Having heard so many stories of what a wonderful man his father was, Krishna Dvaipayana grew up with a great urge to travel with his father. Then the boy would ask, “If he cannot be with us, why can’t we go with him?” The mother would reply, “He cannot take us with him because he is in many different types of situations and he is constantly traveling.” All the time, Dvaipayana asked his mother, “Why is father not with us?” The mother would tell the child of the great things his father was doing and that he had to travel because he was sought after everywhere in the country to spread his knowledge and wisdom.
The child grew up with a tremendous awe towards the father he had never seen. In her simple way, she tried to ensure that the child was influenced by the father’s wisdom and knowledge, and not just by the fisherman community that lived there. This child would grow up to become the great sage Vyasa – the author of the Mahabharat.Īs Krishna Dvaipayana grew up, right from the time he could speak and understand, he would ask his mother, “Who is my father?” His mother told him fantastic stories about Parashara and about what a great man he was. The word “Krishna” literally means “the puller” or “the one who attracts.” “Dvaipayana” means “the island born.” He was named thus because he was born on an island in the river Yamuna. The child who was born was named Krishna Dvaipayana. But by then, Parashara was well enough and he left the village to continue his work. The Birth of VyasaĪ certain relationship developed between Parashara and Matsyagandhi, and a child was born to her. Even after recovering from his wound, he was never able to walk straight again. Parashara stayed with the fisherfolk for over a year while he recovered from his serious injury. She was naturally drawn to him because he was such a towering personality of immense knowledge and wisdom. Matsyagandhi, who was just a young woman at the time, tended to Parashara’s health. Matsyagandhi means “she who smells like a fish.” He was placed under the care of Matsyagandhi, the daughter of the tribe’s chief. Seeing his condition, the fisherfolk took him in. He managed to escape somehow, and with great effort got into a boat and made his way to a small island where some fisherfolk lived. Once, Parashara’s ashram was attacked and he was injured to a point where his leg was very badly hurt. Parashara took up the movement to bring some coordination between Brahmatej and Kshatratej. At the same time, he naturally made enemies of those who opposed his movement. Because he had taken up this immense task, he was hugely respected and looked up to. He travelled across the country establishing hundreds of ashrams and trying to make contact with the kings of the time so that he could bring some kind of organization between the different sections of society. Parashara took up the movement to bring some coordination between Brahmatej, the dharma of the priestly class, and Kshatratej, the dharma of the ruling class. Because of this conflict, there was a lot of discord in society. And in many ways, the Brahmins had also fallen on corrupt and bad times, and had lost the reverence and respect they once commanded. In his time, a situation had come about in society where kings were drunk with power and they no longer respected the dharma of the priestly class. He was known as Parashara Maharishi, a man of immense knowledge and a realized being. Sadhguru: Many thousands of years ago, there was a great sage whose name was Parashara. This is a story about this incredible being.
Vyasa’s father Parashara was also his Guru, and Veda Vyasa became his disciple at the young age of six. It is through him that the clan of the Kurus perpetuates. But he also plays a very important role in it. He is the author of the ancient epic, the Mahabharat – the longest poem ever written. Veda Vyasa is a household name and a central figure in Indian tradition.