Aupamanyava

Last updated

In the Vamsa Brahmana of Vedic literature, Aupamanyava is listed as a Vedic sage and teacher of the Sama Veda. [1] [2]

Contents

The patronymic Aupamanyava or "Upmanya" establishes him as a descendant of Upamanyu, while the name Kamboja suggests an association with the Kamboja kingdom of the (late Vedic) Mahajanapada period. [3]

The Vamsa Brahmana informs us that sage Anandaja had received Vedic learning from the sage Samba, the son of Sarkaraksa, as well as from Kamboja, the son or descendant of Upamanyu.

Lineage

The Vamsa Brahamana [4] of the Sama Veda refers to one Rsi Madragara Shaungayani as the teacher of Aupamanyava Kamboja. As the name itself suggests, the risi Madragara Shaungayani belonged to the Madra tribe, i.e. the Uttaramadras who inhabited the northernmost reaches of Punjab.

Dr Jain also observes: "Kamboja Aupamanyava, pupil of Madragara, is mentioned in the Vamsa Brahmana. This points to a possible relationship of the Madras or more probably of the Uttaramasdras with the Kambojas, who probably had Indian as well as Iranian affinities". [5]

As a grammarian

Aupamanyava is repeatedly quoted as a grammarian by Yaska in his Nirukta , and also mentioned in respect of the Nisadas and the Panca-janah . [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Aupamanyava is also stated to have authored one Nighantu—a collection of Vedic words. [12] Pt Bhagva Datta points out that Dr G. Opart had referred to a nirukta (etymology) whose authorship he attributes to a certain Upamanyu. [13]

Vamsa Brahmana

Commenting on the Vamsa Brahmana list of Vedic teachers, Albrecht Weber writes: "One fact deserves to be especially noticed here, namely, that several of the teachers mentioned in the Vamsa Brahmana, by their very names, points us directly to the north-west of India, e.g. Kamboja Aupamanyava, Madaragara Saungayani, Sati Aushtrakshi, Salamkayana and Kauhala". [14] And commenting on the same list, R Morton Smith also writes: “The names Kamboja Aupamanyava, Sati Austraksi and Madragara Saungayani suggest a North-west connection for the main branch of the Vamsa Brahmana ." [15]

In all the lists of ancient Vedic teachers in the Satapatha Brahmana as well as the Vamsa Brahmana, [16] Kamboja Aupamanyava appears as the first "Aupamanyava"' (i.e. son or descendant of Upamanyu ). This Kamboja Aupamanyava was the guru of Anadaja Chandhanayana who in turn was the guru of Bhanumant Aupamanyava. [17] Bhanumant Aupamanyava had instructed Urjayant Aupamanyava. [18] Vedic teachers Bhanumanta Aupamanyava and Urjayant Aupamanyava of the Vamsa Brahmana list were probably the son and grandson of Kamboja Aupamanyava.

Aupamanyava/Upamanyu Gotra

Upamanyu also is one of the gotras of Hindu Brahmins. The people with Upamanyu gotra live in the far western part of Nepal and the eastern Parts of Jammu & Kashmir. They are thus concentrated at the foothills of Mount Kailash which enables them to easily pray to Lord Shiva. However, according to Dr D. C. Sircar, the Upamanyu gotra is not found in early Sanskrit literature and it is difficult to determine at this time whether it is being confused for what actually is the Aupamanyava gotra. [19]

Prof B. N. Datta comments: "...In the list of Brahmana gotras mentioned in the Matsya-Purana, [20] the name "Kamboja" is to be found. It is said to be an offshoot of the Vrigu (Bhrigus) gotras. This means that a Rishi hailing from the Kamboja tribe was also the founder of a Brahmanical class... Weber says that the appearance of the name of Kamboja (an Indian-sounding name in Vedic texts) as a Sama theologian [21] is analogous to the discovery of the name of Gautama in the Zoroastrian Mithra-Yesht. [22] [23] [24] Upamanyu was of Kamboja descent, and Ushtaxri (Sati Austrakshi) [25] was probably of Bactrian origin. Further, the name of the prominent Rishi Atharva sounds like Atharavan or Atharvan, the Persian fire-cult priest. The names of Atharva and Angirasa are connected with the introduction of fire-cult amongst the Vedic people. In this case, we find another infiltration of the foreign element (Kambojas etc.) in the ethnic composition of the Vedic Aryas". [26]

