Shaunaka Mahashala

Shaunaka Mahashala
शौनक महाशाला
Painting by Jijithnr showing Ugrasrava Sauti narrating Mahabharata to Saunaka and sages at the Suta Gaddi in the campus.
Monastery information
Full nameNaimishyaranya University
Other nameShaunaka Rishi Ashram
DedicationAtharvaveda,Purana,Mahabharata
People
FounderShaunaka
Important associated figuresShaunaka, Veda Vyasa, Pippalada, Lomaharshana, Ugrashravas
Architecture
Heritage designation
Gurukul
ArchitectCottage
Site
LocationNaimiṣāraṇya (forest)

Shaunaka Mahashala was a higher educational institution founded by the ancient Indian Vedic philosopher Shaunaka Rishi in the ancient Naimisaranya forest. It was popular for a special assembly of sages headed by the revered sage Shaunaka.[1] The revered sage Shaunaka was the Kulpati of the institution.[2]

View of the Naimisharanya Teertha Kshetra.

The Vedic sage Shaunaka was a great scholar. He was also a great lover of learning. He financially patronised a great to the learning institution.[3]

Etymology

Shaunaka Mahashala is constituted with two words Shaunaka and Mahashala. Shaunaka was the name of the sage who was the chancellor. Mahashala or Mahāśāla is used instead of one who has ten thousand students under him. Also, Maha means great and Shala means institution. Therefore, Mahashala means a great institution.[4] According to Promatha Nath Mullick, the institute in the sacred Naimisharanya forest represents an ancient Hindu University, whose chancellor was the Vedic sage Shaunaka.[5]

Background

According to the Vedic texts, Shaunaka Rishi's full name was Indrotdaivaya Shaunaka. He was a Vedic teacher and the son of the sage Bhriguvanshi Shunak. He was also called as Atidhanvan[6][7] that translates to "Very wealthy person". He was financially rich Rishi among the sages in the Naimisharanya forest.[3] He was running a grand Gurukul having ten thousand students and he was honoured as kulapati (chancellor) of the institution. It is said that before him no other sage had received such an honour.[8] He wrote Rigveda Chandanukramani, Rigveda Chandanukramani, Rigveda Rishyanukramani, Rigveda Anuvakanukramani, Rigveda Suktanukramani, Rigveda Kathanukramani, Rigveda Padvidhan, Brihadevata, Shaunak Smriti, Charanvyuh, Rigvidhan.[9][10]

He taught several notable disciples at his institution. These notable disciples of the Kulpati Shaunaka were Lomaharshana, Ugrashrava, Rishi Asita, Narada, Kapila, Shuracharya, Vishwamitra, Uddalaka, Kahoda, Ashtavakra, Shwetketu, Uddhava, Bhishma, Dronacharya, Vidura, Chyavan, Bharadwaja, etc.[11]

The revered Vedic sage Udara- Śāṇḍilya studied Vedic texts at the institution of Shaunaka Mahashala. He was the disciple of the Kulpati Shaunaka. He learned Udgitha from the Kulpati Shaunaka there.[12]

Description

The location of the Gurukul was Nimisharanya. It is said that Shaunaka performed a 12-year-long Yajna at his ashram, which attracted a large number of learned men, who held incessant discussions about religion and philosophy. He wrote Shaunaka Grihasutra, Shaunaka Grihyaparishit, and Vastushastra Granth. He helped sages Romaharsha and Ugrasrava Sutha to spread the Puranas and Itihasa among a large masses.[13]

Maharshi Shree Suta Gaddi Mandir - The legendary seat of the Puranas narrator sage Sūta.


Ugrashravas was an auditor at Takshila. He travelled to Naimiṣāraṇya forest. There he met with the sage Shaunaka and a large group of Brahmins studying at the Shaunaka Mahashala. The Shaunaka Mahashala is considered as the ancient form of university in the Indian Subcontinent by scholars. It is also known as Naimishyaranya University.[14] The Brahmin scholars in the ashram asked about Janamejaya's snake sacrifice with the sage Ugrashravas. Then Ugrashravas recited the story of the Mahabharata as recited by Vaishampayana to him with some additional materials.[15][16] This is the place where Shrimad Bhagavatam was preached. The life of the university is mentioned in Adi Parva of the Mahabharata.[17] The philosophical conversation between the sage Pippalada and the sage Shaunaka at the Shaunaka Mahashala was recorded as Brahma Upanishad or Brahmopanishad.[18]

The Vyasa Gaddi also known as Vyasa Peetha in the premises of the Shaunaka Mahashala, was the seat of the revered Vedic sage Veda Vyasa. He divided the Vedas into four branches. After that he composed and compiled the four branches of the Vedas there. The Vyasa Gaddi was located on a high mound amidst trees groves. The sacred Gomati river flowing through the Naimisharanya forest was clearly visible from the high mound of the Vyasa Peetha.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 The India Magazine of Her People and Culture. A. H. Advani. 1988.
  2. ↑ Gupta, Natthūlāla (1995). Education and Values in the Mahabharata. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-567-6.
  3. 1 2 Bhushan, Sasanka (1976). Date of Mahabharata Battle. Academic Press.
  4. ↑ Nityatmananda, Swami (2017-07-14). M., the Apostle & the Evangelist - Volume 15: A Continuation of M.'s Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, A Guide to Indian Culture and Self Knowledge. SRI MA TRUST.
  5. ↑ Mullick, Promatha Nath (1939). The Mahabharata as a History and a Drama. Thacker, Spink. pp. 175, 202. ISBN 978-81-7755-909-5. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  6. ↑ The Theosophical Quarterly. Theosophical Society of America. 1929.
  7. ↑ Kulasrestha, Mahendra (2006). The Golden Book of Upanishads. Lotus Press. ISBN 978-81-8382-012-7.
  8. ↑ "कौन थे ऋषि शौनक, धार्मिक ग्रंथों में है वर्णन". punjabkesari. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  9. ↑ जोशी, अनिरुद्ध. "Shaunak Rishi । 10 हजार शिष्यों वाले गुरुकुल में दुनिया के पहले कुलपति ऋषि शौनक". hindi.webdunia.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  10. ↑ सभी देवता पहुंचें शौनक ऋषि के आश्रम, शौनक ऋषि के शाप से भस्म हुए असुर | Om Namah Shivay 169, retrieved 2023-05-13
  11. ↑ Gupta, Natthūlāla (1995). Education and Values in the Mahabharata. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-7022-567-6.
  12. ↑ Kulasrestha, Mahendra (2006). The Golden Book of Upanishads. Lotus Press. ISBN 978-81-8382-012-7.
  13. ↑ "VedaPurana | Hindu Encyclopedia". vedapurana.org. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  14. ↑ Nityatmananda, Swami (2017-07-14). M., the Apostle & the Evangelist - Volume 15: A Continuation of M.'s Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, A Guide to Indian Culture and Self Knowledge. SRI MA TRUST.
  15. ↑ Davis, Richard H. (2014-10-26). The Bhagavad Gita: A Biography. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-13996-8.
  16. ↑ Varadpande, Manohar Laxman (1987). History of Indian Theatre: Classical theatre. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-430-1.
  17. ↑ "Naimisharanya - The Center of Excellence | Exotic India Art". www.exoticindiaart.com. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  18. ↑ "Brahma Upanishad – Vyasa Mahabharata". Retrieved 2023-05-13.
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