Gargi Vachaknavi (born around c. 700
BCE), daughter of Rishi Vachaknu was an ancient Indian philosopher and one of
the nine gems in the court of Mithila’s king Janaka. She was known as Gargi
because she came in the lineage of Rishi Garga. Her last name comes from her
father Vachaknu. In Vedic literature, Gargi is honoured as a great natural
philosopher and an expounder of the Vedas.
She was also referred to as a Brahmavadini (One who understood the
Brahman and could talk about it). She remained unmarried and spent all her life
in the quest of the Brahman. Gargi composed several hymns in Rigveda that
questioned the origin of all existence. Yoga Yajnavalkya, a classical text on
Yoga is a dialogue between Gargi and Sage Yajnavalkya. The Brihadarayaka
Upanishad gives a detailed account of this dialogue.
Janaka, the king of
Mithila was a great scholar and was very much interested in philosophical debates.
He would organise conferences at frequent intervals and thus create
opportunities for the learned ones to exhibit and exchange their deep
knowledge.
Once, Janaka
performed an elaborate yajna (sacrifice). A lot of sages and scholars were
present. Gargi also attended. King Janaka was quite impressed by the vast
assembly of scholars. After the yajna,
he announced–– “O Wise scholars! I wish to gift a thousand cows with
their horns tied with gold coins to the one, who is acknowledged as the best
philosopher among you. The one, who is confident, can come forward and claim
the gift. However, he should be able to convince the others that he deserves
this gift.”
For some time, there was absolute
silence. Then Yajnavalkya, the court philosopher stood up, called one of his
disciples and asked him to drive the cows to his ashram. Those who were sitting
quietly till then, not having the confidence to claim the gift, started to object.
“How can you claim that you are the
best?”
Yajnavalkya said, “I am not saying I
am the best. The cows will be useful to me. The students in my ashram need the
cows’ milk. However, if any of you wish to examine me, please go ahead. Ask
your questions.”
A few of them asked him profound
questions about the Brahman and Yajnyavalkya gave them convincing replies. When
all kept quiet, Gargi Vachaknavi, the only woman philosopher in the whole group
of scholarly men, stood up and asked Yajnyavalkya a few questions.
(The conversation between Gargi and
Yajnyavalkya fills us with amazement with its depth and utter honesty. That a
woman could question the scholar of Yajnyavalkya’s calibre and that he answered
her with so much clarity and patience, are rare to find even in these days of
feminine equality. A small part of the conversation is given below.)
Gargi: Maharshi Yajnyavalkya! It is
believed that brahmacharyam is absolutely essential for realizing the Self. You
are twice-married. (Yajnyavalkya had two wives – Katyayini and Maitreyi) Don’t
you think you are setting a bad precedent?”
Yajnyavalkya: Tell me, Gargi, who is a
brahmachari?
Gargi: One who is immersed in the
quest of the Absolute truth. (Etymologically, the word means this. However, we
generally use it to refer to a celibate.)
Yajnyavalkya: Why do you think a
householder cannot seek the Absolute Truth?
Gargi: Only a person, who is free, can
seek the Truth. Marriage is bondage.
Yajnyavalkya: Marriage is bondage?
Gargi: Without any doubt.
Yajnyavalkya: How?
Gargi: Maharshi! A married person has
to take care of others. He is involved in many things. If he has children, the
responsibilities increase. In this situation, where is the freedom to seek the
Truth?
Yajnyavalkya : Does one take care of
others because of love or bondage?
Gargi: Love is also a bondage,
Maharshi!
Yajnyavalkya: No, Gargi! True love
emancipates. When love is selfish, it becomes bondage. The problem is not with
love; it is with selfishness.
Gargi: Love is always selfish,
Maharshi!
Yajnyavalkya: When desire is blended
with love, love turns selfish. Such a love is certainly bondage. But that love,
which knows only to give and does not expect anything, can never be bondage. It
emancipates.
Gargi: What you are saying is quite
impressive, Maharshi! But, can you give examples to prove your point?
Yajnyavalkya: Look around you, Gargi!
The sun embraces the earth with his rays. When his light falls on the earth,
lives are born. The earth does not expect anything from the sun. She only knows
to bloom when the sunlight touches her. The sun also does not try to establish
his right over the earth. He burns himself and gives life to the beings on the
earth. This is selfless love. We are all born out of such selfless love. How
can love be an obstacle in the path of a seeker?
Gargi was quite satisfied with this
reply. Still, she had other questions regarding the true nature of things.
Gargi wanted to know what the elements
such as the earth, water, fire, air and sky are made of. She demanded specific
replies and Yajnyavalkya answered all her questions elaborately and
convincingly. However, when Gargi wanted to know what was the Brahman made of,
Yajnyavalkya asked her to stop asking questions as any further discussion would
only disturb her mental balance. Surprisingly, Gargi agreed. With great
satisfaction, she declared Yajnyavalkya to be the greatest ‘Brahmajnani’ (knower
of the Brahman) and the whole court cheered him.
We will learn more about this great rishi
in the sequel Yajnyavalkya and Maitreyi.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargi_Vachaknavi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ7chItUqrY
https://www.jagran.com/blogs/rajanidurgesh
B. Ramadevi
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