Notes

  1. 1.18 Ānandajaścāndʰanāyanaḥ Śāmbāccʰārkarākṣyāt Kāmbojāccopamanyavāt||
    1.19 Śāmbaḥ Śārkarākṣyaḥ Kāmbojaścaupamanyavo Madrakārāccʰauṅgāyaneḥ||
    1.20 Madrakāraḥ Śauṅgāyaniḥ svāterauṣṭrākṣeḥ||
    — (Vamsa Brahmana 1.18-19).
  2. See Link: "titus.fkidg1.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/ind/aind/ved/sv/vb/vb.htm"..
  3. Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, 1958, p 149, Arthur Anthony Macdonell, Arthur Berriedale Keith - Vedas.
  4. See: Vamsa Brahmana verse 1.18-19
  5. Ethnology of Ancient Bhārata, 1970, p 108, Dr Ram Chandra Jain.
  6. Ref: Cultural Sources from the Veda, 1977, p 35, Sadashiv Ambadas Dange.
  7. Dialectics of Hindu Ritualism, 1956, pp 59, 133, Bhupendranātha Datta.
  8. Bhāratīya Vidyā: A Quarterly Research Organ of the Bhavan on All Subjects Connected with Indian Culture, 1967, p 56, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Bombay)-India.
  9. Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Vedic Terms, 2000, p 316, Parmeshwaranand - Vedas.
  10. Kamboja People and the Country, 1981, pp 204-205, Dr J. L. Kamboj.
  11. Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 134, fn 1, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee. NOTE: Dr H. C. Raychaudhury cites reference to Aupamanyava (Nirukta II.2) and identifies him with Kamboja Aupamanyava of the Vamsa Brahmana (Ibid).
  12. For references to Aupamanyava Kamboja in Yaska’s Nirukta, see: Dialectics of Hindu Ritualism, 1956, pp 59, Bhupendranātha Datta; Political History of Ancient India, 1996, p 134, Dr H. C. Raychaudhury, Dr B. N. Mukerjee; Also: Kamboja People and the Country, 1981, pp 204-205, Dr J. L. Kamboj; Cultural Sources From the Vedas, 1977, pp 34-35, Sadashiv Ambadas Dange; Cultural Heritage Of India, 1958, pp 292-293, Article contributed by Dr V. D. Aggarwala.
  13. Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts, Part II, p 510, Dr G Opart.
  14. See: The history of Indian literature, 2001 (edition), pp 74/75, fn 71, Albrecht Weber; See also I St., IV, pp 378-80.
  15. Dates and Dynasties: Part III : the Brahmans, 2000, p 79, R Morton Smith - Brahmans.
  16. A History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature So Far as it Illustrates the Primitive Religion of the Brahmans, 1860, pp 438-444, Friedrich Max Müller - Sanskrit literature.
  17. Vamsa Brahmania 16-15.
  18. Vamsa Brahmana 15-14
  19. Epigraphia Indica, XXXIII, p 193.
  20. Matsya Purana Ch. 195, Sl. 336.
  21. Vedic teacher Kamboja Aupamanyava mentioned in Vamsa Brahmana, 18.
  22. Hymn to Mithra.
  23. Windischmann, Mithra, pp 29, 79.
  24. Indische Studien, herausg, 1858, p 356, Albrecht Friedrich Weber; Monatsberichte der Königlichen preussische Akademie des Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1858, p 5101, Königlich Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin.
  25. According to the Vamsa Brahmana of the Sama-Veda, Sati Aushtrakshi was the teacher of Madaragara Saungayanai. Madragara Saungayani was the guru of Kamboja Aupamanyava who in turn was the guru of Anandaja Chandhanayana. It appears that sage Ushtaxri/Ushtakshri was one of the two gurus of Sati Aushtrakshi, the second being Susravasa Varshaganya (See Vamsa Brahamana verses 18-22)
  26. Dialectics of Hindu Ritualism, 1956, p 59, 60, 132, Bhupendranātha Datta.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prajapati</span> Vedic deity identified with Brahma

Prajapati is a Vedic deity of Hinduism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angiras</span> Hindu sage

Angiras or Angira was a Vedic rishi (sage) of Hinduism. He is described in the Rigveda as a teacher of divine knowledge, a mediator between men and gods, as well as stated in other hymns to be the first of Agni-devas. In some texts, he is considered to be one of the seven great sages or Saptarishis, but in others he is mentioned but not counted in the list of seven great sages. In some manuscripts of Atharvaveda, the text is attributed to "Atharvangirasah", which is a compound of sage Atharvan and Angira. The student family of Angira are called "Angira", and they are credited to be the authors of some hymns in the first, second, fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth books of the Rigveda. By the time of the composition of the Rigveda, the Angirases were an old Rishi clan, and were stated to have participated in several events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brahmana</span> Layer of Hindu text within the Vedas

The Brahmanas are Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas. They are a secondary layer or classification of Sanskrit texts embedded within each Veda, which explain and instruct on the performance of Vedic rituals. In addition to explaining the symbolism and meaning of the Samhitas, Brahmana literature also expounds scientific knowledge of the Vedic Period, including observational astronomy and, particularly in relation to altar construction, geometry. Divergent in nature, some Brahmanas also contain mystical and philosophical material that constitutes Aranyakas and Upanishads.

In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi is a member of the highest class of Rishis. A Brahmarshi is a sage who has attained enlightenment and became a Jivanmukta by completely understanding the meaning of Brahman and has attained the highest divine knowledge, infinite knowledge (omniscience) and self knowledge called Brahmajnana. When a Brahmarshi dies he attains Paramukti and frees himself from Samsara, the cycle of birth and death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vedas</span> Oldest scriptures of Hinduism

The Vedas are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.

