Increase in feminine dignity

The Buddha also raised the prestige of women in India. Generally was spoken to women at the time of the Buddha -- because of the brahminical influence -- not much recognition given. Sometimes they were scorned, though there were exceptional cases that showed their learning in sciences such as philosophy, etc. In his magnanimity, the Buddha treated women benevolently and with courtesy, and show them also the path to peace, purity and holiness. The Buddha founded the community of nuns Bhikkhuni Sasana for the very first time in history, because never before there has been a community of women living a life of renunciation unmarried could lead. Women of all backgrounds joined the community. The lives of many of these noble nuns, their energetic endeavors to achieve the goal of freedom and their thanksgiving songs of joy through the liberation of the spirit, are recorded in the 'Psalms of the Sisters' (Therigatha). A famous saying of the Buddha is: 'Itthi pi hi ekacciya seyya' (Some women are better than men.)