During the period when the word Gender Equality had not even originated in the world, scholars like Gargi-Maitreyi were doing debates here - Prime Minister Mr. @narendramodi

Today’s article is about an ancient philosopher. She was one of the few prominent women scholars involved in the Vedic religion, the ancient precursor to Hinduism. Today, she is remembered for her fearless skills on the debate stage and her deep questions about theology. Let’s talk about Gargi Vachaknavi.

Gargi Vachaknavi was born around the 7th century BCE in India, to a centuries-long lineage of sages. Gargi herself was an intellectual child. From an early age, she studied the most ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas.

At a very young age, Gargi Vachaknavi found her love in the philosophy and spirituality, and decided to remain unmarried. She was the first woman of those times who took this decision. It was compulsory for a woman to get married during those times despite of which ever caste (Kshatriya, Brahmin, Rakshasa, Gandharva, Vaishya, etc) she belongs to. But it was Gargi who first stood up against this.

At an early age, it is also stated that she awakened her kundli and had gained the title of Brahmavaidini (someone with the knowledge of Brahma Vidya). The term ‘I am a soul’ is given by her and is also mentioned in the vedas. Gradually with her deep interest in philosophy and spirituality, she became a well known philosopher during the Satya Yug and the Treta Yug. She was the first woman who wrote hymns with the vedas (mainly Rig Veda- the most popular veda amongst the four vedas) and the upanishas.

With the lapse of time, she became a well known female debater after her debate with Maharishi Yajnavalkya at Maharaj Janak’s court and was awarded as of of the Navratna’s in Maharaj Janak’s court. One of her most famous debates is mentioned in the sixth and the eighth Brhmana of the Brihadranyaka Upanishad.

Philosophical debates were an important tradition in ancient India. In the centuries to come, they would become even more organized and pervasive in society. While Gargi was alive, debates were the primary way sages tested their knowledge and showed off their expertise.

Vedic literature demonstration

One legendary story from Vedic literature demonstrates Gargi’s strength of will and skill. 

According to the story, King Janaka held a celebratory sacrificial bonfire and invited all of the country’s royalty and the most educated scholars to participate. Gargi was in attendance.

King Janaka was a scholar in his own right, who respected the wide range of knowledge present at the event. After several days of burning sandalwood, ghee, and barley as spiritual offerings, Janaka decided to hold a competition to determine who knew the most about scripture. The winner would earn a lavish prize - 1000 cows, each one adorned with 10 grams of gold.

One legendary sage named Yajnavalkya was so certain he would win, he ordered his attendant to start taking the prize home, right then and there. Though most of the scholars were angered by this, none of them felt confident enough to debate Yajnavalkya, a master of meditative, mind-awakening yoga.

Out of all the sages in the kingdom, only eight wanted to stand up to Yajnavalkya’s challenge, and Gargi was among them. She was the only woman in the group.

The seven other challengers attempted to face off against Yajnavalkya, including the king’s own priest, but each one failed. Then, it was Gargi’s turn.

She posed one question after another about the structure of the universe, the origin of existence, and the soul itself. 

Gargi asked questions like, “That, O Yajnavalkya, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future - across what is woven, warp and woof?”

Warp and woof refer to the lengthwise and crosswise threads in a weaving, so Gargi was asking about the ‘weave’ of reality. When Yajnavalkya answered her questions, Gargi pressed further, asking that he break down the nature of the universe even more. Eventually, Yajnavalkya ended the debate himself, claiming that Gargi would soon lose her mental balance.

Gargi eventually conceded that she lost the debate. However, her sequence of questions, paired with Yajnavalkya’s answers, ended up establishing key theological concepts within the Vedic religion.

Gargi Vachaknavi was an unconventional thinker, and asked the questions few others thought to consider. Many of her hymns also posed questions about the origin of existence. This creative thinking earned her a place among scripture and legend.

The debate was carried out in this manner:

Q. Since the whole world is woven back and forth on water, then on what is it woven back and forth?

A. On air Gargi.

Q. On what then is air woven back and forth?

A. On the intermediate regions Gargi.

Q. On what then are the worlds of the intermediate regions woven back and forth?

A. On the worlds of the Gandharvas Gargi.

The debate carried on for a long time as Gargi asked Yajnavyalka about the Universe, the sunset, the moon and stars and the gods Indra and Prajapati. Finally Gargi requested the great sage to answer a few more questions to which Yajnavyalka obliged. She then questioned him on the weave of reality.

Q. That which is above the sky, that which is below the EarthEarth. That which is between these two, the sky and the earth. That; which people call the past, present and the future; across what that is woven, warp and woof?

A. Space Gargi.

Q. What then is space woven on, warp and woof?

A. O Gargi if one performs sacrifices and worship and austerity for many thousands of years and has no knowledge of the Imperishable; then his work is limited. Across this imperishable unseen is space woven, warp and woof.

Now Gargi had one final question left to ask:

Q. On what, is Brahman, the world of the imperishable woven?

A. O Gargi do not proceed further as you will lose your mental balance.

Gargi gracefully conceded defeat to the superior knowledge of Yajnavyalka. She addressed the gathering to consider themselves honored to bow before the great sage and declared that nobody had greater knowledge about the Brahman than him.

Rishi Gargi was the oldest icon of feminism found in the ancient Hindu texts. She has been extensively quoted in the Vedas and Upanishads. It is a reflection of the glorious and progressive Old Vedic Age, where women could uplift themselves and achieve great heights.

Gargi Vachaknavi in Ramayan

Gargi Vachaknavi was also very famous during the Treta Yug. She is said to be the mentor of the four Mithila sisters. Had previously awakened her kundli, the great Gargi Vachaknavi knew the future life of the four Mithila sisters and was also aware that who was the incarnation of whom hence, she took the responsibility of their education and up-bringing and molded them according to their future life.

Though every student was special to her but it was Urmila whom she shared a special connection with. She never considered Urmila as her student but always her daughter and Urmila also always addressed her as her mother. She loved her Mata Gargi more than her own mother Maharani Sunaina.

She made Urmila just like herself for she knew that Urmila had to live an independent life despite of being married… According to the Kamban Ramayan, it is also stated that despite of Lord Ram winning the swayamwar and knowing that Lord Ram was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Gargi Vachaknavi still took his test and asked him and Lord Lakshman various types of questions.

Few people may consider it as her foolishness that despite of being aware of everything, still she was ready to take the test of the Lord of Universe, Narayan and his companion Lord Shesha. But it was her duty to do so, as she wanted to check that weather Lord Ram and Lakshman was compatible for her two gems Sita and Urmila or not.! Her debate with Maharishi Yajnavalkya is a proof of her feminism. How bold and strong she was!