Women as Rishikas in the Vedas

The Rig Veda is the only scripture in which the Divine Truths are revealed to women sages and in which hymns describing these revelations, like those by the woman sage Vāk Ambriņi find a prominent place in the Rig Veda Samhitā (ie. 10.125). There are more than thirty women sages in RV with specific hymns associated with them.
There are numerous hymns in the Rig Veda indicating the high status given to women in vedic society. Rig Veda (10.27.12) explicitly states that the practice of a lady choosing her own husband was in vogue. The hymn (10.85), the marriage hymn, explicitly states that the daughter-in-law should be treated as a queen, sāmrajni, by all the family members especially the mother-in-law, husband, father-in-law. The bride was exhorted to address the assembly:

10.85.26: . . . . Become the house-hold's mistress; Ruler of the home, you will address the religious assembly.

To be asked to address the assembly was regarded as an honor by most sages.

Epithets for women in Veda

It is noteworthy that in the Vedic literature although a woman's prime role is portrayed as a wife only, yet several other aspects of feminine form are also suggested by various names and epithets used to denote a woman. It is quite interesting to derive the exact meaning of these words because it may help in giving a better idea of different roles of woman in home and in society. For instance, a woman as wife is denoted by three words; jāyā, jani and patni. Of these, jāyā is the woman who gives birth to one's progeny, jani is the mother of children and patnī is the co-partner in the religious duties.

Similarly woman is designated as:

1. Aditi, because she is not dependent (Nirukta, 4/22)
2. Aghnyā, for she is not to be hurt (Y.V. 8/43)
3. Bŗhatī, for she is large hearted (Y.V. 11/64)
4. Chandrā, because she is happy (Y.V. 8/43)
5. Devakāmā, since she is pious. (A.V. 14/1/47)
6. Devī, since she is divine (A.V. 14/1/45, Y.V. 4/23)
7. Dhruvā, for she is firm (Y.V. 11/64) ā
8. Havyā, because she is worthy of invocation (Y.V. 8/43)
9. Idā, for she is worshippable (Y.V. 8/43)
10. Jyotā, because she is illuminating, bright (Y.V. 8/43)
11. Kāmyā, because she is lovable (Y.V. 8/43)
12. Kshamā, for she is tolerant/indulgent /patient (A.V. 12/1/29)
13. Mahī, since she is great (Y.V. 8/43)
14. Menā, because she deserves respect (Nirukta 3/21/2)
15. Nārī, for she is not inimical to anyone (A.V. 14/1/59)
16. Purandhih, for she is munificent, liberal (Y.V. 22/22)
17. Rantā, because she is lovely (Y.V. 8/43)
18. ŗtāvarī, ŗtachit, for she is the preserver / forester of truth (R.V.2/41/18)
19. Sanjayā, since she is victorious (R.V. 10/159/3)
20. Sarasvatī, since she is scholarly (Y.V. 20/84)
21. Simhī, since she is courageous (Y.V. 5/12)
22. Shivā, for she is benevolent (A.V. 14/1/64)
23. Shivatamā, since she is the noblest (R.V. 10/85/37)
24. Strī, since she is modest (R.V. 8/33/9, Nirukta 3/21/2)
25. Subhagā, because she is fortunate (Y.V. 8/43)
26. Subhdhā, for she is knowledgeable (A.V. 14/2.75)
27. Sumangalī, since she is auspicious (A.V. 14/2/26)
28. Sushevā, for she is pleasant (A.V. 14/2/26)
29. Suvarchā, since she is splendid (A.V. 14/4/47)
30. Suyamā, since she is self - disciplined. (A.V. 14/2/18)
31. Syonā, for she is noble (A.V. 14/2/27)
32. Vīriņī, since she is mother of brave sons (R.V. 10/86/9, 10)
33. Vishrutā, since she is learned (Y.V. 8/43)
34. Yashasvatī, for she is glorious (R.V. 1.79.1)
35. Yoşhā, because she is intermingled with man, she is not separate (Nirukta 3/15/1)

Women ŗşhis (ŗşhikā) in the Rig Veda Samhitā

(one or more mantra was revealed to each ŗşhikā)
Aditi 4.18
Aditirdākshāyaņi 10.72
apālā ātreyī 8.91
Indrāņī 10.86
Ūrvashī 10.85
Godhā 10.134
goshā kākshīvatī 10.39, 10.40
juhūrbramhajāyā 10.109
tvaşhţa garbhakartā 10.184
dakshiņā prājāpatyā 10.107
Yamī 10.154
yamī vaivasvatī 10.10
rātrīrbhāradvājī 10.127
Lopāmudrā 1.171
Vasukrapatnī 10.28
Vagāmbhŗņī 10.125
vishvavārā ātreyi 5.28
sashvatyāņgīrasī 8.1
shradhdā kāmāyāni 10.151
shachī paulomi 10.159
sarparājnī 10.189
sikatā nivāvari 9.86
sūrya savitrī 10.85
romashā 1.126
saramā devashunī 10.108
shikhandinyava psarasau kāshyapan 9.104
jaritā sharņgah 10.142
sudītīrangirasah 8.71
indra mataro 10.153
(The list is not exhaustive)

References

1. Indian Feminism in Vedic perspective, by Shashi Prabha Kumar Reader, Univ. of Delhi, Delhi 110007; Journal of Indian studies, Vol. 1, 1998
2. Most of this article was taken from Vedah.com