Vyasa deva's life and message-book & documentary- PART 2 (read the first one fir

[Guest guest]

AUM NAMAH SHIVAYA

 

Chapter-1

 

 

 

"I am Vyasa among the sages", declared Lord Krishna to

Arjuna. Such

is the greatness of Vyasa. He is the most significant among all the

incarnations of the Divine. According to most Puranas, Vyasa is the

17th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Some puranas even include him in the

ten major incarnations of Vishnu.

 

According to Maharshi Parasara, "The Unborn lord has many

incarnations. He has incarnated as the nine grahas to bestow on the

living beings the results due to their Karmas. He assumed the

auspicious form of grahas to annihilate the evil forces and sustain

the divine. From Sun the incarnation of Rama, from Moon that of

Krishna, from Mars that of Narasimha, from Mercury that of Buddha,

from Jupiter that of Vamana, from Venus that of Parasurama, from

Saturn that of Kurma (Tortoise), from Rahu (north node) that of

Varaha (pig), and from Ketu (south node) that of Meena (Fish)

occurred. All other incarnations than these also are through the

grahas".

 

While some puranas mention Buddha as one of the ten incarnations,

some mention Balarama. Yet others mention Veda Vyasa's name among

the

ten major incarnations of Vishnu. Thus there is no universal list of

the ten incarnations. It is possible that both Buddha and Vyasa had

incarnated through the graha Mercury. I am narrating the story of

Vyasa here for Mercury since his life and work clearly symbolise

Mercury at its best. Which other incarnation of the Lord symbolizes

Mercury better?

 

Vyasa is the editor par excellence. With unbelievable zeal and divine

inspiration, he redacted the Vedas. He standardized the Vedas, the

order and the accents of every mantra, which has come down to us

intact since 5000 years. Vyasa is by far the most prolific among

writers. He survived the Kurukshetra war and later composed the

original Mahabharata, on which, with interpolations and additions,

the present structure of the epic rests. Today the Mahabharata is the

world's longest epic, and is considered as the fifth veda. The

highly

revered Bhagawad Gita is just a portion of this great and inspiring

epic. The Puranic literature, which originally was said to consist of

ten million verses, is also attributed to him. He is said to have

composed the Brahma Sutras. The list is endless. Such a gigantic feat

and prolific intellectual work remain unparalleled. Verily Vyasa is

an embodiment of Mercury and its divine energy.

 

It is said that in each age (Mahayuga), in every Dwapara yuga, Vishnu

in his form of Veda Vyasa, incarnates to uphold the Vedas. He divides

the Vedas and helps to preserve them for the coming kali yuga. In

other words a Veda Vyasa is born every 4.3 million years since that

is the span of a mahayuga! In this Manvantara, twenty-eight mahayugas

have elapsed. Thus twenty-eight Veda Vyasas have incarnated so far!

The Vyasa for this Dwapara yuga is Krishna Dwaipaayana, the son of

the illustrious sage Parasara, who is considered the father of Vedic

astrology, for it is held widely that it was he who composed the

famous astrological text `Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra'.

Parasara was

the grandson of Vasishta, the greatest among sages.

 

Sage Vasishta had a son called Shaktri. Let me narrate to you how

Shaktri was eaten up by a rakshasa. King Kalmashapada, who belonged

to the Ikshvaku line of kings, once went to the forest. After a while

he felt thirsty. While looking for water, the king met Shaktri. There

was a very narrow path along which even two people could not walk

abreast. Since he was very thirsty, Kalmashapada asked Shaktri to

give him the right of way. But Shaktri insisted that, as a brahmana,

he possessed the right of way, Kalmashapada thereupon struck Shaktri

with his whip and Shaktri in turn cursed the king that he would

become a rakshasa. As a result a rakshasa named Rudhira possessed the

king. The rakshasa had entered the king's body, and Kalmashapada

started behaving like a demon. Kalmashapada's first act as a

rakshasa

was to eat up Shaktri and his hundred brothers.

 

Sage Vasishta could not bear the shock of his sons being killed. With

his wife Arundhati, the sage climbed a mountain and the couple flung

themselves down from the peak so that they might die. But the earth

had no desire to permit the death of such a great sage. She adopted

the form of a woman and broke the couple's fall. "Please do

not kill

yourself, the world needs you", she told Vasishta. Shaktri's

wife

Adrishyanti too tried to dissuade her father-in-law from committing

suicide. She pleaded with Vasishta, "I am expecting. If the two

of

you kill yourselves, who will look after the son when he is born? He

is, after all, Shaktri's son. Please stay alive for his sake".

 

While this conversation was going on, the baby who was in

Adrishyanti's womb began to recite the Veda. This was a miracle

indeed and Vasishta did not at first realize where the sound of the

recitation was coming form. But Vishnu appeared and told the

sage, "You will have a grandson who will bring glory to your

line. He

will be a great devotee of Shiva. It is he who is reciting the Vedas.

Please stay alive for his sake." Vasishta was thus dissuaded from

committing suicide. In due course, Adrishyanti gave birth to Parasara.

 

When Parasara grew up, he asked his mother, "Where is my father?

Why

do I not have a father like other children do?Your father

Shaktri

was eaten up by a rakshasa," replied Adrishyanti. "Eaten up

by a

rakshasa!" exclaimed Parasara. "I will pray to the god Shiva.

Through

my austerities, I will attain great powers. And with my powers I am

going to burn up the entire universe. There is no point in retaining

such an evil universe where one's father is eaten up by a

rakshasa."

