scholars throughout Vedic literature.

Many Rig-Vedic verses are composed by scholars like Lopamudra, Apala, Ghosha, Juhu, Yami, Indrani, and others. The famous debate between Gargi and Yajnavalkya is the most recommended part of Brihadaranyak Upanishad.

Unlike the narrative we hear, all this indicates that women were always encouraged and allowed to participate, engage and challenge their male counterparts.

Only in the last thousand years, when invaders started treating women as loot, restrictions got added for their safety, and unfortunately, they became mainstream.

We should thank the effort of Savitribai Phule, Mahatma Phule, Dhonde Keshav Karve, and many others, who helped reverse the course. Now it is the responsibility of our generation to ensure the continuity of this.

Best wishes to all the women and everyone else on International Women’s Day!

All the Best!