Vyasadeva's identity

[Guest guest]

Dear Caitya-guru prabhu,

 

Dandavat pranams. Sri Sri Guru Gaurangau jayatah!

 

Sri Vyasadeva is what is called an empowered incarnation,

saktyavesa-avatara. In Caitanya-caritamrta, it is said:

 

"There are three categories of incarnations of Godhead: partial

incarnations, qualitative incarnations and empowered incarnations. The

purusas and Matsya are examples of partial incarnations.

 

"Brahma, Visnu and Siva are qualitative incarnations. Empowered incarnations

are those like the Kumaras, King Prthu and Mahamuni Vyasa [the compiler of

the Vedas]." (Cc., Adi-lila, 1.65-67)

 

I understood this to mean that Vyasa was saktyavesa avatara, one in whom a

particular potency (sakti) of Godhead descends (avatara) to empower (avesa)

a devotee for a specific purpose.

 

However I too have heard that Vyasa was Krsna--Krsna-Dvaipayana Vyasa. Maybe

this is one of those cases where there is a simple explanation (that he is

Krsna) and a complicated one (that he is Krsna descending in an

empowerment)?

 

When you say sometimes Krsna and sometimes not, do you mean like this time

around Krsna himself descended to take the form of the yuga-avatara,

Gaura-Narayana, instead of what normally happens? Good question. What's the

right way to think about this?

 

Your servant,

Rama Kesava dasa

 

 

> "Caitya-guru \(das\) SRS \(Szeged - Hungary\)"

> <Caitya-guru.SRS (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

> Katha (AT) pamho (DOT) net

> Wed, 18 Sep 2002 18:59 +0200

> "\(Krsna\) Katha" <Katha (AT) pamho (DOT) net>

> Vyasadeva's identity

>

> Dear Vaisnavas!

>

> Please, accept my respectful obeisances!

> All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

>

> I have a confusion about the position of Srila Vyasadeva. I have heard in a

> lecture that He is Krsna Himself, but in Prabhupada's books I have read that

> He is an empowered living entity. How to understand this? This a position

> and sometimes a living entity and sometimes Krsna Himself takes this

> position, and now Vyasa is Krsna Himself?

>

> Your servant:

> Caitya-guru dasa

>

>