Shaunaka, aka: Śaunaka, Saunaka; 9 Definition(s)
Introduction
Shaunaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Śaunaka can be transliterated into English as Saunaka or Shaunaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Śaunaka (शौनक).—A great ancient Vedic scholar who is believed to have written the Rk. Pratisakhya, which is said to be common for the two main branches of the Rgveda but which at present represents, in fact, all the different branches of the Rgveda.
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarVyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Śaunaka (शौनक):—Son of Śunaka (son of Gṛtsamada). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.17.1-3)
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata PuranaŚaunaka (शौनक) was the chief of the sages at the great sacrifice in Naimiṣa forest to whom the Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas were recited by the Sūta in the reign of Adhisīmakṛṣṇa, the great-grandson of Janamejaya and the sixth in generation from Arjuna in the Paurava line.—Vāyu-purāṇa 1.12; 99, 255-8; Padma-purāṇa 1.1.19.
Source: archive.org: Siva Purana - English Translation1) Śaunaka (शौनक).—General. A renowned ācārya. He is believed to be the author of the famous works—"Ṛgveda Anukramaṇī", "Āraṇyakam", "Ṛkprātiśākhya", etc. (See full article at Story of Śaunaka from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Śaunaka (शौनक).—A Brāhmaṇa who went to the forest with Yudhiṣṭhira. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 2).
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopaedia1a) Śaunaka (शौनक).—A son of Śunaka; a great sage of the Ṛg Veda school. A kulapati; addressed Sūta as to the circumstances of the composition of the bhāgavata purāṇa;1 had his residence in Naimiṣālaya; taught knowledge of astra and kriyā to Śatānīka;2 a pupil of Pathya; divided the Atharva Samhitā between his two disciples Babhra and Saindhavāyana.3 A Kṣatropetadvija; four castes were formed under him;4 a mantrakṛt and a madhyamādhvaryu;5 asked Vaiśampāyana for a śānti ritual;6 initiated Śatānīka into ātmajñāna.7
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 17. 3; I. 1. 4; 4. 1-13; Matsya-purāṇa 1. 5; Vāyu-purāṇa 93. 24.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 4. 43; IX. 22. 38; Matsya-purāṇa 25. 3; 43. 1-2; Vāyu-purāṇa 104. 19; 106. 39.
- 3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 35. 59-60; Vāyu-purāṇa 61. 52-3; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 6. 11-12.
- 4) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 67. 4. 66. 88; Vāyu-purāṇa 92. 4-5.
- 5) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 32. 106; Matsya-purāṇa 145. 100; 244. 3.
- 6) Ib. 93. 1.
- 7) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 21. 4.
1b) Of Bhārgava gotra.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 195. 18.
1c) One of the eighteen teachers of the vāstu śāstra.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 252. 3.
1d) A son of Gṛtasamada; a propagator of varṇa dharma.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 8. 6.
1e) A branch of the Bhārgavas; Kṣatropeta dvijas.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 1. 100; 67. 6; Vāyu-purāṇa 92. 6.
2) Saunaka (सौनक).—A Bhārgava gotra.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 65. 96.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Shaunaka (शौनक) is the name applied to teachers, and to a Shakha of the Atharvaveda. It is especially the name of a celebrated Sanskrit grammarian, author of the Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya, the Bṛhaddevatā, the Caraṇa-vyūha and six Anukramaṇīs (indices) to the Rigveda. He is claimed as the teacher of Katyayana and especially of Ashvalayana, and is said to have united the Bashkala and Shakala Shakhas of the Rigveda. In legend, he is sometimes identified with Gritsamada, a Vedic Rishi. According to the Vishnu Purana, Shaunaka was the son of Gritsamada, and invented the system of the four levels of human life.
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismŚaunaka (शौनक).—One of the chief sages (ṛṣi) at the conclave of sages gathered at the forest of Naimiṣāraṇya when Sūta Gosvāmī spoke Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryLanguages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Śaunaka (शौनक).—Name of a great sage, the reputed author of the Ṛigveda Prātiśākhya and various other Vedic compositions.
Derivable forms: śaunakaḥ (शौनकः).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚaunaka (शौनक).—m.
(-kaḥ) The name of an inspired legislator older than Manu.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Relevant definitions
Starts with: Shaunaka Shiksha, Shaunakadi, Shaunakapratishakhya, Shaunakarni, Shaunakayana.
Full-text (+20): Shunaka, Shaunaka Shiksha, Indrota, Saindhava, Kulapati, Anjali, Bhargavagotra, Babhrava, Naimisharanya, Atharvapratishakhya, Anuvakanukramani, Naimishalaya, Ashvalayana, Shatanika, Saindhavayana, Gritsamada, Bhaskara, Bhrigunandana, Aurva, Shaunakadi.
Relevant text
Search found 38 books and stories containing Shaunaka, Śaunaka, Saunaka; (plurals include: Shaunakas, Śaunakas, Saunakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 1 - On the questions by Śaunaka and others < [Book 1]
Chapter 2 - On questions put by Śaunaka and other Rsis < [Book 1]
Chapter 7 - On the checking of the rise of the Bindhya Range < [Book 10]
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter CXIII - Injunctions as to the appointments of the honest and the erudite in the king’s service etc. < [Brihaspati (Nitisara) Samhita]
Chapter I - Discourse between Suta and Shaunaka and other Rishis in the forest of Namisha < [Agastya Samhita]
Chapter CCXXXII - Dissolution of the Universe < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
The Mahabharata - First Book (by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa)
The Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary
Verse 1.1.3 < [Mundaka I, Khanda I]
Verse 1.1.4 < [Mundaka I, Khanda I]
Verse 3.2.11 < [Mundaka III, Khanda II]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 23 - The glorification of the Rudrākṣa and of the names of Śiva < [Section 1 - Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā]
Chapter 43 - The mode of worshipping Vyāsa < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 34 - The enumeration of Manvantaras < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Asvalayana-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)