 

Vasishta persuaded his grandson that such a general destruction of

the universe would not be in anyone's interest. The universe had

done

no particular harm. If anyone had committed a crime, it was the

rakshasa who had performed the dastardly deed. Parasara resolved that

he would use his powers to destroy the rakshasas. With this end in

mind, Parasara started to pray to Shiva. Shiva was pleased at these

prayers and granted Parasara amazing powers. With these powers,

Parasara got to see and talk to his dead father. And he used these

powers to destroy the rakshasas.

 

"Please stop this destruction," Vasishta told his grandson.

"There

has been enough of killing. If Shaktri died, that was written in his

stars. Birth and death are inevitable for all beings. The rakshasa

was merely the instrument of what fate had decreed for my son. Do not

kill any more rakshasas. Anger serves no purpose." Parasara

followed

his grandfather's advice and was blessed by the sage that he

would

become well versed in all the shastras. Vasishta also blessed

Parasara that he would compose the Purana samhita and the Vishnu

Purana. This Vishnu Purana is different from the one by the same

name, one that is among the eighteen puranas. The latter is based on

a condensed version of Parasara's version, as revealed by Vyasa.

Parasara is also said to have authored the famous `Brihat

Parasara

Hora Sastra', the original source book of Jyotish or astrology.

 

Parasara soon became renowned. He was widely respected for his

knowledge, tapas and powers. He had his own hermitage with many

disciples. It became a center of attraction for the neighbouring

ashrams too. Parasara's austerity and firm faith in the power of

the

Sacred Word, the Veda, inspired one and all. Now let me narrate to

you how his ashram was destroyed and what happened thereby.

 

CHAPTER-- 2

 

CHAPTER -- 3

 

The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Matsya took Parasara in her

boat. It was the month of Ashada the Moon was full and could be seen

even in the dim daylight. Birds flew gracefully across the sky. The

dancing water waves splashed against the boat playfully as if they

were flirting with the boat. Parasara was immersed in deep thought as

he looked at the sky. Suddenly his face lit up as he realized the

significance of the moment. A great stellium was happening in the

zodiacal sign of Pisces. Soon, in a short time, the planetary pattern

indicated a very rare muhurta, one that comes in millions of years! A

child conceived at such an exact moment would achieve great feats.

His destiny would be linked to that of the rest of humanity. He would

accomplish a Cosmic mission!

 

Parasara was a seer of Jyotisa or astrology, an integral part, a limb

of the Vedas. He knew the significance of the moment. How could he

let such a moment pass by unnoticed? Further he remembered how, long

back Lord Vishnu had granted him a boon that he would be born as his

son, for a divine mission. If that promise could ever come true, it

was only now, as the stars indicated.

 

Parasara now noticed Matsya's face and body. She looked very

graceful. She was dark in color and in the morning Sun, she looked as

if she was made of shining copper. Her lovely cheeks glowed with

happiness and joy. And what proportionate limbs she had! She had the

ideal physiognomy (Samudrika lakshana) that clearly spoke highly of

her samskaras. She was no ordinary girl. She had a great future

ahead. Moreover the ancient science of physiognomy indicated that she

could be the mother of a highly virtuous soul. She was almost like a

goddess. But how could he speak to her? Would she understand his

motive? Her face, especially her eyes and the shape of her nose,

convinced Parasara that she was intelligent and no ordinary fisher

girl.

 

And that bull amongst the seers now spoke to Matsya of celestial

beauty and tapering thighs. He explained to her the significance of

the moment. As he explained to her his thoughts, Matsya felt shy.

She felt elated that a sage of his rank thought so highly of her. But

she was scared too. It didn't take much time for her to make up

her

mind. This was no ordinary sage. He was a seer who had gone beyond

lust. Surely he had no desire for physical pleasures. His proposal

seemed to be willed by the gods.

 

Parasara read her mind and was pleased with the maturity that she

displayed, for her age. Parasara spoke now, as he approached her,

`O

blessed and beautiful one, please accept my embraces". Matsya

looked

around and replied, `O holy one, behold the Rishis standing on

either

bank of the river. Seen by them how can I grant thy wish?' Thus

addressed by her, the ascetic thereupon created a fog, which

enveloped the whole region in darkness. And the maiden, beholding the

fog that was created by the great Rishi wondered much. She blushed as

she spoke, "O holy one, I am a maiden under the protection of my

father. By accepting your embraces my virginity will be sullied. My

virginity being sullied, how shall I be able to return home? Indeed,

I shall not then be able to bear life. Reflecting upon all this, O

illustrious one, do that which should be done.'

 

That best of Rishis, gratified with all she said, replied, `You

shall

remain a virgin even if you grant my wish. And, O timid one, O

beauteous lady, I solicit the boon that you desire. My grace has

never before proved fruitless.' Thus addressed, the maiden asked

for

the boon that her body might emit a sweet scent (instead of the fish-

odour that it had). And the illustrious Rishi thereupon granted that

wish of her heart.

 

Having obtained her boon, she became highly pleased, and her season

immediately came. She accepted the embraces of that Rishi of

wonderful deeds. And she thenceforth became known among men by the

name of Gandhavati (the sweet-scented one). Men could perceive her

scent form the distance of a Yojana. And for this she was known by

another name, which was Yojanagandha (one who scatters her scent for

a Yojana all around). Satyavati gratified with having obtained the

excellent boon in consequence of which she became sweet-scented and

her virginity remained unsullied, conceived through Parasara's

embraces. And she brought forth the very day, on an island in the

Yamuna, the child begot upon her by Parasara.

