Yajnavalkya in King Janaka’s Symposium - Part 1
Hello friends and wish you and your loved ones a very happy Deepawali. After a hiatus for about a week or so I am back with a new story from Brihaddaaranyaka Upanishad. Today’s story will mark the beginning of one of the most important chapters mentioned in the largest of the Upanishads. The Madhukhanda portion of the Brihadda-Aranyaka Upanishad presents a series of dialogues and debates between the great Maharishi Yajnavalkya and other eminent scholars of ancient Vedic India such as Gargi Vachakanavi, Maitree, Uddalaka, Ashwala, Aartabhaaga and many others. This Upanishad not only provides insights into Yagnavalkya’s explanation of immortality, Brahman, Aatman and space and time but also feature a number of women scholars and philosophers of ancient India such as Maitree, the second wife of Yagnavalkya and Gargi Vachaknavi. It is also believed that a large part of this Upanishad was composed by Sage Yagnavalkya himself.Yagnavalkya’s debates with a number of scholars have been well documented in the Brihaadaaranyaka Upanishad. Since today’s story is on Yagnavalkya’s so for convenience I have divided it into three parts or episodes. Part 1 is about the challenge Yagnavalkya faces from scholars Ashwala and Aartabhaaga in the symposium, part 2 will be about the debate between Yagnavalkya and other scholars Bhujyu, Usasta and Kahola, and part 3 will describe the debate between with one of the greatest women scholar of ancient India, Gargi Vachaknavi, whose philosophical views are mentioned in Chaandogya Upanishad. So, hold on tight for an epic journey into the deepest thoughts of the sage Yagnavalkya. Part 1 - Yagnavalkya versus Ashwala and Aartabhaaga.Today's story begins in the courtroom of king Janaka of Videha. In my view, there may be several King Janaka throughout Indian epics and scriptures as they all belonged to the lineage of Janakas. We find King Janaka of Mithila in Ramayana who was the father of Sita. Satapatha Brahmana another ancient Indian scripture tells us that the name Janaka was assumed by the kings of the Videha kingdom. King Janaka was taken as an example in Bhaagawat Geeta in Chapter 3 verse 20 by Lord Shri Krishna. Then one of the kings, Janaka was a great philosopher and composed Janaka Gita. There is a mention of another King Janaka and his account with the great sage Ashtavakra In Ramayana, Janaka is said to be Mithila Naresh or King of Mithila, however, please note that Mithila is a city in the kingdom of Videha. We can safely assume that King Janaka of Ramayana is a different person as mentioned in today’s story in Brihaddaranyaka Upanishad. Let’s continue with the story. King Janka of Videha himself was very learned and a lover of philosophy. He wanted to organise a goshti or a symposium of learned scholars on the concept of Braahman. All respected philosophers, sages and scholars were duly invited. He well knew that humans by nature will not work without any profitable outcome. Being an idealist and believing in the theory of giving first and receiving afterwards, he announced a healthy package for the winner! He announced that the wisest of the scholar will win ten gold coins contained in the bags fastened in between the horns of a thousand cows. So the winner will take away ten thousand gold coins and a thousand cows as a prize amount. Sages, scholars and philosophers from far and wide attended the symposium. They all settled down in the king’s grand courtroom. The king announced the grand prize and said -“These thousand cows with ten gold coins tied to their horns are for the one who is the wisest among you all! Step forward and take them if you think you are the one!”The prize money was incredibly tempting for anyone. Everyone was truly tempted to claim the reward! However, it was also important that in such an assembly of the wisest of wise men and women, good manners and humility were valued the most. So none came forward and boasted to claim the award! The assembly was in silence. Each scholar looked at their counterpart if he or she wanted to claim it. Suddenly, a young scholar named Yagnavalkya stood up and told one of his disciples -“Dear Saamasravas, please drive these cows home!”Just to add here - the word “Saamasravas” means one who learns how to chant the Saaman. Thus this implies that Yagnavalkya is versed in all four Vedas.Let’s go back to the story…The student cracked a smile and prepared himself to obey the command of this guru. The student shouted -“Hail the prince among the sages!”The young scholar although was bit rude in his approach to claiming the award but was very courageous. As soon as he commanded his student to take away the cows and the gold coins… all other sages and scholars interrupted him. They came upon him like a huge barrier of the stone wall! One of the sages fumed - “The man is overconfident!” Another one shouted - “You believe you are the wisest among us?”Yagnavalkya smiled calmly, shrugge...