There are many from our puranas and itihaasas that deserve mention in this list of the top 7 quintessential women of strength and courage. I chose the following personal favourites for my first list. 

Draupadi – the Fiery Yet Devoted Wife

Born of Mother Earth, dusky, dark, the epitome of beauty, Draupadi was a power to reckon with in the Mahabharata. She dealt with not one but five husbands, not to mention the mudslinging, even from those who should’ve understood it, that came with her unique marital status. 

Despite her power, she was often insulted and mocked. The worst thing she endured was Duryodhana’s despicable attempt to disrobe in the Kuru court, in front of the entire Kuru clan, when even the elders in the family were contemptibly quiet against the injustice. 

But she didn’t take it quietly. She stood against all of them, strong, powerful, and indefatigable. Read my version of the episode here.

Amba – the One Furious at Bhishma

She was the eldest daughter of the King of Kashi. Amba and her younger sisters, Ambika and Ambalika, were abducted by Bhishma on the day of their swayamvar to marry them to his nephew, King Vichitravirya. Amba fought against the abduction, saying it was her right to choose her husband, which she had already done. 

But it was not easy to stand up against the establishment. Amba was moved back and forth between the Kuru household, her father’s house, and her lover’s home as she sought a place of dignity for herself. When nothing worked, she sought help from the divine, and the tale of this fight coincides with that of Bhishma’s end. Read here for the detailed story of Amba and Shikandi.

Shubhadra –  Mother of Abhimanyu

She was Balarama and Krishna’s beloved sister. Born into prosperity and an abundance of love, Shubhadra fell in love with Arjuna. But her brother Balarama wanted her to marry his favourite wrestling student, Duryodhana. With Krishna’s help, Arjuna married her instead. The height of her suffering was when she lost her son, Abhimanyu, in the Kurukshetra war. She questions Krishna about her horrible fate. Read my version of Shubhadra and her son here

Uloopi – Another Mother of Bhabruvahana

A Naga princess, she fell in love with Arjuna while he was on a self-exile for breaking a pact with his brothers. Although she didn’t have the luxury of Arjuna’s reciprocated love, she was happy to bear and raise his son. But her greater sacrifice was raising another son of Arjuna, Babruvahana, the Prince of Manipura, whom she treated as her own, training him in martial arts and saving his life when needed. Read the story of Uloopi here. 

Aryambha – Adi Shankara’s Mother

The mother of Adi Shankara, a devout lady for whom her son and husband came above all. How she gave birth to Adi Shankara, and my version of her conflicting thoughts on her deathbed, can be an interesting tale to read and learn life lessons from. Read the story of Aryambha, mother of Adi Shankara, here. 

Ganga – How She Became the Mother of Bhishma

The River Goddess’s descent to Earth is a fascinating story. You can read it here. Another story of hers that reflects her daring and power is found in the Mahabharata when she descends to Earth in human form to wed King Shantanu of Hastinapur and bear eight sons, seven of whom she kills as soon as she gives birth to them. The eighth child becomes Bhishma Pitamah, the one who led the Kuru clan without ever sitting on Hastinapur’s throne. Read that story here. 

Suruchi – The Mother Who Showed Her Son the Righteous Path

She was the mother of Dhruv, the child whose persistence pleased Vishnu so much that he gave him a permanent, unmoving place in the cosmos. What does a mother do when her child does not receive his father’s love? How does she teach him to remain steady even during difficult times? How does she show him the way and let him go, even when she knows he would have to face challenges far more formidable than his young shoulders can bear? Read her story here. 

Author’s Note:

The quintessential women in our puranas and itihaasas are numerous. Choosing from them was an arduous task. I hope you enjoy reading these seven stories.

This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026

Images created using ChatGPT and Google Gemini