 

 

Such a birth is called `sadyogarbha'. It is said that Hanuman

and

Dattatreya too were born similarly. They too did not have to spend

nine months in the womb and were born the same day. The illustrious

Parasara continued on his journey, after explaining to Matsya that he

would come back one day for his son. It was thus that Vyasa was born

of Satyavati or Matsya, through Parasara. And because he was born in

an island, he was called Dwaipaayana (Dwaipa or island-born).

 

As the child grew, he started attracting people with his sweet

voice. Little Krishna, as Vyasa was called because of his dark

complexion, was a very intelligent child full of questions and

explorations. He wanted to know everything.

 

CHAPTER-14

 

Dharmakshetra was now a center of learning. It reverberated with the

holy chants, the fourfold Sacred Word. One day, Dwaipaayana who was

performing the pre-dawn sandhya in the Yamuna River looked at the

sky. The morning star shone brightly. Dark clouds on the horizon were

dispersing. Dwaipaayana's mind was in a transpersonal state.

Suddenly

a single shaft of light struck him, through the dense curtain of

clouds. That moment was a moment of revelation, as he looked at the

orb of gold. He could almost hear the mandate of his guardian god

Surya in unmistakable terms. "Make the whole world Arya, pure,

noble

and united in high aspirations".

 

From that moment he felt that he was possessed. What had been given

to no other sage was given to him. All the gods and the entire

creation merged into one. He saw no distinction between man and man.

And the whole world had to be made Arya, pure, noble and united in

aspiration. He now worked towards absorbing the others into the Vedic

fold. He adopted numerous tribesmen and women and gave them his own

gotra, the Parasara gotra. Whomsoever Dwaipaayana Vyasa touched

became noble and inspired. He was under the protection of Surya. He

could penetrate the hearts of men and women and light the sacred

fire, the fire of knowledge in their hearts.

 

When Krishna Dwaipaayana Veda Vyasa sought to divide the four Vedas,

he first gathered around him four learned disciples and taught them

the four Vedas- to Paila the Rig Veda, to Vaisampayana the Yajur

Veda, to Jaimini the Sama Veda, and to Sumantu the Atharavana Veda.

He later taught the puranas which are known as the fifth veda, to his

disciple Romaharshana. In the beginning, there was only one Purana

and sage Vyasa divided it into eighteen. The original source for all

puranas is the Purana Samhita, which Vyasa taught to Romaharshana.

Romaharshana had six disciples Sumati, Agnivarchah, Mitrayu,

Shamshapayana, Akritavrana and Savarni to whom he taught the puranas.

Each of these disciples composed a purana based on the Purana

Samhita.

 

Dwaipaayana's birth is narrated in the Mahabharata, in the

beginning.

Sixty years later he emerges as a highly revered sage, an embodiment

of Dharma. What is interesting here is that it was he who saved the

Kuru lineage from ending, by agreeing to Niyoga, on being requested.

In a way, the Mahabharata is a story of his own children, for both

the Kauravas and Pandavas are his grandchildren through niyoga. He

survived the Kurukshetra war and later composed the original

Mahabharata, on which, with interpolations and additions, the present

structure of the epic rests.

 

Krishna Dwaipaayana Vyasa'a son Sukdev is traditionally believed

to

have been a sanyasi (renunciant). The establishment of the order of

Sanyasis, is traditionally accepted to have been founded by Sukdev

under the inspiration of his father Vyasa. The order of Sanyasis has

been the firm foundation of Sanatana Dharma for over thirty

centuries. Of course Adi Sankaracharya re-organised the Order under

the name of Dashanami Sampradaya. Thus almost everything that we see

as Sanatana Dharma, today, is directly or indirectly a legacy of

Krishna Dwaipaayana Veda Vyasa. The Skanda Purana records a

conversation between Vatika and her son Sukdev in which she tries to

persuade him of the need for grhasthasrama, the need to found a home

at a stage in life dedicated to the Sacred Word. Other Puranas like

Harivamsa and Devi Bhagavatam mention that he was married and had

children.

 

CHAPTER-15

 

Vyasa is said to be immortal, that he still lives. Most Indians

believe it to be true. Nay, it is not a mere belief to them. It is a

fact, a proven fact as experienced by sincere souls. Vyasa guides

every true aspirant in the form of the unseen `Master'.

Dwaipaayana

Vyasa is among those rare immortal souls who continue to live in the

same form astrally, guiding humanity's spiritual ascent, in our

journey back to cosmic roots. Other immortal masters, according to

tradition are Markandeya, Dattatreya, Hanuman, Agastya, Narada. But

it is Vyasa who gets the unique honor of his birthday, on the Full

Moon day of Ashada month, being celebrated as the holy day of

revering the `Guru Tattwa', the universal spirit of the Guru,

a

spirit that continues to guide us to this day. On his birthday, we

celebrate the holy `Guru Poornima', the `Full Moon day of

the Guru'.

And why not? A Vyasa comes once every 4.3 million years! It is to

this eternal spirit of Vyasa that we bow and seek guidance. If you do

not have a Guru, if you have any spiritual doubts, when you need

guidance, pray sincerely to Vyasa chanting `Vyam Vyasadevaya

Namah',

and you shall receive guidance in some form. You may receive it

through a book, another being, your own neighbour, or through a human

guru, or if you are lucky, if you have enough merit, even from Vyasa

himself!

