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Ved Vyaas-1
Read also
Yaagyavalkya-2
1. Who was Ved Vyaas Jee and His Works
2. Vyaas Jee's Children
Popularly known as Vyaas Jee, Krishn Dwaipaayan is certainly the character of
Mahaabhaarat. He is the son of Maharshi Paraashar
and Daash Raaj's daughter Satyavatee.
He was born before Satyavatee's marriage. Maharshi Paraashar was the grandson of
Maharshi Vashishth, son of Shakti and Adrishyanti. His
full name is Shree Krishn Dwaipaayan Ved Vyaas Jee. He was given the name Krishn,
because he was of dark complexion; he was called Dwaipaayan, because he was born on
a Dweep (island), and he is called Ved Vyaas because he split Ved in four parts -
Vyaas means who splits. He lived in Badaree Van that is known as Baadaraayan also.
Since Vyaas Jee expanaded the Gyaan (knowledge) amog the people so much, that is
why he is known as the incarnation of knowledge also.
Birth of Ved Vyaas
Sayavatee used to carry passengers across Gangaa River. Once Paraashar Muni
was crossing the river. A thought came in his mind and he said to Satyavatee,
"Do you know me?" Satyavatee innocently said, "I do not know
you." Paraashar Jee said - "I am a Rishi, and I want to give you a
son." She said, "Mahaaraaj, I am unmarried and scared of the society."
Paraashar Muni said - "Don't worry, you will still remain virgin."
Then he created a dense smoke around them and gave a son to her. He was born
on an island and was named as Krishn Dwaipaayan. He later became known as Ved
Vyaas Jee as he divide Ved. Soon he grew up and went for Tap saying to his mother
that "whenever you want to see him, just remember me, I will come." He
is the the 19th Avataar
of Vishnu of Shree Hari.
Ved Vyaas' Powers
Reading Mahaabhaarat shows that he had many powers since birth.
(1) He Grew up Immediately - As soon as he was born, he had grown and
went away with his father Paraashar, saying to his mother Satyavatee that he
has been born to fulfill her wish and whenever she needs him she should remember
him and he will be there.
(2) Power of Appearing and Disappearing - He had the power of appearing
and disappearing at will. When Satyavatee remembered him, for the first time, he
just appeared from nowhere and without being seen by anybody.
(3) Future Telling - He had the power of knowing and seeing the things of
future. There are several incidents where Vyaas Jee has warned Paandav for the
upcoming events.
(4) Able to Give Divine Sight - He gave
Divine sight
to Sanjaya at the time of beginning of Mahaabhaarat war to describe the
scenes of the war to blind Dhritraashtra. Another time he gave
Divine sight
to Dhritraashtra, Gaandhaaree etc to see their sons
(4) Created the Scene of MBH War - His most astonishing power is seen when
he shows the whole MBH war scene while Dhritraashtra, Gaandhaaree and Kuntee were
living in forest after giving the kingdom to Yudhishthir. They enjoy talking to then
the whole night.
Ved Vyaas is Seen by Shankaraachaarya and Vallabhaachaarya
From
Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism - "It is believed that he is still
living in his cave in the Himaalaya in a Samaadhi state and drowned in the Bliss
of Krishn love. He is covered under a glacier and is totally inaccessible to
human beings. There is a reference of his personal meeting with Shankaraachaarya
2,500 years ago, and another reference is of about 500 years ago (in the books
of Pushti Marg) when Vallabhaachaarya Jee, using his Divine powers, went to that
cave of Ved Vyaas and stayed there for three days, talking about the charming
Blissfulness of Krishn and His flute as described in the verse "Vaam Baahu
Krit Vaam Kapolah" - of the 10th canto of the Bhaagvat Puraan."
Ved Vyaas and Yaagyavalkya
When Yaagyavalkya was ordered to give back the 27 branches of Yajur Ved,
Vaishampaayan Jee taught to him; he vomited them in the form of fire balls
then and there, Ved Vyaas Jee was there. He incidentally made a trip to
Vaishampaayan's Aashram. Seeing this, he selected 8 disciples of Vaishampaayan
Jee, converted them into birds called Tittiree, capable of eating fire balls.
These birds ate those fireballs. Later these birds were turned back to human
beings by sage Vyaas Jee himself and they taught these 27 Shaakhaa, called
Taittireeya Shaakhaa, to the future generations. These 27 Shaakhaa have no
Poorvaangam or Uttaraangam and Yaagyavalkya Jee kept 15 Shaakhaa under safe
custody of the Sun god to be brought down to this Earth for the benefit of
Humanity.
His Works
(1) Division of Ved and Brahm
Sootra
He did a lot for Hindu religion. He divided Ved in four parts for easy
reading and made their contents available to those people who were not
legible to read Ved, e.g. women, Shoodra, bi-caste people, etc so that
they can know what are their Dharm and Karm. When he divided the Ved in
four parts, he taught Rig Ved to Pail, Yajur Ved to Vaishampaayan Jee,
Atharv ved to Jaimini and Saam Ved to Sumantu. Then these disciples divided
them further while teaching to their disciples. Even these four Ved seemed
very long to Ved Vyaas Jee, so he thought to write their essence in Sootra
(maxims) and the he wrote Brahm Sootra.
