[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.2179 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.2179 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.2179 - **Language:** English ### [c5.2179](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.2179) YĀJNAWALKYA. A celebrated sage, to whom is attributed the White Yajur-veda, the Satapatha Brāhmana, the Brihad Āranyaka, and the code of law called Yājnawalkya-smriti. He lived before the grammarian Kātyāyana, and was probably later than Manu; at any rate, the code bearing his name is posterior to that of Manu. He was a disciple of Bāshkali, and more particularly of Vaisampāyana. The Mahā-bhārata makes him present at the Rāja-sūya sacrifice performed by Yudhi-shthira; and according to the Satapatha Brāhmana he flourished at the court of Janaka, king of Videha and father of Sītā. Janaka had long contentions with the Brāhmans, in which he was supported, and probably prompted, by Yājnawalkya. This sage was a dissenter from the religious teaching and practices of his time, and is represented as contending with and silencing Brāhmans at the court of his patron. A Brāhman named Vidagdha Sākalya was his especial adversary, but he vanquished him and cursed him, so that "his head dropped off, and his bones were stolen by robbers." Yājnawalkya also is represented as inculcating the duty and necessity of religious retirement and meditation, so he is considered as having been the originator of the Yoga doctrine, and to have helped in preparing the world for the preaching of Buddha. He had two wives, Maitreyī and Kātyāyanī, and he instructed the former in his philosophical doctrine. Max Müller quotes a dialogue between them from the Satapatha Brāhmana (Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 22), in which the sage sets forth his views. - [Previous: c5.2178](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.2178) - [Next: c5.2180](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.2180) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Cites (3) - [Yājñavalkyasmṛti](https://indike.org/pramana/in.niti.dharma.yajnavalkya) — Yājñavalkya, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.satapatha) — Yājñavalkya & Śāṇḍilya (Vedic teacher), Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.2179](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.2179) · Pramāṇa