Ananthakoti pranamam to Krishnadwaipaayana

7/2/08

Krishnadwaipaayanan is the real name of Vyaasa muni. As we know, he was the son of Paraashara muni  and the fisher woman Sathyavathi or Mathsya gandhi (one who smells fish). Vyaasa muni was born in an island (sanskrit word for island is dweepa) of fog made by his father Paraashara muni. He had the color of dark cloud or krishna varnam. So he was given the name Krishnadwaipaayanan meaning one who was dark and born in an island or dweepa. As soon as he was born, Mathsya gandhi (Sathyvathi) became Sugandhi or sweet smelling.

 

Also he is known as Baadaraayana meaning one who lives in a hermitage in the forest of Badari (badara is a type of berry tree that is abundant in this forest). He is a chiranjeevi who will live for a very very long time.

How did he become Veda Vyaasan? Bhagavan Vedavyasa is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is the personification of righteousness. His knowledge is limitless and he  illuminated the minds of the devotees through out the world. He divided the whole existing knowledge in single Veda in to four vedaas. Then he authored Brahma sutraas, Mhabharatha  and 18 puraanaas. He became Vedavyaasa because he divided and arranged the vast ocean of knowledge called Vedas.

According to Vishnupurana :  In Dvaapara yuga of each chathuryuga, Vishnu incarnates as Vyaasa. Realizing the limited capability of mortals to understand the vast volume of knowledge in Veda, he divides it into four portions. The physical form he assumes to do this division of Veda is known as Veda Vyaasa( one who divides Veda).

(So, a new Vyaasa will be born in the beginning of every Dwaapara yuga. His chiranjeevithvam or longevity may be  the time span of one chathuryuga, that is 12,000 divine years or 4320000 human years. With the dissolution after the Thretha yugam this Vyaasaroopam goes to original abode (swadhaamam) of Vishnu and another new Vyaasa incarnates.) 

In reality, Mahabhaaratha is an autobiography of Vyaasa deva himself written in the third person by himself. He watched and described the death of his own progeny. He saw all the adhaarmic actions and the unavoidable, undesirable results that followed the actions. Finally he cries out in despair at man's deliberate rejection of dharma :

"I raise my arms and shout -but no one listens!
From Dharma comes wealth and pleasure
Why is dharma not practiced?  "

Contemplating on these words of despair uttered by Veda Vyaasa Muni is worthwhile
He asked this question to the people of Kaliyuga because Dwaapara yuga ended tragically. And still he is asking this question continuously to each and every one of us as and when an adharmic thought comes to our mind.

Let us all pray our Ishta devatha to bless us with the wisdom to listen to that eternal voice.
Every year, Guru poornima is celebrated (in July) through out India as Maharshi Vedavyaasa's birthday. Namskaaram to Loka Guru! 

           Vyasaya Vishnurupaya
            Vyasaroopaya Vishnave;
            Namo vai Brahmanidhaye
            Vashishthaya Namo Nama:.