Changes

=== Wives and Children ===

=== Wives and Children ===

Yajnvalkya led a life of a grhastha and had two wives Maitreyi and Katyayani. Maitreyi was Brahmavadini and Katyayani's attitude to life is that of a grhini in general (स्त्रीप्रज्ञ). At the time of renunciation of the householder's life he offers to divide his belongings among the two of them.<blockquote>अथ ह याज्ञवल्क्यस्य द्वे भार्ये बभूवतुर्मैत्रेयी च कात्यायनी च ।</blockquote><blockquote>तयोर्ह मैत्रेयी ब्रह्मवादिनी बभूव । स्त्रीप्रज्ञैव तर्हि कात्यायनी ।</blockquote><blockquote>अथ ह याज्ञवल्क्योऽन्यद्वृत्तमुपाकरिष्यन् ॥ ४,५.१ ॥ (Brhd. Upan. 4.5.1)<ref>Brhadarnyaka Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D_4p Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote>According to Skanda Purana <blockquote>तस्य भार्याद्वयं श्रेष्ठमासीत्सर्वगुणान्वितम् ॥ एका गुणवती तस्य मैत्रेयीति प्रकीर्तिता ॥ २ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>tasya bhāryādvayaṁ śreṣṭhamāsītsarvaguṇānvitam ॥ ekā guṇavatī tasya maitreyīti prakīrtitā ॥ 2 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>ज्येष्ठा चान्याथ कल्याणी ख्याता कात्यायनीति च ॥ यस्याः कात्यायनः पुत्रो वेदार्थानां प्रजल्पकः ॥ ३ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.130.2-3)<ref>Skanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/स्कन्दपुराणम्/खण्डः_६_(नागरखण्डः)/अध्यायः_१३० Khanda 6 (Nagara Khanda) Adhyaya 130])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>jyeṣṭhā cānyātha kalyāṇī khyātā kātyāyanīti ca ॥ yasyāḥ kātyāyanaḥ putro vedārthānāṁ prajalpakaḥ ॥ 3 ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.130.2-3)</blockquote>He (Yajnavalkya) had two excellent wives, Maitreyi and Katyayani endowed with good qualities. One, endowed with good qualities, is known as Maitreyi. She was the senior (of the two). The other with good auspicious characteristics (Kalyani) was well known as Katyayani. Kaatyayana, the expounder of the meaning of the Vedas, was her son.<ref name=":1">Tagare, G. V. (1958) ''The Skanda Purana, Part 17.'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 530-548)</ref><blockquote>जनकाय नरेंद्राय व्याख्याय च ततः परम् ॥ कात्यायनं सुतं प्राप्य वेदसूत्रस्य कारकम् ॥ ७१ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.71)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>janakāya nareṁdrāya vyākhyāya ca tataḥ param ॥ kātyāyanaṁ sutaṁ prāpya vedasūtrasya kārakam ॥ 71 ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.71)</blockquote>He explained it (Upanishad, refers to Brhdaranyaka Upanishad) to Janaka Raja. He begot a son Kaatyayana (Son of Katyayani) who was instrumental in the composition of Veda sutras (Shrauta Sutras).

