The great sage Bhagwãn Vyãsa endowed with extraordinary intellect, genius and knowledge wrote Mahabharata, 18 puranas that consist the ocean of Indian mythology, compiled the spiritual aphorisms of Vedic sages called Brahma sutra and arranged Vedas properly dividing them.

He is called Krishna because he was black, and called Dvaipayana since he was born in an island. He is called Vyãsa because he divided Vedas. In high reverence he is addressed as Maharshi, the great sage or Bhagwãn, the Lord. His genius encompassed all the subjects in the world so it is said ‘Vyasoschistam Jagatsarvam, the whole world is touched by Vyãsa. His Maha-bhãrata and 18 puranas, the mythological works, have immensely contributed in building up Indian culture, hence Vyãsa is rightly described as the ‘great soul of India.’

He brought renaissance to long-forgotten Indian arts, literature, scriptures and spiritual learning. The Himãlayan task fulfilled by him is almost of miraculous nature. He is a great teacher of the entire human race. He always upheld morality and high ethical standards based on eternal principles of spirituality.

Vyãsa was a son of sage Parãshara and Satyavati who was a daughter of king Uparichar Vasu but was brought up by a fisherman Dãsraj living on the bank of Yamuna river. Satyavati used to help her father in his profession of a boatman who carried the people to cross the river Yamunã . Once when she was crossing the river carrying sage Parãshara in her boat the sage felt attracted towards her beauty and expressed his desire to mate with her. Changing the fish-smell of her body into pleasing fragrance Parashara fulfilled his desire by mating with her. In due course Vyãsa was born on a solitary island. On reaching his youth he married to Vatikã, the daughter of Jabali and begot from her a son by name Shuka who became famous as a illumined soul of equal vision unsurpassed by anybody.

The western scholars have doubted the historical reality of Vyãsa. However the Indian scholars have accepted him as a historical person on the strength of the references in historical documents & Vedic literature establishing the lineage of Vasishtha, Parãshar , Vyãsa , Suka in succession. Based on history and tradition Indian scholars accept Vyasa as a historical person.

 

Previous                                                                                                                     Next