Vajasaneyi Brahmin

Vajasaneyi (Sanskrit: वाजसनेयि) also known as Bachasnai[1] is a major division of Maithil Brahmins in the Mithila region of the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the two major divisions of the Maithil Brahmins community.[2] This division of Maithil Brahmins community started after the foundation of Shukla Yajurveda by the renowned Vedic sage Yajnavalkya in the ancient Mithila Kingdom. Vajasaneyi Brahmins are the followers of the Madhyandini Shakha of Yajurveda.[3][4] The branch of Vedic literature founded by the sage Yajnavalkya is also called as Vajasaneyi school.[5] The Samhita of this school is known as Vajasaneyi Samhita.[6][7] Since the Vajasaneyi Brahmins are followers of Yajurveda, so they are also known as Yajurvedic Brahmins.

Etymology

The term Vajasaneyi is associated with the Vedic sage Yajnavalkya. The surname of the Vedic sage was Vajasaneyi. Some times Yajnavalkya is also called as Vajasaneyi. Therefore, the Maithil Brahmins following the branch founded by Yajnavalkya is known as Vajasaneyi Brahmins.[3]

Description

The community of Maithil Brahmins are divided into two major branches on the basis of Vedic Samhitas. They are Chhandog and Vajasaneyi. Chhandog is the early branch of Maithil Brahmins initiated from the foundation of Samaveda Samhita in Mithila by the Vedic sage Gautama and Vajasaneyi is the later branch of the Maithil Brahmins community started after the foundation of Shukla Yajurveda in Mithila by the sage Yajnavalkya.[3][1]

The Vedic sage Yajnavalkya received the knowledge of Shukla Yajurveda from Lord Suryanarayana. Yajnavalkya had major fifteen disciples. He divided Shukla Yajurveda into fifteen parts and distributed these parts to his fifteen disciples. These fifteen disciples established fifteen group of Brahmins. They were called as Vājasaneyas or Vājasaneyins.[7]

Rituals and practices

The community of Vajasaneyi Brahmins has its own texts for rituals, practices, marriage and Upanayan, etc. The text related to marriage is known as Vajsanehi Vivah Samhita which translates to Vajasaneyi Marriage Code. Its 17th century original manuscript is preserved at Bhaktapur near the city of Kathmandu in Nepal.[8] The mantra for wearing the sacred thread Janeu by Vajasaneyi Brahmins is

ॐ यज्ञोपवीतं परमं पवित्रं प्रजापतेर्यत्सहजं पुरस्तात्। आयुष्यमग्रयं प्रतिमुञ्च शुभ्रं यज्ञोपवीतं बलमस्तु तेजः ।।

— Yagyopavit Mantra (Janeu Mantra), Vajasaneyi Samhita

References

  1. ^ a b Jha, Makhan (1982). Civilizational Regions of Mithila & Mahakoshal. Capital Publishing House.
  2. ^ Manuscripts, British Museum Department of Oriental Printed Books and; Bendall, Cecil (1893). Catalogue of Sanskrit, Pali, and Prakrit Books in the British Museum: Acquired During the Years 1876-92. British Museum.
  3. ^ a b c Shastri, J. L. (2004-01-01). The Garuda Purana Part 1: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 12. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-3879-6.
  4. ^ Vishveshvaranand Indological Journal. Vishveshvaranand Vedic Research Institute. 1969.
  5. ^ Aithal, Kota Parameswara (1993-01-01). Veda Laksana: A Descriptive Bibliography (in Sanskrit). Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-208-1120-1.
  6. ^ Aquique, Mohammad (1974). Economic History of Mithila, C. 600 B.C.--1907 A.D. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-0-88386-481-4.
  7. ^ a b www.wisdomlib.org (2015-02-25). "Vajasaneyi, Vājasaneyi, Vājasaneyī: 3 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  8. ^ "वजसनेही विवाह संहिता". Endangered Archives Programme. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
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