Vyasa Bhagawan or Veda Vyasa is one of the eminent personalities of ancient India whose reference is seen in the great epic Mahabharata. He is well-known as a Veda Vyasa as he divided/categorized the Vedic knowledge in a well-structured format under four heads i.e., Rig, Sama, Yajur and Athravana based on their prescription and purpose. Prior to Vyasa’s categorization Vedic knowledge was transferred from one generation to the next in the oral form. Vyasa made them available in the text/written format for the first time in human history so that they can be accessible to all creeds of the human society irrespective of Indian/Western. He presented them in the simplified format without disturbing their authenticity so that they can be understood by the people of lower intellect also. Bhagawan Vyasa’s complete name is Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa as he was born to Sage Parashara and Devi Satyavati on an island and he was dark-complexioned (Krishna Varna). He beholds a name of Badarayana as there were many Badara (Indian Juju trees) trees on the island of his birth. He is believed to be an individual born with a mission(Karana Janma) as his father who was great sage received a kind of divine calling where he realized the auspicious place and time of his birth would be an island or Dweepa and the lady was Satyavati who was village girl, a fisherman’ daughter. Veda Vyasa is believed to have taken birth as a 15-year-old lad directly and immediately after his birth with the permission of his parents moved forward to perform penance. While leaving, he promised his mother that he would assist her during her lifetime in any kind of trouble. Accordingly, there are many references to Vyasa in epic Mahabharata where Vyasa stands as a stalwart to guide Kauravas and Pandavas to the right path. It’s a different issue that Kauravas never heeded his wise advice as they are wicked, evil-minded and possessed negative mindset, whereas, Pandavas always honored this great sage by following his advice. Vyasa can be entitled as the founder/progenitor of Kuru Dynasty as he was responsible for the birth of Panduraja, Dhritharasthra and Vidura who form as strong pillars of Kuru Dynasty. He was responsible for Gandhari and Dhritharasthra to be blessed by 100 sons as he utilized his yogic powers to bring back to life the aborted flesh of Gandhari’s womb. Implementation of Tissue Culture technique for bringing Kauravas into existence proves of existence of advanced scientific technology even in those good olden days. The legend goes like this. Panduraja (father of Pandavas) resolved to lead his life of an ascetic after being cursed by a sage that he would be forced to leave body if he unites physically with his wives. Kunti who was first wife of Panduraja was blessed by Sage Durvasa with sacred hymn by whose recital she will be blessed with a son by the deity of her choice. Accordingly, on her husband’s direction she prays Lord Yama desiring a son with righteous attitude. Lord Yama blesses her with Yudhistara. At that time Gandhari was pregnant. When she became aware that her co-sister was blessed with a radiant son, she grew jealous and forced herself to give birth to her child immediately which led to abortion. She remained with the remnants of blood and flesh from the womb. At that time, to fulfill his mother’s wish, Sage Vyasa appeared and transformed the flesh into a ball of fleshy mass and restored back life into those dead cells. He then divided it into 101 pieces. He instructed the servants of the palace to store those masses into the containers of certain temperature and with other required ingredients for 41 days. On the 42nd day the first piece of mass got transformed into a child who was Duryodhana. Gradually the rest of the children followed from the other containers who are 100 male kids of Dhritharasthra and 1 being a daughter by name Dhushhala. So Kauravas were born in a laboratory but certainly not from mother’s womb. Similarly, we have many instances in the course of time where Sage Vyasa advised Kauravas and Dhritharasthra about the importance of righteous conduct but they never heeded his words. At the end of Great War of Mahabharata, Ashvatthama, as his last trial, sent the great weapon Brahmastra against them. Arjuna also shot Brahmastra to protect himself and his brothers. If two Brahmastras collide, it would destroy the whole flora and fauna on Planet Earth. To avoid such a great destruction Veda Vyasa was capable enough to stand on the way of both Brahmastras and asked the respective shooters to pull them back. Arjuna was warrior of a great emotional self-control was able to call back his astra but Ashwattama, even though an ascetic by training was a man of great arrogance could not pull it back. Then Veda Vyasa has to dissolve it himself. After this incident, Ashwattama was cursed by Lord Krishna severely for his evil tendencies. Veda Vyasa was blessed with a son whose is also a great ascetic and sage by name Sutha. He was born to him on the grace of Lord Shiva. The birth of Sutha muni is an interesting legend. Krishna Dwaipayana prayed Lord Shiva for good progeny which can be a benchmark for purity, knowledge and asceticism. Lord Shiva blessed him that his wish will be fulfilled in the course of time. One day as a part of his daily activities Vyasa was arranging for the fire to perform Homa. At that time near the fire place he was rupturing two stones to create “Arani” to produce fire. He saw a celestial nymph passing by. It created Moha in his mind and he discharged his masculinity of the sticks of “Arani”. As a sage, Veda Vyasa belonged to the high order of Sacredness and hence because of the sacred sight has fallen on her; she got transformed into a parrot and flew away. The masculinity which was discharged has fallen on the sacred sticks of Arani was transformed into a radiant boy who was pure and sacred by birth. Krishna Dwaipayana gave him the name of Sutha and he was well-trained to be an ascetic of high order. Krishna Dwaipayana beholds the name of Veda Vyasa which is actually a title to him in the honor of his spiritual and materialistic prowess. Vyasa is title given to an eminent human being who will be Karana Janma to severe the humanity by providing the Vedas in a structured format. In this present Manvatara, Krishna Dwaipayana is blessed to be the Vyasa. Prior to him Sage Parashara was Vyasa. It is believed that Ashwatthama will be Vyasa for the next Manvatara. Veda Vyasa also has the honor of authoring all the 18 eminent Puranas to his credit which can be guide of righteousness to the whole humanity. To his credit, Krishna Dwaipayana also has the authorship of Brahma sutras and Srimad Bhagavatham (Past times of Lord Vishnu in various incarnations) Krishna Dwaipayana was believed to have constructed his hermitage on the banks of River Saraswathi where he authored all his great works. Mahabharata which is also entitled as Panchamaveda is the 18th purana authored by Veda Vyasa under the assistance of Lord Ganapathi on the direction of Lord Brahma. Krishna Dwaipayana is believed to be a Chiranjeevi and he is still alive but drawn himself into exile because of the gradual declination of righteous conduct of human beings.
