Sage Yagnavalkya

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(from:

http://www.shuklayajurveda.org/yagnavalkya-intro.html)

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Introduction

 

Eternal truths of Hinduism, either in philosophy, or

religion or dharma have come down to us through the

Maharishis in the past. Vedas are the records of

Maharishis, who comprehended the truths through their

divine power, otherwise called tapas and yoga. Puranas

describe penance for several years without food, which

are only a description of such divine power. That

divine power is revealed to mankind through some

sages, who propagate the truths and tenets recorded in

the eternal Vedas.

 

Among such eminent Vedic sages, Yogeeswara Yagnavalkya

occupies an exalted position as he plays a very

important role in the renaissance of India’s ancient

Vedic culture. Yagnavalkya is a renowned sage, a

Chaturvedi Brahmishta, foremost seer of the Vedic era

and doughty exponent of the Shukla Yajur Veda,

pre-eminent purveyor of Advaita, a personification of

tejas and the best of sages. He had adorned and graced

our land during the Vedic period of Ramavatara and

Krishnavatara. Yagnavalkya’s life, times and teachings

constitute the corner stone of the basic philosophy

and tenets of Sanatana Dharma. He was a beacon light

of what an ideally liberated soul or jivan mukta could

achieve in this world, for the common good of the

humanity. He was the foremost of the apostles of the

Advaita philosophy who had contributed to the

spiritual and Vedic renaissance. The entire gamut of

Hinduism rests on the solid foundation of Advaita,

propounded in crystal clear terms in the Maha Vakya of

the Shukla Yajur Veda – AHAM BRAHMASMI – “I am Braman”

– the unique Advaita philosophy propagated by

Yogeeswara Yagnavalkya.

 

The quintessence of the teachings of Yogeeswara

Yagnavalkya is found in the immortal Satapatha

Brahmana, an authoritative treatise on various types

of sacrifices and related rituals, the self elevating

Brihadarnayaka Upanishad, a veritable reservoir of

Brahma Jnaan and the foremost of the ten Upanishads

and the transcendental Isavasya Upanishad, a superb

treatise of superlative wisdom. Seekers of knowledge

are bound to benefit a great deal by a study of the

Satapatha Brahmana and the two soul stirring

Upanishads. The expansive and outstanding part of the

classical Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is the Yagnavalkya

Kanda. The Isavasya Upanishad is another equally

important masterpiece, presenting in brief the compass

of eighteen theological doctrines. The Satapatha

Brahmana, the Brihadaranyaka and Isavasya Upanishads

belong to Shukla Yajur Veda, which was revealed by the

Lord Surya, the Sun God himself to Yogeeswara

Yagnavalkya, for the propagation to mankind.

 

Yogeeswara Yagnavalkya besides being an erudite

scholar had distinguished himself in many other fields

of human activity. In fact, he has been acclaimed as

one of the lawgivers of ancient India, because his

teachings and writings abound in the exposition of

law. Yagnavalkya Smriti, an embodiment of legal

tenets, is a fundamental source of the Hindu Law. A

major part of the present provisions of the Hindu Law

has been based and derived from Yagnavalkya Smriti,

dealing with the intricate scheme of human conduct and

affairs of life. In this magnum opus, Yagnavalkya has

dealt with various matters, statecraft and regulations

relating to the administration of a state by the

ruler, pubic relationship and duty toward ruled

citizens and the society, laws governing the family,

and the reprimand and punishment to be meted out to

the wrong doers by the authority, tempered with utmost

fairness and moral justice, impartiality, equality and

equity. Yagnavalkya has laid down exhaustive laws

relating to loans, surety, mortgages, interest

chargeable, deposit of articles on pledge, the law of

evidence, the law relating to written documents, oral

agreements, legal procedures on private property,

inheritance and division of property among heirs,

settlement of disputes about boundaries, sale of goods

and articles, gifts and their acceptances, recession

or return of articles purchased to the sellers, non

delivery of articles sold, performance and breach of

contracts, engagement between master and servant,

usage and custom of a public body, payment of wages,

gambling, wager and betting, defamation, assault and

violence, robbery and theft, cheating, statutory

regulations on forms of business similar to joint

stock companies or associations of persons carrying on

trade, procedure for settlement of disputes between

corporations and arbitration of claims in trade

etc.etc. In fact he has covered every of aspect of

human life!

 

 

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Gurorangripadme ManaScenna Lagnam tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim! tata: kim!?

Sarva Kartha, Sarva Dhartha, Sarva Hartha, Mangalam!

Satchidananda, Satchidananda, Satchidananda Mangalam!

Tasmai Sri Guru-murthaye Nama Idam Sri Dakshinamurtaye!

 

Ata Nityo Narayanaha, Brahma Narayanaha, Sivascha Narayanaha, Kalascha

Narayanaha. Disascha Narayanaha, Vidisascha Narayanaha, Urdwamscha Narayanaha,

Adhascha Narayanaha, Antar-bahischa-Narayana.Narayana Eh Vedam Sarvam, Yat

BhootamYacchha Bhavyam.Nish-kalango Niranjano Nirvikalpo Nirakyadhas,suddhho

Deva Eko Narayanaha, Na dwiteeyosthi kaschit,ya evam Vedas Vishnu reva Bhavati,

Sa Vishnureva Bhavathi, Etat yajur veda sirodeeyathe.

 

~*Om * Ayim * Hreem * Sreem * Siva * Rama * Anagha * Dattaya * Namaha*~