Soma the Learned Brahmin

Authors

  • Alice Collett York St. John University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/rosa.v3i1.93

Keywords:

Avadānaśataka, Brahmanism, early Indian Buddhism, Vedas, women

Abstract

Soma is a female disciple of Gotama Buddha known from various early Indian Buddhist sources. In the story of Soma in the Avadanasataka, prior to her conversion to Buddhism she gains access to the three Vedas and becomes a learned Brahmin in her region. In this article, as well as providing an English translation of Soma's story in the Avadanasataka, I discuss this account of Soma the learned Brahmin and attempt to discern the basis for a Buddhist narrative representation of a female learned Brahmin. In this account, a Buddhist story which seeks to demonstrate the natural superiority of Buddhism over Brahmanism, the female Soma takes the place usually reserved, in similar accounts, for learned male Brahmins.

Author Biography

  • Alice Collett, York St. John University

    ALICE COLLETT is a Lecturer in Asian religions at York St John University, and she has previously worked at other universities in the UK and North America teaching Buddhism and Hinduism. She has been working and publishing on Buddhism and gender since the completion of her doctoral degree in 2004 and has published in various journals including Numen and the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. Department of Theology and Religious Studies York St John University Lord Mayor's Walk, York, YO31 7EX UK

References

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Published

2010-05-22

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Collett, A. (2010). Soma the Learned Brahmin. Religions of South Asia, 3(1), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.1558/rosa.v3i1.93