Which one of the following is believed to be a compilation of the psalms sung by the women ?

The Therigatha, often translated as 'Psalms of the Sisters' or 'Verses of the Senior Nuns', is a significant Buddhist text within the Sutta Pitaka [2]. It is a collection of seventy-three poems or psalms attributed to early Buddhist nuns (bhikkhunis) who were contemporaries of the Buddha. These verses serve as 'inspired utterances' (udana) that record the spiritual journeys, social struggles, and eventual enlightenment of these women. While the Theragatha contains the psalms of monks, the Therigatha is unique as the earliest extant text specifically depicting women's spiritual experiences in ancient India. Other options like Sumangalavilasini (a commentary), Stridharmapaddhati (a treatise on women's duties), and Ritusamhara (a Sanskrit poem by Kalidasa) do not represent a compilation of psalms sung by Buddhist nuns [2].

Sources

1. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings > The Therigatha > p. 93
2. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 3: Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects > The Starving Tigress: A Jataka Tale > p. 43