 

He appeared to the great Adi Sankaracharya guided and blessed him

when the latter was writing a commentary to Vyasa's `Brahma

Sutras'

or `Aphorisms on Brahman' from the point of view of Advaitic

school

of thought. Much later Vyasa also appeared to Madhvacharya (12th

century AD), another great saint, a force to reckon with, in the

Dwaita school of Vedanta. This happened during Madhvacharya's

piligrimage to the holy place Badri. He was blessed with a vision of

the radiant Vyasa at the center of the `Mandala of Great

Masters'

(Guru Mandala), surrounded by other sages and masters.

 

Again Vyasa appeared and blessed Swami Vidyaranya (13th century AD)!

Vidyaranya was the spiritual head of the Sringeri Sankara Matham. He

was a scholar, yogi and a spiritual adept. Once he was instructed by

a Brahma Rakshasa who was a pious Brahmin called Singaribhattu in his

previous life, to take Vyasa's blessings in the holy city of

Kashi at

Manikarnika Ghat, where Vyasa would come in the form of an outcaste

followed by four dogs (symbolizing the four Vedas). Vyasa blessed

swami Vidyaranya, granting him the knowledge of mantras. Further he

blessed Vidyaranya that he would be the main force, the very spirit

behind the founding of a great empire that would flourish for three

hundred years, an empire that would help uphold the `Sanatan

Dharma'

that we call Hinduism today. The empire is none other than the

famous `Vijayanagar empire', that had the good fortune of

being ruled

by the noble Krishnadevaraya. Vidyaranya swami later released the

brahmarakshasa from his previous unwholesome karma.

 

Vyasa also continues to live at another level. He lives as

`Sanatana

Dharma'. What we call Hinduism today, its entire body of

literature

is directly or indirectly from Vyasa. He saved the `Sacred

Word' or

Veda as it was revealed. He divided the Vedas. He reclaimed the

fourth Veda into the mainstream. He edited the Vedas and made a plan

to preserve Vedic wisdom intact for the people of Kali Yuga. He

composed the original `Mahabharata' and thus the

`Bhagavad Gita' too.

He gave the `Purana Samhita' and thus the entire puranic

literature

in a way. He composed the essence of the Upanishads in the form of

the `Brahma Sutras'. Not satisfied with all this, he gave us

the

holy `Srimad Bhagavatam', the book of books, one that takes

spiritual

love, the highest form of love, to its pinnacle. He gave us countless

stotras (like Vishnu Sahasranama etc) embedded within the Puranic

literature.

 

Krishna Dwaipaayana Vyasa is undoubtedly the architect of Spiritual

India of Kali Yuga. As Aurobindo said, the Mahabharata is the

National poem and Vyasa the National poet of India. Vyasa gave us

almost everything that we see as `Sanatana Dharma' today. His

life

was dedicated to the `Sacred Word'. He upheld Dharma. He

authored an

unbelievable body of knowledge. He is the most prolific author ever,

an editor par excellence. The more you know of Hinduism, the more you

realize the greatness of Vyasa. We would not have heard the Vedas in

their pristine form without him. There wouldn't be the Puranas,

or

the Mahabharata, or the Brahma Sutras, or the Gita, or the various

stotras, stutis and sahasranamas. Vyasa is thus, the most significant

among all the incarnations of Vishnu. For how would we know about the

various incarnations, if not through his works? Whatever we know of

most incarnations of Vishnu, is through Vyasa.

 

No doubt Valmiki's Ramayana is sweet, and he remains the first

great

poet. The Dharma depicted in Ramayana is a straight path, sometimes

painful but nevertheless not impossible. While Valmiki goes into the

Hindu heart, Vyasa goes into its very marrow, its every cell, its

spirit, its every possible mood. The picture of Dharma that Vyasa

portrays is a very intricate one, with its many facets. Right and

wrong are relative, bewilderingly mixed, bringing one to crossroads.

Often one falls in a labyrinth, caught between the many faces of

Dharma, weighing the relative merits of the course of action to be

adopted. And what a picture! It is said of the Mahabharata- "What

is

found in this epic maybe elsewhere; What is not in this epic is

nowhere else". How true!

 

Thus Vyasa is the very essence of Dharma. He is verily Dharma walking

on the earth. As we study his life and works, he emerges as an

embodiment of Sanatana Dharma itself. `Vyasochishtam

jagatsarvam'.

Vyasa pervades everything in the Universe. The more you investigate

the Universe, the more you find the spirit of Vyasa in every part,

the very roots. Verily Vyasa is Vishnu himself with two arms (Vishnu

has four arms). Vyasa is Shiva indeed without three eyes. Reading,

listening or meditating on Vyasa's life and works, equips one

with

the right intellect, the prerequisite to right understanding. The

fire of knowledge thus acquired dissolves all unwholesome karmas. The

mere act of reading, listening or remembering the glory of Vyasa,

helps one achieve the four goals of life. Salutations to the Master

of masters, an embodiment of Dharma, the very form of Shiva and

Vishnu in one.

 

Vyasa's life is his message. Human life is to be lived as

directed by

the gods, not by us imperfect human beings. The Sacred Word shall

guide us at all stages. To live in, and for Dharma, is the only way.

Dharma when upheld protects us forever. It is Dharma that should be

the guiding light in our lives. Only a life lived in, and for Dharma,

is a life, any other becomes mere existence. Let us not merely exist,

let us LIVE. And may we all live in DHARMA.

 

 

 

There can be no achievement without self-discipline;

No future without dedication;

No creation without sacrifice.

