Yajnavalkya, Yājñavalkya: 19 definitions

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Introduction:

Yajnavalkya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).—An ancient sage who was a profound scholar. General. Purāṇas say that this sage spent the major part of his life at the court of King Janaka. He was also King Janaka’s priest. In Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 16, it is mentioned that Kalki was Yājñavalkya’s priest. Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 51, mentions that Yājñavalkya was a "Brahmavādī son" of Viśvāmitra. (See full article at Story of Yājñavalkya from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).—A pupil of Vaiśampāyana and son of Devarāta (Brahmarāta Viṣṇu-purāṇa) quarrelled with his guru and vomited the yaju (s.v.) he learnt; propitiated the Sun god to get chandas unknown to his guru. Pleased with him the Sun god instructed him in Vājasenyastas (Yajus ayātayāma, Viṣṇu-purāṇa); in the form of a horse;¹ a Śrutaṛṣi; one of the madhyamādhvaryus; in charge of a śākhā in the Ṛg Veda; recipient of Janaka's present in a contest for great learning;² an Ekārṣeya.³

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 6. 62-74; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 35. 9-30; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. Ch. 5 whole; Vāyu-purāṇa 61. 17-19, 21.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 32. 3 and 16, 34. 27, 45-68.
3) Matsya-purāṇa 198. 4; 200. 6.

1b) (Kauśalya) learnt yoga from Hiraṇyanābha; siddha; disciple of Pauṣyañji.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 12. 4; VI. 15. 13; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 208; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 4. 107.

1c) A sage who came to see Kṛṣṇa at Syamantapañcaka.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 84. 5.

1d) As a contemporary of Kalki;¹ will precede Kalki.²

1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 73. 105.
2) Matsya-purāṇa 47. 249; 192. 10.

1e) A son of Brahmavāha, who won the prize for learning in Janaka's (s.v). hall of sacrifice.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 60. 41.

1f) Disqualified;¹ learnt the yoga of Vasiṣṭha;² purohita of Kalki.³

1) Vāyu-purāṇa 61. 1, 6.
2) Ib. 88. 208.
3) Ib. 98. 104.

1g) The portion of the Samhita composed by Yājñavalkya.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 35. 77; Vāyu-purāṇa 61. 68.

1h) Belong to Kauśika gotra.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 66. 70; Vāyu-purāṇa 91. 98.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIII.4.50, XIII.4) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Yājñavalkya) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

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.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (śilpa)

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) is depicted as a sculpture on the fourth pillar of the southern half of the maṇḍapa of the temple of Lokeśvara.—The most noteworthy point in this image is the image of a sage, with folded hands, running after the chariot. He is Yājñavalkya and Sūrya (the sun god) is disclosing the secrets of Yajurveda to him.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pancaratra (Samhita list)

1) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography.—For the list of works, see chapter 1, verses 14b-27. The list [including Yājñavalkya-saṃhitā] was said to have comprised “108” titles, these, different saṃhitās named after different manifestations of the Lord or different teachers. They are all said to be authoritative as the ultimate promulgator of all these is the same Nārāyaṇa.

2) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—[Cf. Jñānapāda chapter 1, verses 99-114]—First is explained the folly of following more than one Saṃhitā for a single series of rituals. Then the names of the 108 Tantras of the Pāñcarātra corpus are named [e.g., Yājñavalkya]. Even those who repeat these 108 titles will gain salvation.

3) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) or Yājñavalkyasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text consisting of more than 1800 verses devoted to temple-building and the practical concerns of the Pāñcarātra priestly community.

4) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) or Yājñavalkyasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Bhāradvājasaṃhitā or “Bhāradvāja-kaṇva-saṃhitā”: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 230 ślokas mainly concerned with basic details concerning temple construction and icon consecration.

5) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) or Yājñavalkyasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Viśvāmitrasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2600 Sanskrit verses covering topics such as initiation (dīkṣā) and the construction, decoration and consecration of temples and icons, as well as routines of regular and special worship cycles.—

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (pancaratra)

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) or Yājñavalkyasaṃhitā is the name of a Vaiṣṇava Āgama scripture, classified as a tāmasa type of the Muniprokta group of Pāñcarātra Āgamas. The vaiṣṇavāgamas represent one of the three classes of āgamas (traditionally communicated wisdom).—Texts of the Pāñcara Āgamas are divided in to two sects. It is believed that Lord Vāsudeva revealed the first group of texts which are called Divya and the next group is called Muniprokta which are further divided in to three viz. a. Sāttvika. b. Rājasa. c. Tāmasa (e.g., Yājñavalkya-saṃhitā).

