3-8-Dialog Between Yaagyavalkya and Gaargee-1
The following story is taken from Brihadaaranyak Upanishad (3.8.1-12).

This is the dialog between Muni Yaagyavalkya and the great philosopher Gaargee. Gaargee was the daughter of sage Vaachaknu and was born in the family of Garg. She has been mentioned in the 6th and 8th Braahman of Brihadaaranyak Upanishad where the mention is made of Raajaa Janak's Yagya and her challenge to sage Yaagyavalkya with some perturbing questions about Aatmaa (soul). Yaagyavalkya Sanhitaa is about the dialog between Gaargee and Yaagyavalkya. She was one of the Nava Ratn of Janak's court.

The importance of the discussion in the 6th and the 8th Braahman of the Brihadaaranyak Upanishad lies in the fact, that women capable of discussing religious topics were admitted into these assemblies. When Yaagyavalkya was in the court of Janak, Gaargee came to him and questioned him about the nature of Brahm. She came there merely to know from Yaagyavalkya about the Supreme Reality and not to vanquish him or to examine his knowledge.

Gaargee, the daughter of Vaachaknu said - "I shall ask thee two questions. Will you answer me, O venerable sage?"
Yaagyavalkya said - "Ask, O Gaargee."
Gaargee said - "O Yaagyavalkya, That of which they say that is above the Heavens, beneath the Earth, embracing Heaven and Earth, past, present and future, tell me in what is it woven, like the warp and the woof?"
Yaagyavalkya replied - "In Ether (Aakaash)."
Gaargee said - "I bow to thee, O Yaagyavalkya. Be prepared for the second question."
Yaagyavalkya said - "Ask, O Gaargee."

Gaargee said - "In what is the Ether woven and rewoven like the warp and the woof?"
Yaagyavalkya replied - "O Gaargee, In Brahm is the Ether woven and rewoven like the warp and the woof. Sages call this the A-Kshar (the imperishable). It is neither coarse, nor subtle, neither short nor long, neither red nor white. It is neither shadow nor darkness. It is without ears, eyes, or mind, or breath, without speech, without smell, without mouth. It has no within and no without. By the command of this Indestructible Being, O Gaargee, Sun and Moon, Heaven and Earth, stand upheld in their places. By the command of this A-Kshar, O Gaargee, minutes, hours, days, nights, weeks, months, seasons and years stand apart. Whosoever, O Gaargee, without knowing the A-Kshar, departs from this world, becomes a miser. But he, O Gaargee, who departs from this world, knowing this Indestructible Being, is a true Braahman or liberated sage.

That Brahman, O Gaargee, although unseen, but He sees; although unheard, but He hears; although unthought, but He thinks; although unknown, but He knows. There is none that sees but He, there is none that hears but He, there is none that thinks but He, there is none that knows but He. In that A-Kshar, then, O Gaargee, the Ether is woven and rewoven like the warp and the woof."

On hearing these words of wisdom from the mouth of Yaagyavalkya, Gaargee became silent.

From some other source - 6th Braahman --
"In what then, are the worlds of the sky woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of Aaditya (Sun), O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of Aaditya woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of Chandra (Moon), O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of Chandra woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of Nakshatra (stars), O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of Nakshatra woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of gods, O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of gods woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of Indra, O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of Indra woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of Prajapati, O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of Prajaapati woven, like warp and woof?"
"In the worlds of Brahmaa, O Gaargee," he replied.
"In what then, are the worlds of Brahmaa woven, like warp and woof?"
Yaagyavalkya said: "O Gaargee, do not ask too much (improper questions) lest thy head should fall off. Thou askest the Deity about which we are not to ask too much. Do not ask too much, O Gaargee."

After that Gaargee became silent.

