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{{Hindu philosophy}}'''Yagnyavalkya'''  (Sanskrit: याज्ञवल्क्य, Yagnyavalkya ) of Videha (fl. c. 7th century BCE<ref>H. C. Raychaudhuri (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.41–52</ref>) was a sage and philosopher of [[Vedic]] India. He was one of the first philosophers in recorded history, alongside [[Uddalaka Aruni]].<ref name=":0">Ben-Ami Scharfstein (1998), A comparative history of world philosophy: from the Upanishads to Kant, Albany: State University of New York Press, pp.62-65. Note: Scharfstein estimates Yajnavalkya's date as approximately the 8th century BCE, possibly earlier or later.</ref>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.<ref name=":0" />

{{Hindu philosophy}}'''Yagnyavalkya'''  (Sanskrit: याज्ञवल्क्य, Yagnyavalkya ) of Videha (fl. c. 7th century BCE<ref>H. C. Raychaudhuri (1972), Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.41–52</ref>) was a sage and philosopher of [[Vedic]] India. He was one of the first philosophers in recorded history, alongside [[Uddalaka Aruni]].<ref name=":0">Ben-Ami Scharfstein (1998), A comparative history of world philosophy: from the Upanishads to Kant, Albany: State University of New York Press, pp.62-65. Note: Scharfstein estimates Yajnavalkya's date as approximately the 8th century BCE, possibly earlier or later.</ref>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]].<ref name=":0" />

He is traditionally credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana (including the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad), besides the Yoga Yagnyavalkya  and the Yagnyavalkya  Smṛti.<ref>Hindu Dharma Parichaya, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Calcutta, publication, 2000 edition</ref> He is also a major figure in the Upanishads.

He is traditionally credited with the authorship of the [[Shatapatha Brahmana]] (including the [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]]), besides the Yagnyavalkya  Smṛti.<ref>Hindu Dharma Parichaya, Bharat Sevashram Sangha, Calcutta, publication, 2000 edition</ref> He is also a major figure in the Upanishads.

==Traditional Accounts==

==Traditional Accounts==

Wisdom of Yagnyavalkya  is shown in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad where he gives his teachings to his wife Maitreyi and King Janaka.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":2" /> He was then praised as the greatest Brahmajnyani by all the sages at the function organised by king Janaka.<ref>The Upanishads, Mahesh Library publication, 2009 edition, Calcutta</ref> In the end, Yagnyavalkya  took Vidvat Sanyasa (renunciation after the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman) and retired to the forest.

Wisdom of Yagnyavalkya  is shown in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad where he gives his teachings to his wife Maitreyi and King Janaka.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":2" /> He was then praised as the greatest Brahmajnyani by all the sages at the function organised by king Janaka.<ref>The Upanishads, Mahesh Library publication, 2009 edition, Calcutta</ref> In the end, Yagnyavalkya  took Vidvat Sanyasa (renunciation after the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman) and retired to the forest.

=== Exploitation of Yagnyavalkya's name by other traditions ===

=== Exploitation of Yagnyavalkya's name by other traditions<ref name=":3" /> ===

Some Non-Vedic schools and Anti Vedic schools has sought to exploit the name of Yagnyavalkya.  

Some Non-Vedic schools and Anti Vedic schools have sought to exploit the name of Yagnyavalkya. [[Yoga Yajnavalkya|Yoga Yagnyavalkya]] presents a Buddhist view of life. This work is definitely of a later origin as it deals in Advaitic terminology and concepts, reducing life to an illusion. This shows that anti Vedic thought currents are quick to grab names of great personalities and pass them on to posterity in a distorted form.   

==See also==

==See also==