Śaunaka
Śaunaka
Śaunaka is a name used for more than one ṛshi in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.
People
- Śaunaka: the great ṛshi who presides over the twelve-year sattra at Naimishāraṇya and asks the sūta the questions that open the Kedāra Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Purāṇa. Skanda Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kedāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 1; Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 2; Mahābhārata, Svargārohaṇa Parva, Chapter 5; Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 1, Chapters 1, 4, 6–13, 16–18; Skandha 2, Chapters 3–4, 10; Skandha 3, Chapters 10, 19–20, 25; Skandha 4, Chapter 21; Skandha 6, Chapter 18; Skandha 9, Chapters 17, 22; Skandha 10, Chapters 1, 12; Skandha 12, Chapters 4, 6–11; Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 16; Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 1, 383; Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapters 1–2, 7; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 1, Chapters 1–7; Khaṇḍa 2, Chapters 1–24, 32, 34; Khaṇḍa 3, Section 2; Khaṇḍa 4, Chapters 4–6, 11–25; Uttara Parva, Chapter 1; Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 104
- Śaunaka (son of Śunaka): a descendant of King Gṛtsamada in the Kāśī branch of the lunar line, born in the line of Śunaka, from whom all four varṇas arose. Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 11
- Indrota: the great ṛshi of the Śaunaka-gotra who guided King Janamejaya through the expiation of an unwitting brahmahatyā; the Brahma Purāṇa tells the same deed in brief. Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Āpaddharma Parva, Chapters 150–152; Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 12