Gargi Vachaknavi (Sans: गार्गी वाचक्नवी (Devanagari); Gārgī Vāchaknavī (HK)) was an ancient Indian sage and philosopher.
In Vedic literature, she is honoured as a great natural philosopher,[1][2] renowned expounder of the Vedas,[3] and known as Brahmavadini, a person with knowledge of Brahma Vidya.
[4] In the Sixth and the eighth Brahmana of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, her name is prominent as she participates in the brahmayajna, a philosophic debate organized by King Janaka of Videha, during which she challenges the sage Yajnavalkya with perplexing questions on the issue of atman (soul).
[9] Yajnavalkya believed he was the most advanced of those present due to his mastery of Kundalini Yoga, and ordered his disciple Samsrava to lead the cow herd to his house.
Sages like Asvala, Janaka's priest, Artabhaga, Bhujyu, Ushasta, and Uddalaka debated with and lost to Yajnavalkya.
Yajnavalkya answered: Verily, O Gargi, if one performs sacrifices and worship and undergoes austerity in this world for many thousands of years, but without knowing that Imperishable, limited indeed is that [work] of his.
This ended their debate,[1][15] and she conceded to Yajnavalkya's superior knowledge, stating: "venerable Brahmins, you may consider it a great thing if you get off bowing before him.
[1] Actress Richa Soni portrayed the character of Gargi Vachaknavi in an Indian Television Sitcom Siya Ke Ram which aired on Star Plus in the years 2015-16.
Actress Meenakshi Sethi portrayed the role in Swastik production's show Shrimad Ramayan.