Sulabha
Sulabha | |
|---|---|
सुलभ | |
| Personal life | |
| Era | Satya Yuga |
| Region | Mithila region |
| Main interest(s) | Gender Equality |
| Notable idea(s) | Liberation of Women |
| Alma mater | Ancient Mithila University |
| Known for | Winning the debate with the King Dharmadhwaja Janaka |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Sanatana Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Vedic Principles |
| Creed | Vedic Tradition |
Sulabha ( Sanskrit: सुलभ ) was a female scholar who lived during the Mithila Kingdom. She was a Vedic scholar knownas Brahmavadini. In Rigaveda, a Samhita attributed to her was called Saulabha Samhita, later lost.[1] Sulabha was a learned woman who belonged to the mendicant order.[2] She renounced worldly possessions and followed a spiritual path. The text describes her as well-versed in Yoga, an ancient Indian discipline for physical, mental, and spiritual development.
Early life
Sulabha was a wandering Indian ascetic Yogini. She had philosophical debates with the philosopher king Janaka. She engaged in philosophical debate with King Janaka. She challenged traditional gender roles and argued for women's equality in achieving spiritual liberation.[3] Her story of debating King Janaka is mentioned in Mokshadharma Parva Chapter 321 of Shanti Parva in Mahabharata. In the story Yudhishthira asked Bhishma about the liberation of self without giving up a domestic lifestyle. Bhishma, in this connection, reference the story of the discourse between King Dharmadhwaja Janaka and Brahmavadini Sulbha.[4] The story of Sulabha and King Janaka is a famous example in the Sanatana tradition of Hinduism about achieving enlightenment while living a householder's life.
In the debate Sulabha clarified that she was born Kshatriya and belonged to a royal family, but she was unable to find a husband to fit her. She traveled widely.[1][2] While wandering in the Mithila Kingdom, she heard about King Dharmadhwaja Janaka of Mithila, who was known for his devotion to detachment and spiritual knowledge. Upon hearing of Mithila's dedication to attaining moksha (liberation), she desired to test his resolve and to meet him.[5] Sulabha used her yogic powers to transform herself into a woman of unmatched beauty. Disguised as a mendicant, Sulabha met King Janaka. She approached King Janaka to test his equanimity and detachment from worldly attractions.. In this debate, Sulabha logically established that no essential difference distinguished man and woman. She demonstrated by her own example that a woman can attain liberation on the same terms as a man.[6][7]
References
- ^ a b Vanita, Ruth (2003). "The Self Is Not Gendered: Sulabha's Debate with King Janaka". NWSA Journal. 15 (2): 76–93. doi:10.2979/NWS.2003.15.2.76 (inactive 1 November 2024). ISSN 1040-0656. JSTOR 4316972.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link) - ^ a b Ganguli, Kisari Mohan (2024-01-24). The Mahabharata of Khrisna-Dwaipayana Vyasa; XII. The Book of Peace Part Two: Vol. XII Part. 2. BoD – Books on Demand. ISBN 978-3-385-32443-5.
- ^ Vanita, Ruth. "Sulabha of India सुलभ Floruit Circa 800 BCE". ResearchGate.
- ^ "The Mahabharata, Book 12: Santi Parva: Section CCCXXI". sacred-texts.com. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Bharata Press. 1891.
- ^ Valmiki; Vyasa (2018-05-19). Delphi Collected Sanskrit Epics (Illustrated). Delphi Classics. ISBN 978-1-78656-128-2.
- ^ Sutton, Nicholas (2000). Religious Doctrines in the Mahābhārata. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-1700-5.