Yajnvalkya led a life of a grhastha and had two wives Maitreyi and Katyayani. Maitreyi was [[Brahmavadini (ब्रह्मवादिनी)|Brahmavadini]] and Katyayani's attitude to life is that of a grhini in general (स्त्रीप्रज्ञ). At the time of renunciation of the householder's life he offers to divide his belongings among the two of them.<blockquote>अथ ह याज्ञवल्क्यस्य द्वे भार्ये बभूवतुर्मैत्रेयी च कात्यायनी च ।</blockquote><blockquote>तयोर्ह मैत्रेयी ब्रह्मवादिनी बभूव । स्त्रीप्रज्ञैव तर्हि कात्यायनी ।</blockquote><blockquote>अथ ह याज्ञवल्क्योऽन्यद्वृत्तमुपाकरिष्यन् ॥ ४,५.१ ॥ (Brhd. Upan. 4.5.1)<ref>Brhadarnyaka Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D_4p Adhyaya 4])</ref></blockquote>According to Skanda Purana <blockquote>तस्य भार्याद्वयं श्रेष्ठमासीत्सर्वगुणान्वितम् ॥ एका गुणवती तस्य मैत्रेयीति प्रकीर्तिता ॥ २ ॥</blockquote><blockquote>tasya bhāryādvayaṁ śreṣṭhamāsītsarvaguṇānvitam ॥ ekā guṇavatī tasya maitreyīti prakīrtitā ॥ 2 ॥</blockquote><blockquote>ज्येष्ठा चान्याथ कल्याणी ख्याता कात्यायनीति च ॥ यस्याः कात्यायनः पुत्रो वेदार्थानां प्रजल्पकः ॥ ३ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.130.2-3)<ref>Skanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/स्कन्दपुराणम्/खण्डः_६_(नागरखण्डः)/अध्यायः_१३० Khanda 6 (Nagara Khanda) Adhyaya 130])</ref></blockquote><blockquote>jyeṣṭhā cānyātha kalyāṇī khyātā kātyāyanīti ca ॥ yasyāḥ kātyāyanaḥ putro vedārthānāṁ prajalpakaḥ ॥ 3 ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.130.2-3)</blockquote>He (Yajnavalkya) had two excellent wives, Maitreyi and Katyayani endowed with good qualities. One, endowed with good qualities, is known as Maitreyi. She was the senior (of the two). The other with good auspicious characteristics (Kalyani) was well known as Katyayani. Kaatyayana, the expounder of the meaning of the Vedas, was her son.<ref name=":1">Tagare, G. V. (1958) ''The Skanda Purana, Part 17.'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd. (Pages 530-548)</ref><blockquote>जनकाय नरेंद्राय व्याख्याय च ततः परम् ॥ कात्यायनं सुतं प्राप्य वेदसूत्रस्य कारकम् ॥ ७१ ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.71)<ref name=":2" /></blockquote><blockquote>janakāya nareṁdrāya vyākhyāya ca tataḥ param ॥ kātyāyanaṁ sutaṁ prāpya vedasūtrasya kārakam ॥ 71 ॥ (Skan. Pura. 6.129.71)</blockquote>He explained it (Upanishad, refers to Brhdaranyaka Upanishad) to Janaka Raja. He begot a son Kaatyayana (Son of Katyayani) who was instrumental in the composition of Veda sutras (Shrauta Sutras).

=== Sabha Sabhyatvam ===

=== Sabha Sabhyatvam ===

== Atma Jnana Siddhantas ==

== Atma Jnana Siddhantas ==

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad one of the greatest assets of our Bharatiya heritage abounds with tattvajnana and atmajnana siddhantas on which Yajnavalkya throws light on the unity of thought. Many samvadas in this Upanishad that Yajnavalkya had with other Brahmavadis such as Shakalya, Uddalaka, Ushasta, Kahola, Janaka and Brahmavadinis such as Gargi and Maitreyi touch upon the different aspects of Brahman referring to many crucial passages and concepts from other Upanishads also.  

Brhadaranyaka Upanishad one of the greatest assets of our Bharatiya heritage abounds with tattvajnana and atmajnana siddhantas on which Yajnavalkya throws light emphasizing on the unity of thought. Many samvadas in this Upanishad that Yajnavalkya had with other Brahmavadis such as Shakalya, Uddalaka, Ushasta, Kahola, Janaka and Brahmavadinis such as Gargi and Maitreyi touch upon the different aspects of Brahman referring to many crucial passages and concepts from other Upanishads also.  

===Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada===

===Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada===

When Yajnavalkya wished to leave his family for attaining jnana, he desired to divide his belongings between his two wives. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini (one who is interested in the knowledge of Brahman). The brilliant [[Yajnavalkya Maitreyi samvada (याज्ञवल्क्यमैत्रेय्योः संवादः)|conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi]] is recorded twice in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad both in Adhyaya 2 and 4.  

When Yajnavalkya wished to leave his family for attaining jnana, he desired to divide his belongings between his two wives. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini (one who is interested in the knowledge of Brahman). The brilliant [[Yajnavalkya Maitreyi samvada (याज्ञवल्क्यमैत्रेय्योः संवादः)|conversation between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi]] is recorded twice in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad both in Adhyaya 2 and 4.  

