2025, Vol. 11, Issue 6, Part B

This paper explores the philosophical contributions of two prominent women in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad: Gārgī Vācaknavī and Maitreyī. Through a close reading of their dialogues with Yājñavalkya, this study highlights how both women exemplify distinct but complementary aspects of brahmavidyā, Gārgī through public dialectical reasoning and Maitreyī through introspective renunciation. The paper also considers Śaṅkara’s Advaitic interpretations of their roles, emphasizing that eligibility for spiritual knowledge transcends gender and is rooted in moral and intellectual qualifications. By situating these women within the broader Upaniṣadic and Vedāntic tradition, the paper argues for their recognition as legitimate philosophical agents who contribute meaningfully to metaphysical and ethical discourse in early Indian thought.