Biography of Yajnavalkya

The master who guided thousands of persons, from King Janaka to the commonest students on the path of enlightenment, was Yajnavalkya. His was the mastermind that produced 'Shukla Yajurveda'. Yajnavalkya was born on the seventh day of the month of Kartik at an auspicious time. After coming into the world, Yajnavalkya regularly worshipped the God of Fire through yajnas and yagas. He had divine radiance like Vajneshwara. Therefore he was called Yajnavalkya from his childhood.

Yajnavalkya received the great Gayatri Mantra from his father. He was sent to Gurukula for further education. He won the love and admiration of everybody in the ashram, within a few days. Later, he was imparted knowledge of the Vedas by various sages. By the blessings of the Sun God he became a seer blessed with the vision of mantras, a Maharashi and also Brahmarshi, possessing divine knowledge, by writing his experiences in the form of Shukla Yajurveda. He died at the foot of the Himalayas while performing penance.