 

 

SATYA

[Guest guest]

Vyam Vyasadevaaya Namah

Dear Satya,

This is an excellent work, and i would love to read more. The only thing lacking

is references, and translation of some of the sanskrit words such as Yojana,

which not everyone might know.

 

I would love to read more.

Best wishes, Visti.

-

satyaprakasika

vedic astrology

Thursday, September 12, 2002 5:04 AM

[vedic astrology] Vyasa deva's life and message-book & documentary-

PART 2 (read the first one fir

AUM NAMAH SHIVAYAChapter-1"I am Vyasa among the sages", declared Lord Krishna

toArjuna. Such is the greatness of Vyasa. He is the most significant among all

the incarnations of the Divine. According to most Puranas, Vyasa is the 17th

incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Some puranas even include him in the ten major

incarnations of Vishnu.According to Maharshi Parasara, "The Unborn lord has

many incarnations. He has incarnated as the nine grahas to bestow on the living

beings the results due to their Karmas. He assumed the auspicious form of grahas

to annihilate the evil forces and sustain the divine. From Sun the incarnation

of Rama, from Moon that of Krishna, from Mars that of Narasimha, from Mercury

that of Buddha, from Jupiter that of Vamana, from Venus that of Parasurama,

from Saturn that of Kurma (Tortoise), from Rahu (north node) that of Varaha

(pig), and from Ketu (south node) that of Meena (Fish) occurred. All other

incarnations than these also are through the grahas".While some puranas mention

Buddha as one of the ten incarnations, some mention Balarama. Yet others mention

Veda Vyasa's name amongthe ten major incarnations of Vishnu. Thus there is no

universal list of the ten incarnations. It is possible that both Buddha and

Vyasa had incarnated through the graha Mercury. I am narrating the story of

Vyasa here for Mercury since his life and work clearly symbolise Mercury at its

best. Which other incarnation of the Lord symbolizes Mercury better? Vyasa is

the editor par excellence. With unbelievable zeal and divine inspiration, he

redacted the Vedas. He standardized the Vedas, the order and the accents of

every mantra, which has come down to us intact since 5000 years. Vyasa is by

far the most prolific among writers. He survived the Kurukshetra war and later

composed the original Mahabharata, on which, with interpolations and additions,

the present structure of the epic rests. Today the Mahabharata is the world's

longest epic, and is considered as the fifth veda. Thehighly revered Bhagawad

Gita is just a portion of this great and inspiring epic. The Puranic

literature, which originally was said to consist of ten million verses, is also

attributed to him. He is said to have composed the Brahma Sutras. The list is

endless. Such a gigantic feat and prolific intellectual work remain

unparalleled. Verily Vyasa is an embodiment of Mercury and its divine energy.

It is said that in each age (Mahayuga), in every Dwapara yuga, Vishnu in his

form of Veda Vyasa, incarnates to uphold the Vedas. He divides the Vedas and

helps to preserve them for the coming kali yuga. In other words a Veda Vyasa is

born every 4.3 million years since that is the span of a mahayuga! In this

Manvantara, twenty-eight mahayugas have elapsed. Thus twenty-eight Veda Vyasas

have incarnated so far! The Vyasa for this Dwapara yuga is Krishna Dwaipaayana,

the son of the illustrious sage Parasara, who is considered the father of Vedic

astrology, for it is held widely that it was he who composed the famous

astrological text `Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra'.Parasara was the grandson of

Vasishta, the greatest among sages. Sage Vasishta had a son called Shaktri. Let

me narrate to you how Shaktri was eaten up by a rakshasa. King Kalmashapada, who

belonged to the Ikshvaku line of kings, once went to the forest. After a while

he felt thirsty. While looking for water, the king met Shaktri. There was a

very narrow path along which even two people could not walk abreast. Since he

was very thirsty, Kalmashapada asked Shaktri to give him the right of way. But

Shaktri insisted that, as a brahmana, he possessed the right of way,

Kalmashapada thereupon struck Shaktri with his whip and Shaktri in turn cursed

the king that he would become a rakshasa. As a result a rakshasa named Rudhira

possessed the king. The rakshasa had entered the king's body, and Kalmashapada

started behaving like a demon. Kalmashapada's first act as arakshasa was to eat

up Shaktri and his hundred brothers.Sage Vasishta could not bear the shock of

his sons being killed. With his wife Arundhati, the sage climbed a mountain and

the couple flung themselves down from the peak so that they might die. But the

earth had no desire to permit the death of such a great sage. She adopted the

form of a woman and broke the couple's fall. "Please donot kill yourself, the

world needs you", she told Vasishta. Shaktri'swife Adrishyanti too tried to

dissuade her father-in-law from committing suicide. She pleaded with Vasishta,

"I am expecting. If the twoof you kill yourselves, who will look after the son

when he is born? He is, after all, Shaktri's son. Please stay alive for his

sake".While this conversation was going on, the baby who was in Adrishyanti's

womb began to recite the Veda. This was a miracle indeed and Vasishta did not

at first realize where the sound of the recitation was coming form. But Vishnu

appeared and told the sage, "You will have a grandson who will bring glory to

yourline. He will be a great devotee of Shiva. It is he who is reciting the

Vedas. Please stay alive for his sake." Vasishta was thus dissuaded from

committing suicide. In due course, Adrishyanti gave birth to Parasara.When

Parasara grew up, he asked his mother, "Where is my father?Why do I not have a

father like other children do?Your fatherShaktri was eaten up by a

rakshasa," replied Adrishyanti. "Eaten upby a rakshasa!" exclaimed Parasara. "I

will pray to the god Shiva.Through my austerities, I will attain great powers.

