SOnaka
SO/naka m. ( patr. fr. Sunaka , g. bidA di ) N. of various authors and teachers (also with Indrota and Svaidāyana ; esp. of the celebrated grammarian, author of the Ṛg-veda Prātiśākhya , the Bṛhad-devatā , and various other works; he is described as the teacher of Kātyāyana and especially of Āśvalāyana ; he is said to have united the Bāṣkala and Śākala Śākhā s, and is sometimes identified with the Vedic Ṛṣi Gṛtsa-mada ; but according to the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa , Ś° was a son of Gṛtsamada , and originated the system of four castes; he is quoted in ĀśvŚr. ; APrāt. & VPrāt. ; the various legends about him are very confused), ŚBr. ; Up. ; MBh. &c.