The birth of Sukla Yajur-Veda

One day, the sage Yajnavalkya came to Vaisampayana's gurukula. Yajnavalkya was a brilliant intellectual with keen intelligence. Yajnavalkya was proud about his intellectual attainments and this was responsible for his downfall. Pride always goeth before a fall. Yajnavalkya developed indifference to his studies and started behaving in an unbecoming manner. Vaisampayana was noticing all this. The preceptors of those times would give even their lives for deserving disciples, but would give no quarter to those who were proud and ill-behaved. Displeased with Yajnavalkya's conduct, Vaisampayana called him to his presence one day and told him: “Yajnavalkya! You have no right any longer to study in this gurukula. You must leave it at once. And before leaving, you give back all that you learnt here." Yajnavalkya, who realised his mistakes, disgorged all that he had learnt. The vomit was eaten by the Thithiri birds. Then the birds began to recite the Vedic hymns, which came to be known as Taithriya Samhita.

The birth of Sukla Yajur-Veda
There are two traditions relating to the Vedas. One is known as the Brahmasampradayam (the Brahmic tradition). The other is Aditya-sampradayam (the Sun tradition). What Yajnavalkya gave back is known as the Brahma-sampradaya. It is also known as Krishna Yajur-Veda. Subsequently, feeling penitent about his misconduct, Yajnavalkya did penance in the form of Suryopaasana (worship of the Sun), giving up food and drink. In this manner he was atoning for his misconduct.

The Sun-God appeared before him in the form of Vaaji (a sacred horse) and told him: “Child! What has happened, is past. Remember it is a grievous crime to be disloyal to your preceptor or ungrateful to the Divine. You should not indulge in this kind of behaviour. Be careful in the future." Saying this, the Sun-God himself taught the Vedas to Yajnavalkya. Why did Surya appear before him in the form of Vaaji? Yajnavalkya's ancestors were noted for their vaajasanam (offerings of food) to the hungry, Hence they got the name Vaajasam. For this reason, the Sun-God assumed the form of Vaaji and taught the Vedas to Yajnavalkya. This Veda is known as Sukla Yajur-Veda. It is also called Vaajanaskanda. The Yajur-Veda thus got divided into two parts: Krishna Yajur-Veda and Sukla Yajur-Veda.

Greatness of gift of food to the hungry
It should be noted that it was because of the gift of food made by Yajnavalkya's ancestors that the Sun-God himself came down to teach the Veda to Yajnavalkya. This shows the supreme efficacy of the anna-daana (gift of food) to the hungry and the starving.

• There is no greater gift than the gift of food
• There is no God higher than one's parents
• There is no japa or tapa higher than righteousness.
• There is no Dharma greater than compassion
• Nothing is more profitable than the company of the good.
• There is no worse enemy than hatred.
• No disease is worse than indebtedness,
• Death is preferable on earth to infamy.
• No wealth is more precious than a good name
• There is no ornament superior to the Lord's name.

Realising these truths, Yajnavalkya taught his disciples the value of service to parents, reverence for the guru, and efficacy of the gift of food.

Picture: http://www.spiritual-teachers.com/yajnavalkya.jpg
Source: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume23/sss23-24.pdf