Bharati

Bharati (Ubhayabharati) was the scholarly wife of Mandan Mishra and a symbol of female intellectual power in ancient Mithila. She served as the impartial judge in the legendary debate between her husband and Adi Shankaracharya. When Mandan Mishra lost, she challenged Shankara herself on the sciences of household life, forcing the celibate monk to seek further knowledge. She is revered as an avatar of Goddess Saraswati.