Female consort of Yajnavalkya; one of the greatest sage-philosophers in the Upanishads. Maitreyi was known for her wisdom. See the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. (Glossary for the Vahinis)

Yajnavalkya, the famous sage, after deciding that he would join the monastic order, called before him, his two wives – Katyayani and Maitreyi, and informed them that he had partitioned his movable and immovable properties, equally, for both of them. On hearing this, the elder wife, Maitreyi, who was endowed with a high level of intelligence and insight, protested and said, with a smile on her face, ‘Lord! Can these riches you are handing over to me save me from death and render me immortal? If you assure me that they will do so, certainly I shall accept them, with due reverence to you.’ Yajnavalkya explained, ‘Riches make life pleasant and delightful by the chances they give you to live happily. Do you say that you do not need such valuable riches?’ But Maitreyi persisted. She said, ‘If what you say is true, you could have continued enjoying these riches and deriving happiness therefrom. Why have you decided to give them up and become a monk? No, it is not proper to cheat us, weak-minded women, holding forth before us these delusive trinkets. How can the riches, which you refuse to keep, give us peace and happiness? These are temporary objects. They are liable to destruction. They entangle us still further in bondage. They foster the ignorance which we yearn to discard. They are the chief promoters of anxiety and worry. They are basically polluted, since they are not within the realm of the Atma.’ When Maitreyi placed before him this truth, Yajnavalkya was silenced. Not knowing how to proceed, he stood with his head bent before her.

Then, Maitreyi fell at the feet of her husband, and said, ‘Lord! You are master of all mysteries. You must have called us and placed before us this proposal, in order to test our intelligence. I have no desire for luxury or even comfort. I do not crave for riches and possessions. Instruct me, about the path that can confer eternal Bliss.’ In fact, there is only One – the Parabrahma. (SSVahini, pp. 122-123)