And with my powers I am going to burn up the entire universe. There is no point

in retaining such an evil universe where one's father is eaten up by arakshasa."

Vasishta persuaded his grandson that such a general destruction of the

universe would not be in anyone's interest. The universe haddone no particular

harm. If anyone had committed a crime, it was the rakshasa who had performed

the dastardly deed. Parasara resolved that he would use his powers to destroy

the rakshasas. With this end in mind, Parasara started to pray to Shiva. Shiva

was pleased at these prayers and granted Parasara amazing powers. With these

powers, Parasara got to see and talk to his dead father. And he used these

powers to destroy the rakshasas. "Please stop this destruction," Vasishta told

his grandson."There has been enough of killing. If Shaktri died, that was

written in his stars. Birth and death are inevitable for all beings. The

rakshasa was merely the instrument of what fate had decreed for my son. Do not

kill any more rakshasas. Anger serves no purpose." Parasarafollowed his

grandfather's advice and was blessed by the sage that hewould become well

versed in all the shastras. Vasishta also blessed Parasara that he would

compose the Purana samhita and the Vishnu Purana. This Vishnu Purana is

different from the one by the same name, one that is among the eighteen

puranas. The latter is based on a condensed version of Parasara's version, as

revealed by Vyasa. Parasara is also said to have authored the famous

`BrihatParasara Hora Sastra', the original source book of Jyotish or astrology.

Parasara soon became renowned. He was widely respected for his knowledge, tapas

and powers. He had his own hermitage with many disciples. It became a center of

attraction for the neighbouring ashrams too. Parasara's austerity and firm faith

in the power ofthe Sacred Word, the Veda, inspired one and all. Now let me

narrate to you how his ashram was destroyed and what happened thereby.CHAPTER--

2CHAPTER -- 3The next day, as soon as the sun rose, Matsya took Parasara in her

boat. It was the month of Ashada the Moon was full and could be seen even in

the dim daylight. Birds flew gracefully across the sky. The dancing water waves

splashed against the boat playfully as if they were flirting with the boat.

Parasara was immersed in deep thought as he looked at the sky. Suddenly his

face lit up as he realized the significance of the moment. A great stellium was

happening in the zodiacal sign of Pisces. Soon, in a short time, the planetary

pattern indicated a very rare muhurta, one that comes in millions of years! A

child conceived at such an exact moment would achieve great feats. His destiny

would be linked to that of the rest of humanity. He would accomplish a Cosmic

mission! Parasara was a seer of Jyotisa or astrology, an integral part, a limb

of the Vedas. He knew the significance of the moment. How could he let such a

moment pass by unnoticed? Further he remembered how, long back Lord Vishnu had

granted him a boon that he would be born as his son, for a divine mission. If

that promise could ever come true, it was only now, as the stars indicated.

Parasara now noticed Matsya's face and body. She looked very graceful. She was

dark in color and in the morning Sun, she looked as if she was made of shining

copper. Her lovely cheeks glowed with happiness and joy. And what proportionate

limbs she had! She had the ideal physiognomy (Samudrika lakshana) that clearly

spoke highly of her samskaras. She was no ordinary girl. She had a great future

ahead. Moreover the ancient science of physiognomy indicated that she could be

the mother of a highly virtuous soul. She was almost like a goddess. But how

could he speak to her? Would she understand his motive? Her face, especially

her eyes and the shape of her nose, convinced Parasara that she was intelligent

and no ordinary fisher girl.And that bull amongst the seers now spoke to Matsya

of celestial beauty and tapering thighs. He explained to her the significance

of the moment. As he explained to her his thoughts, Matsya felt shy. She felt

elated that a sage of his rank thought so highly of her. But she was scared

too. It didn't take much time for her to make upher mind. This was no ordinary

sage. He was a seer who had gone beyond lust. Surely he had no desire for

physical pleasures. His proposal seemed to be willed by the gods. Parasara

read her mind and was pleased with the maturity that she displayed, for her

age. Parasara spoke now, as he approached her,`O blessed and beautiful one,

please accept my embraces". Matsyalooked around and replied, `O holy one,

behold the Rishis standing oneither bank of the river. Seen by them how can I

grant thy wish?' Thus addressed by her, the ascetic thereupon created a fog,

which enveloped the whole region in darkness. And the maiden, beholding the fog

that was created by the great Rishi wondered much. She blushed as she spoke, "O

holy one, I am a maiden under the protection of my father. By accepting your

embraces my virginity will be sullied. My virginity being sullied, how shall I

be able to return home? Indeed, I shall not then be able to bear life.

Reflecting upon all this, O illustrious one, do that which should be done.'

That best of Rishis, gratified with all she said, replied, `Youshall remain a

virgin even if you grant my wish. And, O timid one, O beauteous lady, I solicit

the boon that you desire. My grace has never before proved fruitless.' Thus

addressed, the maiden askedfor the boon that her body might emit a sweet scent

(instead of the fish-odour that it had). And the illustrious Rishi thereupon

granted that wish of her heart.Having obtained her boon, she became highly

pleased, and her season immediately came. She accepted the embraces of that

Rishi of wonderful deeds. And she thenceforth became known among men by the

name of Gandhavati (the sweet-scented one). Men could perceive her scent form

the distance of a Yojana. And for this she was known by another name, which was

Yojanagandha (one who scatters her scent for a Yojana all around). Satyavati

gratified with having obtained the excellent boon in consequence of which she

became sweet-scented and her virginity remained unsullied, conceived through

Parasara's embraces. And she brought forth the very day, on an island in the

Yamuna, the child begot upon her by Parasara. Such a birth is called

`sadyogarbha'. It is said that Hanumanand Dattatreya too were born similarly.