(2) Mahaabhaarat
He wrote Mahaabhaarat. It
is famous about him, that when he intended to write Mahaabhaarat, he needed
a scriber to write it, since it was a huge Granth (book). He used to create
Shlok very soon in his mind, so he needed a very fast writer to write them
on paper. Now who could write them that fast and correctly? So he went to
Brahmaa Jee for his advice. Brahmaa Jee thought for a few moments and told
him that he had nobody in mind, except Ganesh Jee who is perfectly suitable
to do this job. So Vyaas Jee called on Ganesh Jee and Ganesh Jee agreed to
write his Mahaabhaarat, but on one condition: that he was not going to wait
while writing, means he will write continuously. If there will be any delay
in telling the next Shlok, he will quit the work.
At this Ved Vyaas Jee said, "Then I also have one condition."
"What?" "That you will not write anything without understanding
its meaning first." "Fine" and thus the writing work of
Mahaabhaarat was started, scribed by Ganesh Jee and created and spoken by
Vyaas Jee. It is said that in whatever time Ganesh Jee wrote a given Shlok
(of course understanding it first), in the same time Vyaas Jee used to create
many Shlok - because his Shlok contained so deep meaning that Ganesh Jee took
some time to understand it, so neither Ganesh Jee had to wait for Shlok nor
Vyaas Jee was short of time to create Shlok. This epic contains 100,000
Shlok.
(3) Shaastra and Puraan
When Vyaas Jee had finished Mahaabhaarat, then he wrote other Shaastra and Puraan,
but still he was not quite satisfied with his works. So once he was sitting thinking
what to do now, that Naarad Jee came there and asked about the cause of his worry.
Vyaas Jee told him what was worrying him. At this Naarad Jee said - "Because,
Maharshi, you have not sung the glory of Bhagavaan. Singing Bhagavaan's glory gives
a different kind of satisfaction. So you should sing the glory of Bhagavaan."
Then Vyaas Jee wrote Shree Mad-Bhaagvat
Puraan in which Bhagavaan's Avataar and Shree Krishn's life have been described.
Note:
As Shiv incarnated as Shuk Dev Jee (see Other Children
on next page), Shesh Jee entered the body of Sage Pail, Garud entered the body of
Sage Sumantu, Brahmaa Jee entered the body of Sage Vaishampaayan Jee and Indra entered
the body of Sage Jaimini. Ved Vyaas made Pail responsible for the spreading of Rig
Ved, Vaishampayan Jee for Yajur Ved, Jaimini for Saam Ved and Sumantu for Atharv Ved.
In addition, Soorya Dev was also made a propagator for Yajur Ved through Yaagyavalkya.
Vaishampaayan was also given the responsibility of spreading the Mahaabhaarat epic.
Sage Shuk was made responsible for teaching the Mahaabhaarat amongst Gandharv and Sage
Naarad to do the same amongst Devtaa.
Sage Vyaas then had a child named Romharshan.
Sage Romharshan was given the responsibility of the Mahaabhaarat, Puraan, Raamaayan
and the Panch-raatra. Kaam Dev entered Sage Romharshan to assist in this work. Sanak,
Sanandan, Sanat Kumaar and Sanaatan were given the responsibility of Dhyaan Yog Shastra
while Bhrigu and other sages were given the responsibility of the Karm Yog Shaastra.
Sage Vyaas instructed Sage Jaimini to compose the Karm Meemaansaa Shaastra. Sage Vyaas
himself composed the Vaishnav, Shaiv and the Braahm Puraan. Thus, having imparted a
lot of knowledge in this world, Sage Vyaas continues to reside in the Mount Meru and
Uttar Badaree region, being always served by Brahmaa and other Gods.
[From Ved Vyaas]
(4) Vishnu and Shiv Sahastra Naam
Shiv and Vishnu Sahastra Naam are not any separate works of Ved Vyaas Jee,
they belong to Mahaabhaarat but they are his very important contribution.
Vishnu Sahastra Naam is the most popular one, mainly because Aadi Shankar
has written a commentary on it. Gorakhpur Press has Shankar' s Commentary
in Hindi and Ramakrishna Mutt has it in English.
Even Lalitaa Sahasra Naam from Brahmaand Puraan is equally or may be more
philosophical in its contents and is also more popular in South India.
You can get commentary on it from Ramakrishna Mutt. There are several
commentaries on it in Sanskrit and one of the more famous ones is by
Bhaaskar.
Vyaas Mentioned in Other Literature
--The only non-religious book in which Vyaas name has been mentioned is the
"Arth Shaastra" of
Chaanakya (Kautilya). In chapter 6 of the first Department, it says -
'Whosoever is of reverse character, whoever has not his organs of sense
under his control, will soon perish, though possessed of the whole earth
bounded by the four quarters. For example: Bhoj, known also by the name,
Dand, making a lascivious attempt on a Braahman maiden, perished along
with his kingdom and relations; so also Karaala, the Vaideh......;
Vaataapi in his attempt under the influence
of over-joy to attack Agastya; as well
as the corporation of the Vrishnis in their attempt against Dwaipaayan."
--This reference matches the Jaatak version in including Vyaas Jee as the sage
attacked by the Vrishni, though Vyaas does not die here.
This book gives two examples - one of King Daandakya of Bhoj Dynasty, both names
do not match anywhere in any scriptures, but
Vaalmeeki Raamaayan
gives their names as Dand (grandson of Manu, and the son of Ikshwaaku), not of Bhoj
Vansh and thus he was of Ikshwaaku Vansh, not of Bhoj Vansh. The second name is of
Rishi Dwaipaayan. This story comes in
MBH, Mausal
Parv, 7/31 and the Rishi are Naarad, Kanv and Vishwaamitra, not Dwaipaayan.
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