Formation of Yajurveda Shakas (यजुर्वेदशाख-अवतरणम्)

Two Yajurveda shakas came into existence after Yajnavalkya maharshi dissociated from Rsi Vaisampayana's tutelage and learnt Yajurveda from Surya deva himself. We find at least two versions (mostly from two different kalpas) of how the two Yajurveda shakas came into being. It is widely known from many sources that Vaisampayana is the student of Maharshi Vedavyasa to whom the Yajus samhita has been entrusted for promulgation when he rearranged the Vedas into four parts.

Skanda Purana

Skanda Purana describes the anecdote from Brhat-kalpa, about Yajnavalkya's role in the formation of two shakas of Yajurveda.

आसीद्ब्राह्मणशार्दूलः शाकल्य इति विश्रुतः॥ भार्गवान्वयसंभूतो वेद वेदांगपारगः ॥ ५ ॥

Bhagavata Purana

Bhagavata Purana, Skanda 12, describes the origin of Yajurveda shakhas and the association of Yajnavalkya with it.

वैशम्पायनशिष्या वै चरकाध्वर्यवोऽभवन् यच्चेरुर्ब्रह्महत्यांहः क्षपणं स्वगुरोर्व्रतम् ६१

याज्ञवल्क्यश्च तच्छिष्य आहाहो भगवन्कियत् चरितेनाल्पसाराणां चरिष्येऽहं सुदुश्चरम् ६२

इत्युक्तो गुरुरप्याह कुपितो याह्यलं त्वया विप्रावमन्त्रा शिष्येण मदधीतं त्यजाश्विति ६३

देवरातसुतः सोऽपि छर्दित्वा यजुषां गणम् ततो गतोऽथ मुनयो ददृशुस्तान्यजुर्गणान् ६४

यजूंषि तित्तिरा भूत्वा तल्लोलुपतयाऽऽददुः तैत्तिरीया इति यजुः शाखा आसन्सुपेशलाः ६५

याज्ञवल्क्यस्ततो ब्रह्मंश्छन्दांस्यधि गवेषयन् गुरोरविद्यमानानि सूपतस्थेऽर्कमीश्वरम् ६६

एवं स्तुतः स भगवान्वाजिरूपधरो रविः यजूंष्ययातयामानि मुनयेऽदात्प्रसादितः ७३

यजुर्भिरकरोच्छाखा दश पञ्च शतैर्विभुः जगृहुर्वाजसन्यस्ताः काण्वमाध्यन्दिनादयः ७४ (Bhag. Pura. 12.6.69-74)

Summary : Vaisampayana had many disciples called Charakadhvaryus (चरकाध्वर्यवः)., who performed the vrata for the expiation of the Brahmahatya papam. At that time Yajnavalkya boastfully remarked to Vaisampayana saying that he can do more severe austerities than the other weak disciples. Hearing this from Yajnavalkya, Vaisampayana, the preceptor became angry and said, "Enough of speaking ill about vipras (brahmanas), give up at once whatever you have learnt from me."

Thereupon, the son of Devarata (Yajnavalkya), vomited out the Yajus mantras and left the place, while the other seers saw the collection of the Yajurveda texts. Assuming the form of Tittira birds they collected the so discharged Yajus mantras, thus giving rise to the Taittriya shaka of Yajurveda (तैत्तिरीया इति यजुः शाखा). Yajnavalkya in further search of the vedas took to Surya as his guru and praised him in many words. The glorious Suryadeva pleased by his stuti, assuming the form of a horse imparted to Yajnavalkya those Yajus mantras hiterto not revealed to anyone. The Yajus mantras were then classified into fifteen shakas known as Vajasanis and they were learnt by Kanva, Madhyandina and other rshis.

Vaisampayana's order to "return all he had received from him (Vaisampayana)" can be compared with modern day practice of denying copyrights. The learnings could not be passed on by Yajnavalkya in letter or spirit further. In response to this order, Yajnavalkya "vomitted" - that is he emptied his "stomach" of all its Vedic content, earlier received from his Master.

Vajasaneya Shaka of Yajurveda (Shukla)

The portion of the Yajurveda given by Yajnavalkya goes by the name of Shukla Yajurveda on account of it being revealed by Surya. It is also known as the Vajasaneya Yajurveda, because it was delivered by the Surya who was in the form of a horse. The term "Vaji" means horse. Yajnavalkya divided this Vajasaneya Yajurveda again into fifteen branches, each branch comprising hundreds of Yajus Mantras. Kanva, Madhyandina and others learnt these mantras and Shukla Yajurveda branched into popular recensions named after them.

The disciples of Vaisampayana refuse to acknowledge Yajnavalkya as he had defied his Guru. Both Krishna and Shukla Yajurveda shaka samhitas are very similar in content, though Shukla Yajurveda is said to me much more organized in the mantra and brahmana parts. It may be noted that Taittriya shaka is thus much older than the Shukla shaka of Yajurveda.

Taittiriya Shaka of Yajurveda (Krishna)

The Yajus mantras, given out by Yajnavalkya, which were ingested and preserved by the students of Vaisampayana who took the form of a bird called Tittiri came to be known as Taittriya shaka. It is also called Krishna Yajurveda shaka.