Names of female scholars from Vaidic and Upanishadic times, or "Brahmavadinis"

Question

Wikipedia provides the names of some of the "Brahmavadinis" (ब्रह्मवादिनी) or female scholars of ancient times, who studied topics related to brahman (ब्रह्म) and took part in debates and discussions about brahman (ब्रह्म) similar to how men participated.

Example:

Lopamudra, Ghosha, Sulabha, Maitreyi, Gargi etc.

Apart from the above names, are there any other female "Bhramvadinies" mentioned in any of the Vedic or Upanishadic literature or scripture?

I would also like to know in brief about their works (literature) and any stories associated with these women, if any are available.

Answer 1

According to Brihad Devata, 2.82-84 Sanskrit Source and English Transliteration Source, there are several Brahmavadinis as follows:

Ghosa Godha Visvavara Apalopanisan Nisat ;

Brahmajaya Juhur nama, Agastyasya svasaditih. [82]

Indrani cendramata ca Sarama Romasorvasi;

Lopamudra ca Nadyas ca Yami nari ca Sasvati .[83]

Srir Laksa Sarparajnl Vak Sraddha Medha ca Daksina;

Ratrl Surya ca Savitrl brahmavadinya Iritah. [84]

• Ghosa: Name of the authoress of RV 5.39 and RV 5.40
• Godha: Name of the authoress of a Sāman Source
• Visvavara: Name of the authoress of the hymn RV 5.28
• Apala: Name of the authoress of the hymn RV 8.91
• Upanisat
• Nisat
• Juhu Brahmajaya: Name of the authoress of the hymn RV 10.109
• Agastyasya
• Aditi: Name of the authoress of the hymn RV 4.18
• Indrani: Name of the authoress of the hymn RV 10.86
• Indramata
• Sarama: Name of the reputed authoress of RV 10.108
• Romasa: Name of the reputed authoress of RV 1.126,7
• Oorvasi
• Lopamudra: Name of the authoress of RV 1.179
• Nadya
• Yami
• Sasvati: Name of the authoress of RV 8.1
• Sri Lakshaa
• Sarparajni
• Vak
• Sraddha
• Medha
• Daksina: Name of the authoress of RV 10.107
• Ratri
• Surya Savitri: Name of the authoress of RV 10.85

Except these, there are some others.

• Vasukrapatni: Name of the authoress of the verse RV 10.28.1

I have also taken help from Hindupedia.com website.

Answer 2

As already answered here, R. L. Kashyap in Essentials of Rig Veda lists about 30 ṛṣhikās (women seers of Rigveda) along with the verse numbers. The author also notes the list is not exhaustive.

Appendix

Women Ṛṣhis (ṛṣhikā) in the Rig Veda Samhitā

Aditi                   4.18

Aditirdākshāyaṇī        10.72

Agastyasvasā            10.60.6

Apālā Ātreyī            8.91

Dakshiṇā Prājapatyā     10.107

Godhā                   10.134

Goṣhā Kākshīvatī        10.39, 10.40

Indrāṇī                 10.86, 10.145

Indra-mātaraḥ           10.153

Jaritā Sharṇgā          10.142

Juhūrbrahmajāyā         10.109

Kāshyapī                9.104

Lopāmudrā               1.179

Rātrīrbhāradvājī        10.127

Romashā                 1.126

Suryā Sāvitrī           10.85

Saramā Devashunī        10.108

Sārparājnī              10.189

Sashvatyāṇgīrasī        8.1

Shachī Paulomī          10.159

Shradhdā Kāmāyānī       10.151

Sikatā Nivāvarī         9.86

Sudītīrangirasā         8.71

Tvaṣhṭa Garbhakartā     10.184

Urvashī                 10.95

Vāgambhṛṇī              10.125

Vasukrapatnī            10.28

Vishvavārā Ātreyī       5.28

Yamī Vaivasvatī         10.10

Yamī                    10.154

(The list is not exhaustive)

Answer 3

None. There are no women who authored the Veda. For example:

Indrani = Goddess

Yami = Goddess

Aditi = Goddess

Urvashi = Apsara

The women that do seem to appear are just interlocutors. Women have some serious problems that were put in them since Brahma created them. This is confirmed everywhere like:

Ever since the five elements, the world, the men and women were created by Brahmā, O Nārada, the defect lies in women always. (Shiva Purana, Uma Samhita, 24.35)

"Whence the five great elements have sprung into existence, whence the Creator Brahma hath ordained the universe, and whence, indeed, men have sprung, verily from the same eternal source have women sprung into existence. At that time, again, O Narada, when women were created, these faults that I have enumerated were planted in them!'" (Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva XXXVIII)

Such "people" cannot author sacred scriptures. In fact, in most of the cases women were not supposed to learn Vedas or take Sanyasa. It is possible, but not recommended at all nor the general trend. So almost forget about anything higher than that.