They too did not have to spend nine months in the womb and were born the same

day. The illustrious Parasara continued on his journey, after explaining to

Matsya that he would come back one day for his son. It was thus that Vyasa was

born of Satyavati or Matsya, through Parasara. And because he was born in an

island, he was called Dwaipaayana (Dwaipa or island-born). As the child

grew, he started attracting people with his sweet voice. Little Krishna, as

Vyasa was called because of his dark complexion, was a very intelligent child

full of questions and explorations. He wanted to know

everything.CHAPTER-14Dharmakshetra was now a center of learning. It

reverberated with the holy chants, the fourfold Sacred Word. One day,

Dwaipaayana who was performing the pre-dawn sandhya in the Yamuna River looked

at the sky. The morning star shone brightly. Dark clouds on the horizon were

dispersing. Dwaipaayana's mind was in a transpersonal state.Suddenly a single

shaft of light struck him, through the dense curtain of clouds. That moment was

a moment of revelation, as he looked at the orb of gold. He could almost hear

the mandate of his guardian god Surya in unmistakable terms. "Make the whole

world Arya, pure,noble and united in high aspirations". From that moment he

felt that he was possessed. What had been given to no other sage was given to

him. All the gods and the entire creation merged into one. He saw no

distinction between man and man. And the whole world had to be made Arya, pure,

noble and united in aspiration. He now worked towards absorbing the others into

the Vedic fold. He adopted numerous tribesmen and women and gave them his own

gotra, the Parasara gotra. Whomsoever Dwaipaayana Vyasa touched became noble

and inspired. He was under the protection of Surya. He could penetrate the

hearts of men and women and light the sacred fire, the fire of knowledge in

their hearts. When Krishna Dwaipaayana Veda Vyasa sought to divide the four

Vedas, he first gathered around him four learned disciples and taught them the

four Vedas- to Paila the Rig Veda, to Vaisampayana the Yajur Veda, to Jaimini

the Sama Veda, and to Sumantu the Atharavana Veda. He later taught the puranas

which are known as the fifth veda, to his disciple Romaharshana. In the

beginning, there was only one Purana and sage Vyasa divided it into eighteen.

The original source for all puranas is the Purana Samhita, which Vyasa taught

to Romaharshana. Romaharshana had six disciples Sumati, Agnivarchah, Mitrayu,

Shamshapayana, Akritavrana and Savarni to whom he taught the puranas. Each of

these disciples composed a purana based on the Purana Samhita.

Dwaipaayana's birth is narrated in the Mahabharata, in thebeginning. Sixty

years later he emerges as a highly revered sage, an embodiment of Dharma. What

is interesting here is that it was he who saved the Kuru lineage from ending,

by agreeing to Niyoga, on being requested. In a way, the Mahabharata is a story

of his own children, for both the Kauravas and Pandavas are his grandchildren

through niyoga. He survived the Kurukshetra war and later composed the original

Mahabharata, on which, with interpolations and additions, the present structure

of the epic rests. Krishna Dwaipaayana Vyasa'a son Sukdev is traditionally

believedto have been a sanyasi (renunciant). The establishment of the order of

Sanyasis, is traditionally accepted to have been founded by Sukdev under the

inspiration of his father Vyasa. The order of Sanyasis has been the firm

foundation of Sanatana Dharma for over thirty centuries. Of course Adi

Sankaracharya re-organised the Order under the name of Dashanami Sampradaya.

Thus almost everything that we see as Sanatana Dharma, today, is directly or

indirectly a legacy of Krishna Dwaipaayana Veda Vyasa. The Skanda Purana

records a conversation between Vatika and her son Sukdev in which she tries to

persuade him of the need for grhasthasrama, the need to found a home at a stage

in life dedicated to the Sacred Word. Other Puranas like Harivamsa and Devi

Bhagavatam mention that he was married and had children. CHAPTER-15Vyasa is

said to be immortal, that he still lives. Most Indians believe it to be true.

Nay, it is not a mere belief to them. It is a fact, a proven fact as

experienced by sincere souls. Vyasa guides every true aspirant in the form of

the unseen `Master'.Dwaipaayana Vyasa is among those rare immortal souls who

continue to live in the same form astrally, guiding humanity's spiritual

ascent, in our journey back to cosmic roots. Other immortal masters, according

to tradition are Markandeya, Dattatreya, Hanuman, Agastya, Narada. But it is

Vyasa who gets the unique honor of his birthday, on the Full Moon day of Ashada

month, being celebrated as the holy day of revering the `Guru Tattwa', the

universal spirit of the Guru,a spirit that continues to guide us to this day.