Maitreyi asked whether the greatest wealth could make her immortal, amrta. Yajnavalkya replied that there was no hope of immortality through wealth and that she would only become one among the wealthy.  <blockquote>सा होवाच मैत्रेयी यन्नु म इयं भगोः सर्वा पृथिवी वित्तेन पूर्णा स्यात्कथं तेनामृता स्यामिति ।</blockquote><blockquote>नेति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्यः । यथैवोपकरणवतां जीवितं तथैव ते जीवितं स्यात् ।</blockquote><blockquote>अमृतत्वस्य तु नाशास्ति वित्तेनेति ॥ २,४.२ ॥ (Brhd. Upan. 2.4.2)<ref name=":12">Brhadaranyaka Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D_2p Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>When she heard this, Maitreyi asked Yajnavalkya to teach her what he considered as that which gives Amrtattva. The immortality spoken of here is not mere deathlessness, for that characterises the jiva undergoing the rebirth and bondage. It can only mean eternal life of perfection and bliss. It is not the survival after death but the death of death itself. Different sampradayas have interpreted this conversation with slight variations, however, the conclusion drawn from the passages urges one to seek the Atman.<ref name=":3">Raghavachar. S. S., (1972) ''Sri Ramanuja on the Upanishads.'' Madras : Vidya Press (Page 78)</ref>

Maitreyi asked whether the greatest wealth could make her immortal, amrta. Yajnavalkya replied that there was no hope of immortality through wealth and that she would only become one among the wealthy.  <blockquote>सा होवाच मैत्रेयी यन्नु म इयं भगोः सर्वा पृथिवी वित्तेन पूर्णा स्यात्कथं तेनामृता स्यामिति ।</blockquote><blockquote>नेति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्यः । यथैवोपकरणवतां जीवितं तथैव ते जीवितं स्यात् ।</blockquote><blockquote>अमृतत्वस्य तु नाशास्ति वित्तेनेति ॥ २,४.२ ॥ (Brhd. Upan. 2.4.2)<ref name=":12">Brhadaranyaka Upanishad ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D_2p Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>When she heard this, Maitreyi asked Yajnavalkya to teach her about that which gives Amrtattva. The immortality spoken of here is not mere deathlessness, for that characterizes the jiva undergoing the rebirth and bondage. It can only mean eternal life of perfection and bliss. It is not the survival after death but the death of death itself. Different sampradayas have interpreted this conversation with slight variations, however, the conclusion drawn from the passages urges one to seek the Atman.<ref name=":3">Raghavachar. S. S., (1972) ''Sri Ramanuja on the Upanishads.'' Madras : Vidya Press (Page 78)</ref>

Then Yajnavalkya described to her the greatness of the Absolute Self, the nature of its existence, the way of attaining infinite knowledge and immortality through acquiring Brahmajnana.  <blockquote>आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः श्रोतव्यो मन्तव्यो निदिध्यासितव्यो मैत्रेयि, आत्मनो वा अरे दर्शनेन श्रवणेन मत्या विज्ञानेनेदं सर्वं विदितम् || ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyo maitreyi, ātmano vā are darśanena śravaṇena matyā vijñānenedaṃ sarvaṃ viditam || (Brhd. Upan. 2.4.5)</blockquote>He advises that the objects which owe their lovableness to the desire of the Atman to that effect must be set aside and that the Supreme ground of all that is worthy of love must itself be made the sole object of search.<ref name=":3" />

Then Yajnavalkya described to her about the greatness of the love we have for ourselves, which is none other than that of the Brahman (Absolute Self). He describes the nature of Brahman, its existence, the way of attaining infinite knowledge and immortality through acquiring Brahmajnana.  <blockquote>आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः श्रोतव्यो मन्तव्यो निदिध्यासितव्यो मैत्रेयि, आत्मनो वा अरे दर्शनेन श्रवणेन मत्या विज्ञानेनेदं सर्वं विदितम् || ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyo maitreyi, ātmano vā are darśanena śravaṇena matyā vijñānenedaṃ sarvaṃ viditam || (Brhd. Upan. 2.4.5)</blockquote>He advises that the objects which owe their lovableness to the desire of the Atman to that effect must be set aside and that the Supreme ground of all that is worthy of love must itself be made the sole object of search.<ref name=":3" />

=== Yajnavalkya in Janaka's Sabha ===

=== Yajnavalkya in Janaka's Sabha ===