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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]]. 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 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==

==Krishna and Sukla Yajurveda==

Yagnyavalkya  was the son of Devarāta and was the pupil of sage Vaisampayana.<ref name=":1">The Vedas, Haraf publication, Calcutta, 2004 edition</ref>  

Yagnyavalkya  was the son of Devarāta and was the pupil of sage Vaisampayana.<ref name=":1">The Vedas, Haraf publication, Calcutta, 2004 edition</ref>  

Sage Yagnyavalkya was also a disciple of Sage [[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]]. He had mastered various tenets of this branch. He undertook a heterodox, rebellious experiment of separating the ritual ordaining, injuctory part of the Veda, from their explanatory, literary and explicitly philosophical parts, i.e. the Samhita and Brahmana parts.<ref name=":3">Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad, Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, Published by Kautilya Institute of National Studies, Mysore</ref> This attempt by Yagnyavalkya was considered as a sacrilege, as an attempt to "improve the layout designed by the Grand Arranger, Vyasa".<ref name=":3" /> When Yagnyavalkya's secret efforts of further segregating the Vedic portions were discovered, [[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]] was furious. he ordered Yagnyavalkya to "return all he had received from him (Vaisampayana)". This can be compared with modern day practice of denying Copy Rights. The learnings could not be passed on by Yagnyavalkya in letter or spirit further.<ref name=":3" />

Sage Yagnyavalkya was also a disciple of Sage [[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]]. He had mastered various tenets of this branch. He undertook a heterodox, rebellious experiment of separating the ritual ordaining, injuctory part of the Veda, from their explanatory, literary and explicitly philosophical parts, i.e. the Samhita and Brahmana parts.<ref name=":3">Insights Into the Taittiriya Upanishad, Dr. K. S. Narayanacharya, Published by Kautilya Institute of National Studies, Mysore</ref> This attempt by Yagnyavalkya was considered as a sacrilege, as an attempt to "improve the layout designed by the Grand Arranger, Vyasa".<ref name=":3" /> When Yagnyavalkya's secret efforts of further segregating the Vedic portions were discovered, [[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]] was furious.  

In response to this order, Yagnyavalkya "vomitted" - that is he emptied his "stomach" of all its Vedic content, earlier received from his Master.<ref name=":3" />

He ordered Yagnyavalkya to "return all he had received from him (Vaisampayana)". This can be compared with modern day practice of denying Copy Rights. The learnings could not be passed on by Yagnyavalkya in letter or spirit further.<ref name=":3" />  In response to this order, Yagnyavalkya "vomitted" - that is he emptied his "stomach" of all its Vedic content, earlier received from his Master.<ref name=":3" />

Thereafter Yagnyavalkya went away, severed all connections from his Master and fellow students. He began meditation and rigorous penance to recover what he had lost from God Himself directly. God was pleased with his unique prayer and is said to have revealed to him all that he had lost in a totally different form, order and sound notation pattern. The new form that was revealed to Yagnyavalkya was through blessings of Sun, and was a radiating beam of knowledge and light and hence this branch came to be known as Sukla Yajurveda.<ref name=":3" />

Thereafter Yagnyavalkya went away, severed all connections from his Master and fellow students. He began meditation and rigorous penance to recover what he had lost from God Himself directly. God was pleased with his unique prayer and is said to have revealed to him all that he had lost in a totally different form, order and sound notation pattern. The new form that was revealed to Yagnyavalkya was through blessings of Sun, and was a radiating beam of knowledge and light and hence this branch came to be known as Sukla Yajurveda.<ref name=":3" />

It is important to note that within the hierarchy of Brāhmaṇas, certain sects believe in the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda while others practice from the Śukla Yajurveda.

It is important to note that within the hierarchy of Brāhmaṇas, certain sects believe in the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda while others practice from the Śukla Yajurveda.

===Connection with Taittiriya Upanishad===

===Taittiriya Shaka Yajurveda===

Sage [[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]] did not want the wisdom taught to Yagnyavalkya to be wasted. He wanted it to be "absorbed", "re-imbibed" by someone with matchless ability. Now Sastras prohibit consumption of the vomit. The sage asked one of his leading pupil, Tittiri to consume this knowledge but without violating holy conduct. The intelligent pupil took the form of a bird of that very name - Tittiri (Partridge)- and absorbed the remnants vomitted by Yagnyavalkya.<ref name=":3" />The teacher ([[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]]) was pleased and blessed him with an unasked-for boon, that this absorbed Veda" shall be known by the disciple's name (Tittiri's branch or Taittiriya).<ref name=":3" /> 

Sage [[Vaisampayana|Vaisampayan]] did not want the wisdom taught to Yagnyavalkya to be wasted. He wanted it to be "absorbed", "re-imbibed" by someone with matchless ability. Now Sastras prohibit consumption of the vomit. The sage asked rest of his students to consume this knowledge but without violating holy conduct. They all took the form of a bird of Tittiri (Partridge) and absorbed the remnants vomitted by Yagnyavalkya. Thus, the name Taittiriya is assigned to this shaka of Yajurveda.  

==Other Details==

==Other Details==

==References==

==References==

==External links==

==External links==