From Some Other Source
The questions asked by Gaargee are related not only to philosophy, but also to science. In the fourth section of the third chapter of that Upanishad, Gaargee asks simple questions, which makes Yaagyavalkya angry. The first talk is like this --

Gaargee asks Yaagyavalkya: "O Yaagyavalkya, if everything is Otaprot (warp and woof) with water, with what is water Otaprot?"
The reply comes: "Gaargee, with air."
"Then, with what is air Otaprot?"
"With Antariksh."
"With what is Antariksh Otaprot?"
"Gaargee, with Gandharv Lok."
With what is Otaprot Gandharv Lok?"
"With Aaditya Lok."
Then, Aditya Lok with Chandra Lok, Chandra Lok with Indra Lok, Indra Lok by Prajapati Lok, and Prajapati with Brahm Lok."
Then Gaargee asks, "Where is Brahm Lok?"

At this Yaagyavalkya gets angry. This discussion may not have satisfied Gaargee, but it gives some clues to the knowledge of Space Technology. Most part of the earth is covered with water, and water is the source of life and air is called the friend of water (Aapam Sakhaa). This is the Praan Shakti of life. And that is why the Lok of vaayu (air) comes after Jal (water). After Vaayu comes Antariksh, but Antariksh not in its modern sense. Antariksh is the source of the relations with other planets. That is why Gandharv Lok comes after Antariksh. The rays of the Sun are called Gandharv, so Gandharv is where the sun's rays cross. After that comes Aaditya, in whose light the other planets shine. After this comes Chandra Lok, scientifically and psychologically related to us. Then comes Dev Lok. The word Dev comes from the "Div" Dhaatu, which means 'to shine.' Actually, what is called "Antariksh" in modern space science is like the Dyau of the Upanishad. Soorya is called Indra, so in place of Soorya, it is called Indra Lok. The sun is the center of the universe. Gayatri mantra also worships the sun. Now, the universe, including the sun, is the Virat Roop, which is Prajapati, and the controller of everything is Brahma. Brahm Lok comes at last. So this is the formula:

Jal-Vayu-Gandharv-Aditya-Chandra-Dev-Indra-Prajapati-Brahm

There is a doubt whether they thought that the Earth was the center of the universe. If it were so, it would be a big mistake. The doubt concerns about the meaning of "Otaprot". Does it mean 'covered with' or 'filled with'? or warp and woof. Languages change with the times. Another thing is that Vaidik philosophers were looking at the universe from the Earth. That is why their imagination starts with the Earth. Certainly, it was not a correct formula. That is why Yaagyavalkya got angry. But Gaargee was not defeated. She came up with another set of questions--

She aaked - "What is above the Dyau and under the Earth, between the Earth and the Dyau? What is called Bhoot, Bhavishya or Vartamaan? With what is it Otaprot?
Yaagyavalkya says: 'Above the Dyau and under the earth, between the earth and Dyau, what is called Bhoot, Bhavishya or vVartaman, is Otaprot with Aakaash.

The second question is: "With what is Aakaash Otaprot?"
Then Yaagyavalkya says: "Akshar Avinashya Brahm."

The word Aakash is made up of a+kashate (verb), which means what shines completely. This means, what makes others shine. In Latin, space means 'spatium,' which means 'to lie upon.' In Chinese Buddhism, 'agha' which comes from Sanskrit, means both visible matter and invisible emptiness. (cf. Y. Raguin, Terminologie). In Chinese stories also, there is discussion about Jal, Vaayu and Aakaash.

Apart from these two sets of questions, there is another set, for Yajnavalkya says that Brahm is the one who is inside Aakaash, but Aakaash does not know Him. His body is Aakaash, but he can control Aakaash.

Yah Aakaashe tishthnnakashadntaro yamakasho na ved yasyakashmantaro yamatyesh ta aatmachnttaryaamrith. --9

In ether or Aakaash, light can cross and soundlessness grows into a situation which may be called Nir-Gun. That may be the reason that Brahm is imagined as Nir-Gun. In another sense, Brahm is opposed to Brahmaand. This Virodh creates Santulan (equilibrium).

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