There are two traditions or sampradayas in the Veda, viz., Brahma sampradaya and Aditya sampradaya. That which was vomited by Yajnavalkya came to be known as the Brahma Sampradaya, also called the Krishna Yajur Veda. After leaving the Gurukul of Vysampayana, Yajnavalkya sincerely repented for his delinquency and atoned for it by giving up food and drink and practised Suryopasana (Sun worship), undergoing severe austerities by way of penance. Pleased with this penance, the Sun God appeared before him in the form of Vaaji and told him, ‘My child! What is past is past. You should guard yourself against such lapses in future. Betraying the Guru or God is highly dangerous. Be careful hereafter, I will now teach you the Vedas again.’ So saying, the Sun God taught him the Vedas. The reason for the Sun appearing in the form of Vaaji was that Yajnavalkya’s forefathers always used to do annadana (free distribution of food) or vaajasanam (offerings of food to the hungry), so their family got the name Vaajasam. The Veda taught by him was also called by the alternative names of Sukla Yajur Veda, Vajasasskanda, and Aditya Khanda.

Yajur Veda has been divided into two. For this reason, although the Vedas were originally four in number, they have subsequently become five, namely Rig Veda, Krishna Yajur Veda, Sukla Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharvana Veda. Recognising that the Sun appeared before him as Vaaji and taught him the Vedas because of the free distribution of food by his ancestors, Yajnavalkya gave primary importance to annadaana in his teaching which, among others, included the following:

‘There is no gift higher than the gift of food and no God higher than the parents. There is no truth higher than japa and tapas (reciting the holy Name and doing penance). There is no Dharma higher than compassion and no gain higher than the company of the good. There is no enemy more dangerous than anger and no disease more serious than indebtedness. There is no death more horrible than ill-fame and no wealth more valuable than fame. There is no ornament more beautiful than smaran (remembering God through chanting His names).’

Yajnavalkya, moreover, emphasised specially in his teachings to his disciples the extreme importance of service to parents and Guru, as well as annadana (free distribution of food). (SSB 1990, pp. 86-87)