Vyasa
व्यास
vyāsa
Veda Vyasa is undoubtedly the most renowned writer India has ever produced. Vyasa had edited and compiled Vedas hence fondly called by the name Vedavyasa. He then composed the great work, Mahabharata. He is also accredited as the compiler of 18 Puranas and another set of 18 Upapuranas. By doing this unimaginable work during his lifetime, he is considered an avatar of Vishnu. It used to say “vysochistam jagath sarvam”, meaning: Vyasa has pronounced about every knowledge and possibility in the world.
Vyasa is born to a poor fisherwoman Sathyavathi by the great sage Parasa. His real name is Krishna Dwaipayana. He lived through 6 generations of Rulers, starting from Santhanu to Janamejaya. Apart from his father Parasara, Vyasa’s teachers include the four Sanakati Kumaras, Narada and Lord Brahma. He is believed to have run a large gurukula with thousands of disciples on the banks of the River Ganga, in present-day Uttarakhand.
Vyasa took the strain to compile and edit the vedic Mantras into four collections, namely, Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Athervana Veda. He entrusted his four students, Paila, Vysampayana, Jaimini and Sumantu to further develop and propagate the Vedas
The Brahma Sutras, a study on Upanishad is also attributed to Vyasa. This work is the very essence of Vedanta. Since Vyasa went to Bhadari, an isolated place in Himayala to compose the work, he was called Badarayana. Advaita Acharyas considered Badarayana and Vyasa are same person.
Vyasa is also accredited as the author of the Yoga Bhashya, a commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Some experts believe that these two works, namely Brahma Sutra and Yoga Bhasya may not be by Krishnadwaipayana Vyasa but by some other Vyasa.
Vyasa’s mother Sathyavati, on a second marriage with King Santhanu, became a mother of two more sons. The two, namely, Chitrangada and Vichitravira died at an early age leaving their wives childless. The pragmatic mother Sathyavati wanted her son Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa to impregnate the young widows for the sake of the continuity of race. Vyasa agreed with his mother and went to the young Princess. Vyasa was filled with such a blinding aura, that eldest princess Ambika, upon seeing him, shut her eyes. This resulted in their child, Dhritarashtra, being born blind. The Younger princess Ambalika turned pale on meeting Vyasa. This resulted in their child, Pandu, being born pale. Then Ambika sent her maid to meet Vyasa. As the maid was calm and serene, this relationship brought a healthy child named Vidura
Vyasa had another son, Shuka, by his wife Pingala, the daughter of Sage Jabali. In Bhagavata Purana Shuka appears as a spiritual guide to King Parikshith
Maharishi Vyasa is traditionally known to have chronicled the Mahabharata and also plays a vital role in it. He is believed to have meditated and authored it at the banks of River Beas (Vipasa) in Punjab. In order to complete this great feat, the Rishi asked Lord Ganesha to help him with scripting the text. Ganesha agreed, on the condition that Vyasa should not stop the narration at any point. This way, the Rishi narrated the entire Mahabharata at a stretch
Vyasa is believed to be the author of the Puranas, which are huge works that cover a massive range of topics including history, philosophy, myths, and all other knowledge that comes under human perception. This was composed in 12 year satra in Nimisharanya, a hermitage of Rishi Saunaka. The disciples of Vyasa Presented the Puranas and Vyasa presided over the event.