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) is the name of a Ṛṣi (hermit) that knew the magic science of bewildering (mohinī), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 46. The story of Yājñavalkya was narrated by the Vidyādhara king Vajraprabha to prince Naravāhanadatta in order to relate how “Sūryaprabha, being a man, obtain of old time the sovereignty over the Vidyādharas”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Yājñavalkya, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Yājñavalkya of Videha (fl. c. 7th century BCE) was a sage and philosopher of Vedic India. He was one of the first philosophers in recorded history, alongside Uddalaka Aruni. In the court of King Janaka of Mithila, he was renowned for his expertise in Vedic ritual and his unrivaled talent in theological debate. He expounded a doctrine of neti neti to describe the universal Self or Ātman. He later became a wandering ascetic. His teachings are recorded in the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

He is traditionally credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana (including the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad), besides the Yoga Yajnavalkya and the Yājñavalkya Smṛti. He is also a major figure in the Upanishads.

According to traditional accounts, Yājñavalkya was the son of Devarāta and was the pupil of sage Vaisampayana .

Yājñavalkya married two wives. One was Maitreyi and the other Katyaayanee. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini (one who is interested in the knowledge of Brahman). Wisdom of Yājñavalkya is shown in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad where he gives his teachings to his wife Maitreyi and King Janaka. He also participates in a competition arranged by King Janaka about the selecting great Brhama Jnani (knower of Brahman). His intellectual dialogues with Gargi (a learned scholar of the times) form a beautiful chapter filled with lot of philosophical and mystical question-answers in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. He was then praised as the greatest Brahmajnyani by all the sages at the function organised by king Janaka. In the end, Yājñavalkya took Vidvat Sanyasa (renunciation after the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman) and retired to the forest.

Source: Hindupedia: Yajnavalkya

Yājñavalkya was the incarnation of Brahma. Cursed by Shiva, Brahma incarnated himself as Yājñavalkya. He was the son of Brahmabahu, who was born of the limbs of Brahma. The Yājñavalkya Samhita—a well-known book of religious law compiled by Yājñavalkya—mentions that Yājñavalkya’s father’s name was Yajñavalkya. His mother was the sister of of Mahamuni Vaishampayana, the Vedacharya of the Taittiriya shaka of the Yajurveda.

Yājñavalkya learnt the yoga scriptures from Vasishtha, son of Hiranyanabha Kaushalya. He performed penance at Mithila. He learnt the science of the Self from Hiranyanabha, a king of the Raghu Dynasty and a teacher of yoga. The rituals pertaining to dana or charity, shraddha or post-funerary rites, and purification of ritual objects; duties of the householder, caste duties, duties of the ascetic, and the like, included in the Garuda Purana, were codified by Yājñavalkya.

Mahadeva, Yājñavalkya composed the Yoga Samhita afer observing penance in the hermitage of the great sage Upamanyu. Yājñavalkya used to attend the royal court of Yudhishthira and was the presiding priest at the Rajasuya sacrifce performed when Yudhishthira was crowned emperor.

Yājñavalkya had two wives. One was Maitreyi and the other Katyayani. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: Teachers, Saints and Sages

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) or Yājñavalkyanātha refers to one of the eighty-four Siddhas (Siddhācāryas) mentioned in various sources as being representative teachers of Sahajiya Tantrism, Alchemy, Nath Sampradaya and other traditions having influence in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas.—Many of these Mahāsiddhas [e.g., Yājñavalkya-nātha] were historical figures whose lives and mystical powers were the subject of legends. They are often associated with teachings belonging to Hinduism, Buddhism, Ajivikism and Jainism and are evident of a caste-less interreligious spiritual society.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).—Name of a celebrated ancient sage, the first reputed teacher of वाजसनेयी संहिता (vājasaneyī saṃhitā) (śukla yajurveda) and the author of a well-known code of laws only next in importance to that of Manu.

