Ashtavakra

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

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.

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.