Gargi Vachaknavi
Encyclopedia
Gargi is mentioned in the Sixth and the Eighth Brahmana of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
, where the brahmayajna, a philosophic congress organized by King Janaka
of Videha is described, she challenged the sage Yajnavalkya
with perturbing questions on the atman
(soul). In Vedic literature, she is honored as one of the great natural philosophers.
Gargi composed several hymns that questioned the origin of all existence. Yogayajnavalkya Samhita
, a classical text on Yoga is a dialogue between sage Yajnavalkya
and Gargi Gargi was one of the Navaratnas
in the court of King Janaka
of Mithila. She has composed several hymns and is an author of Gargi Samhita.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The Upanishad is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads. It is contained within the Shatapatha Brahmana, and its status as an independent Upanishad may be considered a secondary extraction of a portion of the Brahmana text. This makes it one of the oldest texts of the Upanishad corpus...
, where the brahmayajna, a philosophic congress organized by King Janaka
Janaka
Janaka or Raja Janaka were the kings of Videha Kingdom. Their capital was Mithila, which is believed to be present day Janakpur, Nepal...
of Videha is described, she challenged the sage Yajnavalkya
Yajnavalkya
Yajnavalkya of Mithila was a legendary sage of Vedic India, credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana , besides Yogayajnavalkya Samhita and the Yājñavalkya Smṛti...
with perturbing questions on the atman
Atman (Hinduism)
Ātman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism it refers to one's true self beyond identification with phenomena...
(soul). In Vedic literature, she is honored as one of the great natural philosophers.
Gargi composed several hymns that questioned the origin of all existence. Yogayajnavalkya Samhita
Yogayajnavalkya Samhita
The Yogayajnavalkya Samhita is a classical treatise on Yoga attributed to Yajnavalkya. It takes the form of a dialogue between Yajnavalkya and Gargi, a renowned female philosopher of his time.-Literature:...
, a classical text on Yoga is a dialogue between sage Yajnavalkya
Yajnavalkya
Yajnavalkya of Mithila was a legendary sage of Vedic India, credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana , besides Yogayajnavalkya Samhita and the Yājñavalkya Smṛti...
and Gargi Gargi was one of the Navaratnas
Navaratnas
Navaratnas Nauratan was a term applied to a group of nine extraordinary people in a emperor's court in India...
in the court of King Janaka
Janaka
Janaka or Raja Janaka were the kings of Videha Kingdom. Their capital was Mithila, which is believed to be present day Janakpur, Nepal...
of Mithila. She has composed several hymns and is an author of Gargi Samhita.