Maharshi Veda Vyasa

According to Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurava , Lord Vishnu Himself incarnated as Maharshi Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa. Maharshi Vedavyasa is also known as Krishna Dvaipayana , Vedavyasa , Badrayana and Parasharya . In this Avatara, Lord Vishnu classified Vedas, and disseminated the knowledge of Purana, Mahabharata and Brahma Sutras. Mahabharata is also known as Panchama Veda, the fifth Veda and Kaarshnaveda.

Vedavyasa had numerous renowned disciples, among which Paila , Vaishampayana , Jaimini , Sumantu and Romaharshana were prominent. Maharshi Vedavyasa imparted the knowledge of Rigveda , Yajurveda , Samaveda and Atharvaveda to His disciples Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu respectively. In Hinduism, discrepancies in the characters and narratives of Puranas arise due to variation in Kalpa, the Hindu cosmic cycle. Therefore, Vedavyasa composed the Mahabharata to categorise all the characters in accordance with the respective Kalpa.

Maharshi Vedavyasa Origin

According to the account regarding the birth of Vedavyasa as found in the Adi Parva, the first book of the Mahabharata, the father of Maharshi Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa was Sage Parashar and His mother was Satyavati .

In ancient times, there was a king named Vasu who was descended from the Puruvansha dynasty. Vasu performed intense penance to propitiate Indra , the King of Gods. Pleased with the penance of Vasu, Indra granted him the divine Kingdom of Chanderi and His own celestial chariot as boon. King Vasu would roam across celestial realms seated in Indra's chariot. Gandharvas and Apsaras would come to visit him. King Vasu received the epithet of Uparichara Vasu because he would roam in the sky.

A river named Shuktimati flowed near the town of Chanderi. Once, overcome with desire, mountain Kolahala obstructed the path of Shuktimati. This action of Kolahala exceedingly displeased King Vasu and in his rage, he attacked the mountain with his foot. Due to the force of the attack, a hole was pierced through the mountain. This caused River Shuktimati to flow through that hole and resulted in her union with mountain Kolahala. This union caused Shuktimati to conceive and in due course, she gave birth to a boy and a girl. River Shuktimati gave both of her children to the King. The King named the boy Vasupada and appointed him the general of his army. The girl was named Girika with whom King Vasu eventually married.

When Girika attained womanhood, she entered her period of menstruation. On the day when she was to perform the sacred bath marking the conclusion of her menstrual cycle, King Vasu's ancestors requested him to perform their Shraddha with the offering of a deer hunted from the forest. Respecting the command of his ancestors, the King went to the forest to hunt the deer. It was the season of spring and the youthful beauty of the forest filled the King with desire. Overwhelmed by thoughts of union, he released his essence. The King thus contemplated - "My essence and the fertile season of my youthful wife must not go in vain." Therefore, the King collected his essence in a leaf and said to the Shyena , i.e., falcon bird seated beside him in his flying chariot - "This is my essence, take this to my wife Girika as fast as possible."

The falcon bird took flight with the leaf that carried the King's essence, but another falcon saw him carrying a leaf and attacked him thinking that there must be some food in the leaf. As both the birds tussled for the leaf, the essence fell into the River Yamuna. Coincidently, a fish swallowed that essence. However, that fish wasn't an ordinary fish, but a celestial nymph called Adrika . Adrika had transformed into a fish due to the curse of a Brahmin. After ten months, some fishermen captured Adrika and when they cut her stomach open, a boy and a girl appeared. The fishermen became confused seeing the human babies inside a fish and took them both to the King.

The King named the boy Matsyaraja and kept him in the palace. The King handed the girl to a fisherman and commanded him to raise her with love and care. The fisherman named the girl Satyavati and raised her as his own daughter. Satyavati was also known by the names Matsyodari and Macchodari . As Satyavati became older, she started working as a fisherwoman, and thus her body always emanated a strong odour of fish. Therefore, she became known as Matsyagandha . After some time, as ordained by her father, Satyavati began ferrying sages and saints across the River Yamuna.

Once, during his pilgrimage, Sage Parashar , arrived at the banks of River Yamuna. When he saw Satyavati seated in her boat, he became infatuated with her youthful beauty. Overcome with amorous feelings, he expressed his desire to unite with her in sacred union. Matsyagandha said - "The sages are present on both banks of the River. In their presence, our union is not possible." To allay her worry, Sage Parashar, with his Yogic powers, cast a dense fog, like a fierce cloud of smoke, around them. The dense fog made it impossible to perceive anything around them.