Derivable forms: yājñavalkyaḥ (याज्ञवल्क्यः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).—m.

(-lkyaḥ) A celebrated saint and legislator; the supposed author of a celebrated code of laws, and the first reputed teacher of the white portion of the Yayar-Veda revealed to him by the sun. E. yajñavalka the father of the saint, and ṣyañ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).—m. The name of a saint, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 98, 4.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य).—[masculine] patron. of a teacher.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Dharmaśāstra. Io. 1079. 1105. 1176. 1786. 2035. 2047. 2059. 2060. 2167. 2170. 2823. 3021. 3022. W. p. 307. Oxf. 262^a. Paris. (B 162). Khn. 74. 78. 80. K. 190. 192. B. 3, 114. Report. Xxiii. Ben. 135. Bik. 507. Pheh. 2. Rādh. 19. NW. 112. 116. Burnell. 126^b. Bhr. 109. 605. Vienna. 16. Taylor. 1, 477. Oppert. 102. 310. 311. 2677. 4033. 5139. 5296. Ii, 1361. 4116. 5409. 6137. 6389. 8328. 8515. 8577. 8682. 9644. 10351. Rice. 212. Peters. 2, 187. 3, 388 (Vyavahāra and Mitākṣarā). Bühler 546. D 2. Mentioned in Padmapurāṇa Oxf. 14^a, quoted by Bhaṭṭotpala on Bṛhajjātaka, and other later writers.
—[commentary] Oppert. 2412.
—[commentary] by Aparārka. Io. 1175 B (Dāyabhāga). 3021. 3022. L. 1684. K. 192. Kh. 88. B. 3, 116. Report. Xxiii. Ben. 134. 142. Bik. 506. Oudh. Xv, 82. Bp. 261. Bühler 546 (Vyavahāra).
—[commentary] by Kulamaṇi Śukla. NW. 164.
—[commentary] by Devabodha (older than Vijñāneśvara). Quoted by Raghunandana.
—[commentary] by Dharmeśvara. Quoted by Śūlapāṇi Oxf. 283^a.
—[commentary] Mitākṣarā on the Ācārādhyāya, by Mathurānātha. NW., 160. 162.
—[commentary] Vīramitrodaya by Mitramiśra. Io. 1176. Peters. 2, 49. 187.
—[commentary] by Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa. B. 3, 116.
—[commentary] Ṛjumitākṣarā or Mitākṣarā (q. v.) by Vijñāneśvara.
—[commentary] Dīpakalikā by Śūlapāṇi. Io. 1278. L. 1147. Quoted Oxf. 283^a. 292^b. Bṛhadyājñavalkya. Report. Xxiii. Quoted by Vijñāneśvara Oxf. 356^a, in Kālamādhavīya. Vṛddhayājñavalkya. Quoted by Hemādri, by Vijñāneśvara Oxf. 356^a, by Mādhavācārya Oxf. 270^b, etc. Yogayājñavalkya q. v. Mantrapāṭha. Peters. 1, 117.

2) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य):—Dharmaśāstra. Fl. 115. 116 (Ācāra). 117 (Vyavahāra). Peters. 4, 9. 10 (Ācāra with Mitākṣarā).
—[commentary] by Aparārka. Hz. 77. Stein 99.
—[commentary] Vīramitrodaya by Mitramiśra. Stein 100 (Vyavahāra).
—[commentary] Dīpakalikā by Śūlapāṇi. Stein 99.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य):—[=yājña-valkya] [from yājña > yāj] m. (yā, [from] yajñavalka) Name of an ancient sage (frequently quoted as an authority in the [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]; the first reputed teacher of the Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā or White Yajur-veda, revealed to him by the Sun; he is also the supposed author of a celebrated code of laws, which is only second in importance to that of Manu, and with its well-known commentary, the Mitākṣarā, is the leading authority of the Mithilā school; cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 291]), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc.

2) [v.s. ...] [plural] the family of Y°, [Harivaṃśa]

3) [v.s. ...] mfn. relating to or derived by Y°

4) [v.s. ...] n. Name of an Upaniṣad

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Yājñavalkya (याज्ञवल्क्य):—(lkyaḥ) 1. m. A celebrated sage and legislator.

[Sanskrit to German]

Yajnavalkya in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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.

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