The Vedanga are six auxiliary disciplines of Hinduism that developed in ancient times and have been connected with the study of the Vedas:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Coke Burnell</span> English Indologist (1840-1882)

Arthur Coke Burnell was an English civil servant who served in the Madras Presidency who was also a scholar in Sanskrit and Dravidian languages. He catalogued the Sanskrit manuscripts in southern India, particularly those in the collections of the Tanjore court collections. He was, with Henry Yule, a co-compiler of the Hobson-Jobson, a compendium of Anglo-Indian terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nirukta</span> Study about Hindu Vedas

Nirukta is one of the six ancient Vedangas, or ancillary science connected with the Vedas – the scriptures of Hinduism. Nirukta covers etymology, and is the study concerned with correct interpretation of Sanskrit words in the Vedas.

Yāska was an ancient Indian grammarian and linguist [est. 7th–5th century BCE(disputed)]. Preceding Pāṇini [est. 7th–4th century BCE(disputed)], he is traditionally identified as the author of Nirukta, the discipline of "etymology" within Sanskrit grammatical tradition and the Nighantu, the oldest proto-thesaurus in India. Yaska is widely regarded as the precursive founder of the discipline of what would become etymology in both the East and the West.

Shivi is mentioned as a kingdom and as the name of a king in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. There was a king named Shivi who became famous as Shivi or the kingdom itself may be named after him. Shivi king was famous for his truthfulness. The legend about his truthfulness and compassion goes as follows: King Shivi protected a dove who was chased by a hawk, and gave flesh from his thigh, as a substitute meal to the hawk.

The Bahlikas were the inhabitants of Bahlika, mentioned in Atharvaveda, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas, Vartikka of Katyayana, Brhatsamhita, Amarkosha etc. and in the ancient Inscriptions. The other variations of Bahlika are Bahli, Balhika, Vahlika, Valhika, Bahlava, Bahlam/Bahlim, Bahlayana and Bahluva.

The Taittirīya Shakha, is a shakha of the Krishna (black) Yajurveda. Most prevalent in South India, it consists of the Taittirīya Samhita ('TS'), Taittirīya Brahmana ('TB'), Taittirīya Aranyaka ('TA'), and Taittirīya Pratisakhya ('TP').

In Hindu culture, a Pravara is a system of identity, particularly a family line. Pravaras is a particular Brahmin's descent from a rishi (sage) who belonged to their gotra (clan).

Devapi or Devāpi Arṣṭiṣeṇa, is an immortal sage. According to the Nirukta (ii.10), the Brihaddevata, the Mahabharata, and the Puranas, he was a Kuru prince and the eldest son of King Pratipa of Hastinapura. He was a noble and well-liked prince but he was not allowed to succeed Pratipa, because he was affected with leprosy and the council of Brahmanas and elderly citizens were opposed to this proposal. As a result of this, his younger brother Shantanu succeeded Pratipa as the king of Hastinapura. Later Devapi retired to the forest for penance. According to the Matsya Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, he along with the sage Maru will remain alive till the end of the present Kali Yuga at a place called Kalapagrama and will revive the Paurava dynasty in the next Satya Yuga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Asians in ancient Indian literature</span>

Central Asia and Ancient India have long traditions of social-cultural, religious, political and economic contact since remote antiquity. The two regions have common and contiguous borders, climatic continuity, similar geographical features and geo-cultural affinity. For millennia, there has been a flow of people, material and ideas between the two.

Samiran Chandra Chakrabarti is an Indian Indologist and scholar of Onomastics & Vedic Studies, Author & Editor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samaveda</span> Veda of melodies and chants

The Samaveda, is the Veda of melodies and chants. It is an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text, and is one of the sacred scriptures in Hinduism. One of the four Vedas, it is a liturgical text which consists of 1,875 verses. All but 75 verses have been taken from the Rigveda. Three recensions of the Samaveda have survived, and variant manuscripts of the Veda have been found in various parts of India.

Dhī is a Sanskrit word meaning 'understanding', 'reflection', 'religious thought', 'mind', 'design', 'intelligence', 'opinion', 'meditation', 'imagination', 'notion', and 'intellect'. This word is directly connected with the word Vāc, meaning Speech, derived from Vac meaning, 'to speak'. Dhi is the voiced Vāc or 'Speech', it is the thought-mind or intellect. Dhi also means 'to hold' or 'to place', and indicates the activity of the intellect.

Upamanyu is a rishi (sage) in Hinduism, best known for being a devotee of the deity Shiva, and being the leader of the ganas (Gāṇamtya).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agni</span> Fire deity of Hinduism

Agni is a Sanskrit word meaning fire and connotes the Vedic fire deity of Hinduism. He is also the guardian deity of the southeast direction and is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu temples. In the classical cosmology of the Indian religions, Agni as fire is one of the five inert impermanent elements (pañcabhūtá) along with space (ākāśa), water (ap), air (vāyu) and earth (pṛthvī), the five combining to form the empirically perceived material existence (Prakṛti).