Shaunaka
Encyclopedia
Shaunaka 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 , the , the and five Anukramaṇī
s (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.
is attributed to Shaunaka who taught it to others in a satra-yajna (a 12-day very large scale collective yajna) held in Naimisha
according to Vishnumitra of Champa town, the commentator of 's commentary of
Shaunaka had a prominent role in the epic Mahābhārata
. The epic Mahābhārata was narrated to Shaunaka by a story teller named Ugrasrava Sauti
during a conclave of sages headed by Shaunaka in a forest named Naimisha
.
Shakha
A shakha , is a Hindu theological school that specializes in learning certain Vedic texts, or else the traditional texts followed by such a school. An individual follower of a particular school or recension is called a ...
of the Atharvaveda
Atharvaveda
The Atharvaveda is a sacred text of Hinduism and one of the four Vedas, often called the "fourth Veda"....
. It is especially the name of a celebrated Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
grammarian, author of the , the , the and five Anukramaṇī
Anukramani
The Anukramanis are the systematic indices of Vedic hymns recording poetic meter, content, and traditions of authorship.-Anukramanis of the Rigveda:...
s (indices) to the Rigveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
. He is claimed as the teacher of Katyayana
Katyayana
Kātyāyana was a Sanskrit grammarian, mathematician and Vedic priest who lived in ancient India.-Works:He is known for two works:...
and especially of Ashvalayana, and is said to have united the Bashkala and Shakala Shakhas of the Rigveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
. In legend, he is sometimes identified with Gritsamada
Gritsamada
Gritsamada is a rishi, credited with most of Mandala 2 of the Rigveda . Grtsamada was a son of Shunahotra of the family of Angiras, but by Indra's will he was transferred to the Bhrigu family.In the plural, the name refers to the clan of Grtsamada, so used in RV 2.4, 19, 39, 41....
, a Vedic Rishi. According to the Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
, Shaunaka was the son of Gritsamada, and invented the system of the four levels of human life.
is attributed to Shaunaka who taught it to others in a satra-yajna (a 12-day very large scale collective yajna) held in Naimisha
Naimisha Forest
Naimisha Forest or Naimiṣāraṇya was an ancient forest mentioned in the epic Mahabharata and the Shiva Purana. It lay on the banks of the Gomati River . It lay between the Panchala Kingdom and the Kosala Kingdom...
according to Vishnumitra of Champa town, the commentator of 's commentary of
Shaunaka had a prominent role in the epic Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. The epic Mahābhārata was narrated to Shaunaka by a story teller named Ugrasrava Sauti
Ugrasrava Sauti
Ugrashravas was the narrator of several Puranas, including Mahābhārata, Bhagavata Purana, Harivamsa, and Padma Purana, with the narrations typically taking place before the sages gathered in Naimisha Forest...
during a conclave of sages headed by Shaunaka in a forest named Naimisha
Naimisha Forest
Naimisha Forest or Naimiṣāraṇya was an ancient forest mentioned in the epic Mahabharata and the Shiva Purana. It lay on the banks of the Gomati River . It lay between the Panchala Kingdom and the Kosala Kingdom...
.