Upādhyāyī, or upādhyāya, refers to one who teaches when approached (upetya adhīyate asmāt). In the Manu-saṁhitā it is said:
- eka-deśaṁ tu vedasya vedāṅgāny api vā punaḥ
- yo ‘dhyāpayati vṛtty-artham upādhyāyaḥ sa ucyate
“One who teaches others a part of the Vedas or literatures supplementary to the Vedas may be called upādhyāya.” Upādhyāya also refers to one who teaches art.