Page 10 - BHĀRATA –THE LAND OF SEERS AND SAGES
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Prominent Rishikas of Ancient India






              Rishika Gargi






              One of the significant female philosophers of the Vedic

              period, Gargi was known as a Brahmavadini (a person


              having knowledge of Brahman). She was one of the nine

              Navaratnas in the court of King Janaka of Mithila. She


              chose to remain celibate all her life.









































              Gargi is mentioned in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad,


              which tells us of the incident at a particular philosophical

              congress organized by King Janaka where she challenged


              Yājñavalkya to answer her questions to prove his highest


              scholarship and knowledge of Brahman. The

              Yogayājñavalkya Samhita, a text on Yoga expounds the


              dialogue between Gargi and Yājñavalkya at this

              congress.Gargi has contributed some hymns in the Rig


              Veda. Many of her hymns deal with questions related to the


              origin of all existence.
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