Word

Mahidasa Rishi

Sanskrit

In General

Rishi Mahidasa Atreya is believed to be the co-author of Aitreya Brahmanas and Aitreya Aranyaka. Book 1 to 3 of Aitreya Brahmana is Attributed to him. His name is referred several times in Aitreya Aranyaka. According to Chandogya Upanishad and Jaiminiya Upanishad-Brahmana Mahidasa has various painful diseases but he still lived 116 years. In the introduction to the Aitreya Brahmana, Sayana says, Mahidasa Atreya as the son of the Brahmana Seer by Itara, a poor lower caste women. Since Itara doubted her baby will not get the same treatment like other sons of Rishi, she prayed to Mahi or the Earth Goddess. Earth Goddess was kind enough and her Son therefore become virtuous and was able to compose Brahmana as well as the Aranyaka literature.

Rishi Mahidasa should not be confused with Mahidara, the 16th Century commentator of Sukla Yajur Veda.