Yajnavalkya

 

Status: Rishi,

Spouse: Katyayani and Maitreyi,

Time: Upanishadic period, much before Mahabharat war,

Contribution: Advaita, metaphysics and epistemology. Yajnyavalkya Smriti, Yajnavalkya Samhita are some works attributed to him. There are Yoga text named Brihad-Yogi Yajnavalkya Smriti and Yoga Yajnavalkya which deal with various aspects of Yoga. It is difficult to ascertain if the author of these texts is same as Yajnavalkya of the Upanishads. It is possible that there had been more than one person under the same name, Yajnavalkya, at different period of time. It is also possible that someone who had a great respect for the sage Yajnavalkya might have dedicated the work on Yoga to Yajnavalkya. This is presumed on the basis of the contents Yoga Yajnavalkya etc. which don’t match with the depth and language of Upanishads.

            There are several other ancient scriptures authorship of which is ascribed to Yajnavalkya.  Some of these are: Shukla Yajurveda, Shatapatha Brahmana and Yajnavalkya Smriti, Vriddha Yajnavalkya and Brihad Yajnavalkya etc.

            Name of Yajnavalkya prominently appears in Brihadaranyakopanishad.  Upanishads are the third group of Vedic scriptures which are preceded by Samhitas (four Vedas) and Brahmanas including their numerous Shakhas and also Aranyakas.

In this Upanishad he is seen speaking on topics such as origin, purpose and process of life, death, consciousness, personal and universal Self, Nitya and Anitya.   

It is also seen that the sage has been engaged in a serious debate with Maitreyi, one of his two wives. He had two wives, Gargi and Maitreyi. One is involved in materialistic affairs of the world, and the other is not. The other (Maitreyi) is keenly interested in unraveling the mystery of life, its purpose and culmination.

It is possible to interpret ‘two wives’ as two diametrically opposite inclinations of each of us – one likes the material comfort and the other likes to enquire into the purpose of life. Like two wives, both these tendencies are close to one’s heart.  

It is interesting to note (in Brihadaranyakopanishad)  that the sage is deeply engaged in a serious debate with a lady, his wife, Maitreyi, who is well-versed in matters such as metaphysics, transcendental objectives, impermanence of life, oneness or unitary (Advaita) nature of the universe etc., nature of personal Self (Atman), larger and sublime side of individual Self, individual Self to be same as the universal Self (Paramatman).

As per Brihadaranyakopanishad, Yajnavalkya was contemporary to Janaka of Videha (also known as Mithila). He was most celebrated among all Brahmanas of Kuru and Panchala  as he was a Brahmistha (lit. it means one who is established in Brahman forever).

As a Brahmistha, Yajnavalkya was knowing almost everything.  He was quite comfortable in answering all the questions placed before him by a large number of high caliber seekers.  These students were (Brihadaranyak.iii.3-9): Janaka, Jaratkarava, Bhujyuh, Ushasta, Kahola, Gargi, Uddalaka and Vidagdha.

 

Yajnavalkya was engaged in an intense debate with a scholarly lady named Gargi Vacaknavi (one who has gained mastery on speech).     

In the following writes-up, we shall learn about the debates between (i) Yajnavalkya  and Gargi, and (ii) Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi.     

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