Bahudakshina Yajna
| Bahudakshina Yajna | |
|---|---|
| Devanagari | बहुदक्षिणा यज्ञ |
| Title means | The Yajna in which scholars are awarded by monetary gifts |
| Place | Court of King Janaka in Mithila |
| Type | Scholarly Yajna |
| Philosophy | Indian Philosophy |
Bahudakshina Yajna (Devanagari: बहुदक्षिणा यज्ञ) was a famous scholarly Yajna organised by the King Janaka of Mithila at his court.[1] It was organised in order to find the best Brahmagyaani or Brahma-nishtha or the greatest scholar of Vedas among the participating Brahmin scholars in the Yajna at the court. It is mentioned in the Indian philosophical text Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.[2][3][4][5]
Etymology
[edit]Bahudakshina Yajna is made by two Sanskrit words Bahudakshina and Yajna. The word Bahudakshina is compound Sanskrit word made by two Sanskrit terms Bahu and Dakshina. The literal meaning of Bahu is many, large, big or great, etc. similarly the literal meaning of Dakshina is fees, honorarium, gift, donation given to Gurus or religious leaders or the money and donation given at the end of Yajna to priests. The literal meaning of Yajna is Vedic rituals described in the Brahmana texts. Thus the literal meaning of Bahudakshina Yajna is the Yajna in which learned Brahmins, scholars or priests are awarded with a large monetary gifts for their scholarly wisdom by the Yajmaana.[6][7]
Description
[edit]According to the text Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, there is reference of Bahudakshina Yajna organised by the King Janaka of Mithila at his court, in which Brahmin scholars from different parts of the Indian subcontinent were invited to take part in the Yajna. The Brahmin scholars from Kuru and Panchala also participated in the Yajna.[1] The King Janaka announced at court his that the greatest scholar of Vedas among the participating Brahmin scholars in the Yajna would be gifted one thousand milk giving cows along with ten Pādas of gold fixed on the horns of each cows.[8]
The King Janaka asked the participating Brahmin scholars in the assembly that who among you all is the greatest scholar of Vedas. He said that the greatest scholar among you could drive these cows to his home. It is said that listening the announcement of the king Janaka, no one dared to declare himself as the greatest Vedic scholar. The assembly got silent for a while.
In the assembly Yajnavalkya was also present there. After a while, he stood up in the assembly and ordered his disciple to drive those cows to his Ashram.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Chaudhary, Radhakrishna. Mithilak Itihas (in Hindi). Ram Vilas Sahu. ISBN 978-93-80538-28-0.
- ^ Krishnamurti, E. R. (1984). Yogeeswara Yajnavalkya. E.R. Krishnamurti.
- ^ Culture, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of (2002). Bulletin of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.
- ^ Book University Journal. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1977.
- ^ Tattvālokah. Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Educational Trust. 1997.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-07). "Bahudakshina, Bahudakṣiṇa, Bahu-dakshina: 6 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2012-06-29). "Bahu, Bāhu: 45 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
- ^ a b www.wisdomlib.org (2015-02-23). "Yajnavalkya and Asvala [Section I]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
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