Satyavati was greatly surprised to see the darkness spread around them and thought, "He must be a highly accomplished sage with great powers." Thus, Satyavati requested the Sage - "O great sage! I am still a maiden and my Dharma dictates to me to act in accordance with my father's wish. My union with you will break my vow of chastity. What shall I say to my father and what sort of life will I be bound to live? You must contemplate on these possibilities and then make your decision."

Sage Parashar answered - "You shall fulfill my desire. Your vow of chastity shall remain intact, I will bless you with eternal, unbroken virginity. Furthermore, you can ask for another boon also." Satyavati said - "O revered sage! An unpleasant smell of fish always emanates through my body; thus, people mockingly call me Matsyagandha. Please do some miracle to make my body eternally fragrant."

Sage Parashar granted Satyavati her desired wish and united with her in a union. As a result of her boon, Matsyagandha's body emanated fragrance which could be experienced from as far as 8 miles. Thus, Matsyagandha became known by names Divyagandha , Gandhvati , Yojangandha and Gandhakali . Because of her eternal virginity, she was also called Acchoda .

As a result of her union with Sage Parashar, Satyavati gave birth to a son. In order to avoid social defamation, Satyavati and her father left the boy on an island in the River Yamuna. In the course of time, the boy reached adulthood and became known in the world as Vedavyasa . As soon as He arrived on Earth, the ever powerful Vedavyasa said to His mother - "Whenever you meditate upon my name in the time of need, I shall appear before you in that very moment." Saying this, He left for the Dvaipayana Island to immerse Himself in deep meditation. Because Vedavyasa had dusky complexion and performed profound penance on Dvaipayana island, He was also called Krishna Dvaipayana.

In due course, Satyavati was married to King Shantanu . From her marriage to Shantanu, Satyavati gave birth to two sons, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya . While fighting in a battle, Chitrangada attained martyrdom. Vichitravirya also died without fathering any child. Although Vedavyasa had vowed to adhere to the life of Dharma and asceticism, but at the behest of His mother, strictly for the purpose of procreation, He fathered two sons with the two childless wives of Vichitravirya. These two sons became known in the world as Dhritarashtra and Pandu .

Maharshi Vedavyasa, as an act of public service, edited and classified the Vedas and then categorised them into four parts with the purpose to make them accessible. Therefore, He is regarded as Vedavyasa. Vedavyasa enlightened the world with His knowledge by composing numerous religious texts, including Mahabharata, eighteen Puranas, Srimad Bhagavatam, Brahma Sutra and Mimamsa. Vedavyasa is revered in all three worlds for His contribution to the enrichment of religious knowledge for the welfare of humanity. In this way, the story of the incarnation of Sage Vedavyasa concludes.

Maharshi Vedavyasa Family

Maharshi Vedavyasa was born as the son of Sage Parashar and His consort Satyavati. Bhishma, Chitrangada and Vichitravirya were His stepbrothers. His wife was Aruni , who was also known as Vatika and Pinjal . Aruni was the daughter of Sage Jabali . Vedavyasa fathered a son named Shukadeva . In religious texts, Vedavyasa is also described as the father of Vidura , Dhritarashtra and Pandu.

Maharshi Vedavyasa Iconography

Vedavyasa is depicted as a revered sage in His old age. He is shown clad in saffron Dhoti and Angavastram. He has white hair and a long beard. He wears a Tilak on His forehead as well as a Rudraksha Mala around His neck and forearms. In some visual representations, Maharshi Vedavyasa is also shown composing Vedas with a peacock feather in His hand.

Maharshi Vedavyasa Mantra

Maharshi Vedavyasa Moola Mantra -

Maharshi Vedavyasa Puranic Mantra -

Maharshi Vedavyasa Namaskara Mantra -

Maharshi Vedavyasa Festivals

• Vyasa Purnima

Prominent and famous Temples of Maharshi Vedavyasa

• Vyasa Gaddi, Veda Vyasa Ashram, Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh
• Ancient Maharshi Vedavyasa Temple, Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh
• Shri Vedavyasa Temple, Bhankri, Karauli, Rajasthan
• Shri Vedavyasa Tapasthali, Shri Krishna Ganga Ghat, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh
• Vedavyasa Dham, Rourkela, Western Odisha
• Bala Vyasa Temple, Kalpi, Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh