Guru sishya.

Sishya

Sita was a trained warrior, as much as she was an ocean of compassion. She was adept in the knowledge of the Universe, as much as she excelled in her knowledge of the arthashastra (political sciences). She was one of the chief counsels for Rama.

Guru

Gargi was a renowned expounder of the Vedas. She had a profound knowledge of the Universe. She composed a few hymns in the Rg Veda, and in her time and even after that, she was highly venerated by society.

There’s one instance where she challenges Sage Yagnavalkya in a debate on Brahman. King Janaka, Sita’s father, organizes a debate among Brahmavadinis on the subject of Brahman. The outward motive isto reward the winner, but the inner motive is to request the winner to take Sita as his/her disciple. Among the Brahmavadinis participating in the debate are Gargi and Yagnavalkya.

Many great scholars arrived in Mithila. The reward was a ceremonial requirement, but the scholars came because they knew that a debate organized by King Janaka would be enriching and add to their knowledge.

The great rishi Yagnavalkya and Brahmavadini Gargi had also come to take up the challenge.

Sita was drawn to Gargi. Clad in a simple sari, with long, flowing black hair, a bright spot of chandan (sandalwood) on her forehead and kumkum below it, and adorned with a tulsi mala, she was exceptionally radiant.

In the early stages of the debate, Gargi engaged rishi Yagnavalkya in a series of questions whose answers led deeper and deeper into the very basis of creation.

Gargi had stepped down from her seat and into the central area of the hall, directly below Yagnavalkya’s seat.

She was his contemporary and addressed him by his name.

Yagnavalkya, she continued, “if all this is pervaded by water, then what is water pervaded by?” Her voice was clear, sonorous, and full of strength.

‘By air, Gargi,” came the reply.

“And by what is air pervaded?”

“By the sky,” came the reply.

“And by what is the sky pervaded?”

“By the world of the Gandharvas”.

And so continued the debate.

Other sages in the arena, like Aslava and Uddalaka questioned Yagnavalkya on other topics and received befitting answers to all.

With no one left to challenge him further, Gargi stood up again. “With the permission of all the scholars assembled here, I would like to post just two more questions to Yagnavalkya.”

With the authority vested in her, she posted both questions to the rishi.

In the end, Yagnavalkya won the debate.

Gargi stood with a radiant smile and bowed to Yagnavalkya. She addressed the entire gathering of venerable scholars and requested King Janaka to declare the sage the unparalleled victor.

PS: Though Yagnavalkya was declared the winner, Sita still requested Gargi to be her Guru.