JAIMINI THE GREAT SAGE

 

Jaimini was a highly learned hermit and an ancient Indian scholar. He was one of the five main disciples of the great sage Vyasa, along with Sumantu, Paila, Vaisampayana, and Suka (who was also Vyasa’s son). According to the Devi Bhagavata, Vyasa had other students as well, such as Asita and Devala.

Jaimini played an important role in preserving and spreading Vyasa’s work called Jaya, which later became the Mahabharata. Both Jaimini and Vaisampayana contributed additions to Jaya. Another Sanskrit book, Jaimini Bharata, contains only the Asvamedha Parva, a section of the Mahabharata.

Jaimini was also the founder of the Mīmāṃsā school of Hindu philosophy, which focuses on interpreting the Vedas. He is traditionally believed to be the author of the Mimamsa Sutras and the Jaimini Sutras, important texts in Hindu philosophy and Vedic astrology. He is estimated to have lived between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE.

More About Jaimini

1.      The Brahmanda Purana (Chapter 1) states that Jaimini told this Purana’s story to Hiranyanabha at a place called Naimisaranya.

2.      He was present at the sarpasatra, a great ritual performed by King Janamejaya to destroy all serpents (Adi Parva, Chapter 53, Stanza 6).

3.      Jaimini was an important member of King Yudhisthira’s royal council (Sabha Parva, Chapter 4, Stanza 11).

4.      During the great Bharata war, he visited Bhishma while he lay on a bed of arrows (Shanti Parva, Chapter 46, Stanza 7).

Jaimini’s contributions to Indian philosophy, literature, and astrology are invaluable. His work continues to influence scholars and spiritual seekers even today.