Word

Parasara

Sanskrit

पराशर

IAST

parāśara

In General

The Sage Parasara was the grandson of revered Sage Vasishtha and the son of Sage Shakti and Adrishyanti. He was brought up by Vasista and Arundhati as his father Sakti died when was at his mother’s womb. He had a love affair with Sathyavathi, a fisherwomen and the renowned son Vyasa was born in that relationship. Vyasa left his mother immediately after birth and followed his father Parasara, the travelling teacher. While Sage Parasara was walking through a dense forest with his students he was attacked by wild animals. The Sage was unable to get away in his old age with his lame leg and was succumb to death.

An important work by him is ‘Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra’, a valuable treatise on Jyothisastra. The Upapurana by name, ‘Parasara Purana’ also goes to his credit. Another important work by him is, ’Parasara Smithi’ which is considered as the code of law to be followed for the present Kali Yuga. This text is also called ‘Parasara Dharma Samhita’. In twelve chapters, ’Parashar Smriti’ preaches its whole moral discourses in unequivocal terms. Conduct and practice are the main subjects deal with the text.

Veda

Parasara was a great Sage; some parts of fifth Mandala of Rig Veda were composed by him. He also contributed for the Siksha Sastra of Veda. Mantra that gives salutation to Advaita Guru Parambara makes us remember him along with Vasista and Sakti.

Purana

Parasara was very much respected by his students and the various texts attributed to him are given in reference to Parasara being the speaker to his student. He is the story teller in ‘Vishnu Purana’ and believed to be its co-author. ‘Vishnu Purana’ in its introduction is giving the story on how Parasara controlled his anger and stopped performing a sacrifice in midway, which was meant to kill the whole Asura race as a revenge against killing his father, Sage Sakthi. Vasista advised Parasara that enmity destroys the development of humankind. Sage Pulastya meanwhile visited him and advised Parasara to write ’Vishnu Puranam’.

Sage Parasara is the speaker in theText ‘Virks Ayurveda’ and believed to be its author. This text was considered to be an ancient Botany primer for students of Traditional Indian Medicine.