Studies On Women in Buddhism (C. 6th Century B.C. to C. 1300 Century A.D.)

About the Book

The book entitled Studies on Women in Buddhism is based on extensive primary source materials and garnished by significant theories and observations of eminent scholars of the east and the west. It offers an analytical as well as a critical window to the deeper meaning of socio-religious values and doctrinal reflections of Buddhism in the Buddhist texts highlighting the contents of the Bhikshuni Pratimoksha composed by the Upasikas and the Bhikshunis before the Christian era.

The text, needless to mention, is possibly the earliest composition exclusively credited to the womenfolk. The publication incorporates some thought-provoking issues like the Position and Status of Women in India in the sixth century B.C., the Buddhist Community-Buddhist Pratimoksha Sutra-Origin and the Nature of the Buddhist Safigha Doctrinal and metaphysical aspects and changing scenario of the Vinaya-Vastu in the Buddhist Monastic Order.

The book delves deep into the regional flavor and focus, generating a sense of reality blended with facts and practices-thus posing a fresh paradigm relating to contemporary society and religion.

To quote Professor S.K. Pathak (Foreword) she is ‘a promising scholar of our days attempted to explore a rarely traversed path in Buddhistic researches,’ from historical and sociological perspectives.

About the Author

SAYAMTARA JASH (b.1981) holds B.A. (Honours) and M.A. Degrees in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology and completed her Ph.D.in 2010 in Studies of Women in Buddhism. As a Post-Doctoral Fellow, she presently focuses on her research on the Monastic Organization highlighting activities of the Ramakrishna Order.

In addition to her specialization in Buddhism, her research interests include early epigraphical and iconographical reflections on religion in Southeast Asia. Further, she has also published over fifteen articles/research papers in journals of national and international repute. Sayamtara an upcoming scholar participated in the International Buddhist conference at the Buddhagravaka Bhiksu University, Anuradhapura, Srilanka, in 17-19 February 2012; 15th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists in Paris (6-10 July 2015); attended the Parliament of the World’s Religions 2015, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA (October 15-19, 2015); Spent a few weeks (10th Oct.-15th Nov.2015) with the Nuns at Hollywood Santa Barbara and Chicago Vedant Society of Southern California for her research work. WAG8 held in Kyoto, Japan (28th August -2nd September 2016).

Articulate, well researched, and extremely grounded with her subject of specialization, she is presently engaged with the study of early Indian Buddhist, Jaina, and Hindu art and iconography.

She is currently associated with the Visva Bharati, Calcutta, and Presidency universities as Guest teaching faculty. Dr. Sayamtara is also a regular contributor and member of various professional and academic organizations like the World Archaeological Congress,. Art History Congress, Indian History Congress, Numismatic Society of India (Banaras), Paschimvanga Itihasa Samsad (Kolkata), etc.