[1][8] The King Janaka announced at his court that the greatest scholar of Vedas among the participating Brahmin scholars in the Yajna would be gifted one thousand milk giving cows along with ten Pādas of gold fixed on the horns of each cows.
It is said that listening the announcement of the king Janaka, no one dared to declare himself as the greatest Vedic scholar "Brahmistha".
The eight Brahmin scholars who debated with the sage Yajnavalkya in the assembly were Ashvala, Artabhaga, Bhujyu, Ushasta, Kahola, Gargi, Uddalaka and Vidagdha.
The lady scholar Gargi also honoured as Brahamvadini debated with Yajnavalkya two times but was unable to defeat him in any attempts.
[10][11] The priestly contest at the court of King Janaka during the Bahudakshina Yajna had played an important role in the foundation of the Vedanta School of Indian philosophy.
The concepts of the Atman and the Brahman serve as the fundamental principles of the Vedanta school of thought in the Indian philosophy and explain the ultimate truth of the universe.