Śākaṭāyana
Śākaṭāyana · śākaṭa-āyana, “descendant of Śakaṭa”
Śākaṭāyana is a ṛshi in the Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa. Śesha taught him the mūla-mantra of Sarasvatī in Pātāla, with Pāṇini and Bharadvāja, and by the Sarasvatī Kavaca he was one of those who composed the śāstras. He is also named among the ṛshis at King Suyajña’s sabhā, at Pārvatī‘s Puṇyaka vrata, in Yaśodā‘s question to Garga, at Nanda‘s festival and at Kaṃsa‘s yajña.
The Sarasvatī mantra and kavaca
Nārāyaṇa tells Nārada who taught the eight-syllable mūla-mantra of Sarasvatī, “śrīṃ hrīṃ sarasvatyai svāhā”, to whom: Nārāyaṇa to Vālmīki, Bhṛgu to Śukra, Brahmā to Bhṛgu, Śiva to Kaṇāda and Gautama, Sūrya to Yājñavalkya and Kātyāyana, and Śesha, in Pātāla, to Pāṇini, Bharadvāja and Śākaṭāyana. Of the Sarasvatī Kavaca called Viśvajaya, which Śrī Kṛshṇa told Brahmā in Goloka, the text says that by it Bṛhaspati became wise and Vālmīki the best of poets, and Kaṇāda, Gautama, Kaṇva, Pāṇini, Śākaṭāyana and Kātyāyana composed the śāstras.
Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapter 4
At Suyajña’s sabhā
In the Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Mahādeva tells Pārvatī, within Nārāyaṇa‘s telling to Nārada, how a brāhmaṇa of hidden form, in soiled clothes and with a parched throat, came to King Suyajña’s sabhā after his yajña. The king bowed with a smile but did not rise from his jewelled throne, and the brāhmaṇa pronounced a śāpa on him and left the assembly. The ṛshis who were there followed him in fear; Śākaṭāyana was among them, with Pulaha, Pulastya, Bhṛgu, Marīci, Kaśyapa, Vasishṭha and many others.
Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapter 50
At Pārvatī’s Puṇyaka vrata
When Pārvatī began the Puṇyaka vrata on Kailāsa, the devas, ṛshis and munis came to it, Sanatkumāra, Brahmā with Sāvitrī and Maheśvara among them. Śākaṭāyana came with his disciples.
Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Gaṇeśa Khaṇḍa, Chapter 6
In Yaśodā’s question to Garga
When the muni Garga came with his disciples to Nanda‘s house in Gokula, Yaśodā washed their feet and asked him which of the holy maharshis he was, naming many: Āṅgīrasa, Atri, Marīci, Gautama, Vasishṭha, Kapila, Sanatkumāra, Vyāsa, Śukadeva and others. Śākaṭāyana is among the names she gives.
Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 13
At Nanda’s festival
When Nanda prepared the great yearly yāga to Indra, munis who had crossed the Vedas and Vedāṅgas came with their disciples; the text names twenty-five, from Garga and Gālava to Maitreya and Vaiśampāyana. Śākaṭāyana is among them. It was at this festival that Śrī Kṛshṇa turned the worship to Govardhana.
Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 21
At Kaṃsa’s yajña
When Kaṃsa sent messengers in all directions for his yajña, the munis came, and kings with their retinues. Śākaṭāyana is named among those who came, with Viśvāmitra, Pippala, Jābāli and Āpiśali.
Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 64
Sources
- Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapters 4, 50; Gaṇeśa Khaṇḍa, Chapter 6; Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapters 13, 21, 64