Oil, acrylic, & mixed media on canvas

48″ x 60″

2017

Part 5 of the “Desi Remix” series, which explores the past by reimagining India’s rich history of mythology, epics, and folktales by juxtaposing feminist icons onto Western classical paintings. (Inspired by “The Last Supper” by Juan de Juanes) 

Gargi Vachaknavi was an ancient Indian philosopher. From a young age she became known for her intelligence, studying the Vedas and other philosophical scriptures with great proficiency, often surpassing men with her knowledge. One day King Janaka held a gathering, inviting all the educated sages, kings, and princes of India to participate. Janaka, also a scholar, was so impressed by the turnout, he decided to hold a debate in search of finding a single scholar with the most knowledge about “Brahman”. Offering a prize of 1000 cows with golden horns, no one except sage Yajnavalkya was confident in their knowledge of the subject. Many other scholars chose not to debate him out of uncertainty, however 8 renowned sages decided to challenge him, including Gargi, the only woman at the gathering.

Many of the competing sages debated with Yajnavalkya and asked him many philosophical questions, but his arguments were all too convincing. When it was finally Gargi’s turn to take up the challenge she questioned Yajnavalkya’s superiority, arguing repeatedly with him. She asked him everything about human souls, the environment, the universe, the origin of all existence, and the interconnectedness of the world. As her final question she asked him to define the world of the imperishable (“Brahman”). Taken aback, he stopped her from questioning him any further and Gargi conceded to his superior knowledge. However, she still made it farther than anyone else at the debate and was Yajnavalkya’s toughest challenger to date. Being the only woman to outsmart a room full of men, she was honored as one of the 9 gems in King Janaka’s court.