Ashtavakra

Ashtavakra
Aṣṭāvakra was born with physical handicap and grew up into a celebrated sage in Hinduism, 19th-century painting.
Personal
Born
Videha, present day Janakpur, Nepal
ReligionHinduism
SpouseSuprabha
Parents
  • Kahoda (father)
  • Sujata (mother)
RegionMithila region
Alma materUddalaka Aruni Ashram Ancient Mithila University
TeachersUddalaka Aruni
Known forAshtavakra - Acharya Bandi Shastrarth
OccupationProfessor
Philosopher
Organization
InstituteUddalaka Aruni Ashram

Ashtavakra (Sanskrit: अष्टावक्रः, lit.'eight deformities', IAST: Aṣṭāvakraḥ) is a revered Vedic sage in Hinduism. His maternal grandfather was the Vedic sage Aruni, his parents were both Vedic students at Aruni's school. Ashtavakra studied, became a sage and a celebrated character of the Hindu Itihasa epics and Puranas.[1]

Ashtavakra is the author of the text Aṣṭāvakra Gītā, also known as Aṣṭāvakra Saṃhitā, in Hindu traditions. The text is a treatise on Brahman and Ātman.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dalal2010p43 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-8239-3179-8.