{{Short description|Sage in Hinduism}} {{Infobox deity | type = Hindu | image = Sauti recites the slokas of the Mahabharata.jpg | caption = Shaunaka recites the Mahabharata, a Mughal painting | affiliation = Rishi | texts = Rigveda, Mahabharata }}
'''Shaunaka''' ({{langx|sa|शौनक}}, {{IAST3|śaunaka}}) 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 {{IAST|Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya}}, the {{IAST|Bṛhaddevatā}}, the {{IAST|Caraṇa-vyūha}}, six Anukramaṇīs (indices) to the Rigveda, and the Vidhāna of the Rigveda. He is the teacher of Katyayana and Ashvalayana and is said to have combined the Bashkala and Shakala Shakhas of the Rigveda. In the Mahabarata, he is identified as the son of Ruru and Pramadvara, and in the Bhagavata Purana, he is identified as the grandson of Gritsamada and son of Sunaka, who belongs to the Bhrigu dynasty.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=VedaPurana {{!}} Hindu Encyclopedia |url=https://vedapurana.org/single.php?s=2810&word=Shaunaka%3E&secure |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=vedapurana.org}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=VedaPurana {{!}} Hindu Encyclopedia |url=https://vedapurana.org/single.php?s=173&word=shaunaka&secure |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=vedapurana.org}}</ref>
== Literature == According to the Vishnu Purana, Shaunaka was the son of Gritsamada and invented the system of the four levels of human life. Sūta mahamuni narrated mythological stories to a group of sages headed by Shaunaka maha muni.
According to Vishnumitra of Champa town, the commentator of {{IAST|Uvaṭa}}'s commentary of {{IAST|Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya}}, {{IAST|Ṛgveda-Prātiśākhya}} is attributed to Shaunaka who taught it to others in a satra-yajna (a 12-day very large scale collective yajna) held in Naimisha.<ref>(English)Mangaldeva Śāstri, The Rgveda-prātiśākhya with the commentary of {{IAST|Uvaṭa}} by Śaunaka.; Vaidika Svādhyāya Mandira, Varanasi Cantt.,1959, OCLC: 28723321</ref><ref>(Hindi)Virendrakumar Verma, Rgveda-prātiśākhya of Śaunaka Along with {{IAST|Uvaṭabhāshya}}; Chaukhambha Sanskrit Pratishthan,38 U.A., Jawaharnagar, Bungalow Road, Delhi-110007, Reprint-1999; (also published by Saujanya Books, Delhi, and by Benaras Hindu University)</ref>
The Ṛgvidhāna, a Vidhāna text on the use of Rigvedic mantras, is also attributed to Shaunaka.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Patton |first= Laurie L. |title= Traces of Śaunaka: A Literary Assessment |journal= Journal of the American Academy of Religion |volume= 79 |issue= 1 |year= 2011 |pages= 118–121 |jstor= 23020388}}</ref> The Vidhana which he wrote helped simplify the rites and rituals written in the Shrauta and Gruhya shastras (scriptures).<ref name=":1" />
Shaunaka had a prominent role in the epic Mahābhārata. The epic Mahābhārata was narrated to Shaunaka by a storyteller named Ugrasrava Sauti during a conclave of sages headed by Shaunaka in a forest named Naimisha. Shaunaka also consoled Yudhishthira on the nature of suffering after the latter was exiled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mahabharata Vana Parva - Translation By KM Ganguly {{!}} Mahabharata Stories, Summary and Characters from Mahabharata |url=https://www.mahabharataonline.com/translation/mahabharata_03002.php |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=www.mahabharataonline.com}}</ref>
==See also==
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}
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Category:Titles and occupations in Hinduism Category:Ancient Sanskrit grammarians Category:Characters in the Mahabharata Gurus and saints
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