Shaunaka
Shaunaka (Sanskrit: शौनक Å›aunaka) is the name applied to teachers, and to a Shakha of the Atharvaveda. It is especially the name of a celebrated Sanskrit grammarian, author of the Ṛgveda-PrÄtiÅ›Äkhya, the Bá¹›haddevatÄ, the Caraṇa-vyÅ«ha and six Anukramaṇīs (indices) to the Rigveda. He is claimed as the teacher of Katyayana and especially of Ashvalayana, and is said to have united the Bashkala and Shakala Shakhas of the Rigveda. In legend, he is sometimes identified with Gritsamada, a Vedic Rishi. According to the Vishnu Purana, Shaunaka was the son of Gritsamada, and invented the system of the four levels of human life.
Ṛgveda-PrÄtiÅ›Äkhya is attributed to Shaunaka who taught it to others in a satra-yajna (a 12-day very large scale collective yajna) held in Naimisha according to Vishnumitra of Champa town, the commentator of Uvaá¹a's commentary of Ṛgveda-PrÄtiÅ›Äkhya[1][2]
Shaunaka had a prominent role in the epic MahÄbhÄrata. The epic MahÄbhÄrata was narrated to Shaunaka by a story teller named Ugrasrava Sauti during a conclave of sages headed by Shaunaka in a forest named Naimisha.
References
- ↑ (English)Mangaldeva ÅšÄstri, The Rgveda-prÄtiÅ›Äkhya with the commentary of Uvaá¹a by Åšaunaka.; Vaidika SvÄdhyÄya Mandira, Varanasi Cantt.,1959 ,OCLC: 28723321
- ↑ (Hindi)Virendrakumar Verma, Rgveda-prÄtiÅ›Äkhya of Åšaunaka Along with Uvaá¹abhÄshya; Chaukhambha Sanskrit Pratishthan,38 U.A., Jawaharnagar, Bungalow Road, Delhi-110007, Reprint-1999; (also published by Saujanya Books,Delhi, and by Benaras Hindu University)