On his birthday, we celebrate the holy `Guru Poornima', the `Full Moon day

ofthe Guru'. And why not? A Vyasa comes once every 4.3 million years! It is to

this eternal spirit of Vyasa that we bow and seek guidance. If you do not have

a Guru, if you have any spiritual doubts, when you need guidance, pray

sincerely to Vyasa chanting `Vyam VyasadevayaNamah', and you shall receive

guidance in some form. You may receive it through a book, another being, your

own neighbour, or through a human guru, or if you are lucky, if you have enough

merit, even from Vyasa himself! He appeared to the great Adi

Sankaracharya guided and blessed him when the latter was writing a commentary

to Vyasa's `BrahmaSutras' or `Aphorisms on Brahman' from the point of view of

Advaiticschool of thought. Much later Vyasa also appeared to Madhvacharya (12th

century AD), another great saint, a force to reckon with, in the Dwaita school

of Vedanta. This happened during Madhvacharya's piligrimage to the holy place

Badri. He was blessed with a vision of the radiant Vyasa at the center of the

`Mandala of GreatMasters' (Guru Mandala), surrounded by other sages and

masters. Again Vyasa appeared and blessed Swami Vidyaranya (13th century

AD)! Vidyaranya was the spiritual head of the Sringeri Sankara Matham. He was a

scholar, yogi and a spiritual adept. Once he was instructed by a Brahma Rakshasa

who was a pious Brahmin called Singaribhattu in his previous life, to take

Vyasa's blessings in the holy city ofKashi at Manikarnika Ghat, where Vyasa

would come in the form of an outcaste followed by four dogs (symbolizing the

four Vedas). Vyasa blessed swami Vidyaranya, granting him the knowledge of

mantras. Further he blessed Vidyaranya that he would be the main force, the

very spirit behind the founding of a great empire that would flourish for three

hundred years, an empire that would help uphold the `SanatanDharma' that we call

Hinduism today. The empire is none other than the famous `Vijayanagar empire',

that had the good fortune ofbeing ruled by the noble Krishnadevaraya.

Vidyaranya swami later released the brahmarakshasa from his previous

unwholesome karma. Vyasa also continues to live at another level. He lives

as`Sanatana Dharma'. What we call Hinduism today, its entire body ofliterature

is directly or indirectly from Vyasa. He saved the `SacredWord' or Veda as it

was revealed. He divided the Vedas. He reclaimed the fourth Veda into the

mainstream. He edited the Vedas and made a plan to preserve Vedic wisdom intact

for the people of Kali Yuga. He composed the original `Mahabharata' and thus

the`Bhagavad Gita' too. He gave the `Purana Samhita' and thus the entire

puranicliterature in a way. He composed the essence of the Upanishads in the

form of the `Brahma Sutras'. Not satisfied with all this, he gave usthe holy

`Srimad Bhagavatam', the book of books, one that takesspiritual love, the

highest form of love, to its pinnacle. He gave us countless stotras (like

Vishnu Sahasranama etc) embedded within the Puranic literature. Krishna

Dwaipaayana Vyasa is undoubtedly the architect of Spiritual India of Kali Yuga.

As Aurobindo said, the Mahabharata is the National poem and Vyasa the National

poet of India. Vyasa gave us almost everything that we see as `Sanatana Dharma'

today. Hislife was dedicated to the `Sacred Word'. He upheld Dharma. Heauthored

an unbelievable body of knowledge. He is the most prolific author ever, an

editor par excellence. The more you know of Hinduism, the more you realize the

greatness of Vyasa. We would not have heard the Vedas in their pristine form

without him. There wouldn't be the Puranas,or the Mahabharata, or the Brahma

Sutras, or the Gita, or the various stotras, stutis and sahasranamas. Vyasa is

thus, the most significant among all the incarnations of Vishnu. For how would

we know about the various incarnations, if not through his works? Whatever we

know of most incarnations of Vishnu, is through Vyasa. No doubt Valmiki's

Ramayana is sweet, and he remains the firstgreat poet. The Dharma depicted in

Ramayana is a straight path, sometimes painful but nevertheless not impossible.

While Valmiki goes into the Hindu heart, Vyasa goes into its very marrow, its

every cell, its spirit, its every possible mood. The picture of Dharma that

Vyasa portrays is a very intricate one, with its many facets. Right and wrong

are relative, bewilderingly mixed, bringing one to crossroads. Often one falls

in a labyrinth, caught between the many faces of Dharma, weighing the relative

merits of the course of action to be adopted. And what a picture! It is said of

the Mahabharata- "Whatis found in this epic maybe elsewhere; What is not in this

epic is nowhere else". How true! Thus Vyasa is the very essence of Dharma. He

is verily Dharma walking on the earth. As we study his life and works, he

emerges as an embodiment of Sanatana Dharma itself. `Vyasochishtamjagatsarvam'.

Vyasa pervades everything in the Universe. The more you investigate the

Universe, the more you find the spirit of Vyasa in every part, the very roots.

Verily Vyasa is Vishnu himself with two arms (Vishnu has four arms). Vyasa is

Shiva indeed without three eyes. Reading, listening or meditating on Vyasa's

life and works, equips onewith the right intellect, the prerequisite to right

understanding. The fire of knowledge thus acquired dissolves all unwholesome

karmas. The mere act of reading, listening or remembering the glory of Vyasa,

helps one achieve the four goals of life. Salutations to the Master of masters,

an embodiment of Dharma, the very form of Shiva and Vishnu in one. Vyasa's life

is his message. Human life is to be lived asdirected by the gods, not by us

imperfect human beings. The Sacred Word shall guide us at all stages. To live

in, and for Dharma, is the only way. Dharma when upheld protects us forever. It

is Dharma that should be the guiding light in our lives. Only a life lived in,

and for Dharma, is a life, any other becomes mere existence. Let us not merely

exist, let us LIVE. And may we all live in DHARMA.There can be no achievement

without self-discipline;No future without dedication;No creation without

sacrifice.SATYAArchives: vedic astrologyGroup

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