Vyasa, 4 Definition(s)

Original composer of the Bharata (the predecessor of the Mahabharata).

He had a disciple, called Vaisampayana, who was a very important and intelligent disciple of Vyasa and the first to recite the Bharata, to King Janamejaya.

Also called: Veda Vyasa

Also see: Badarayana

Vyasa is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is the author as well as a character in the Mahabharata and considered to be the scribe of both the Vedas, and the supplementary texts such as the Puranas. Vyasa is sometimes conflated by some Vaishnavas with Badarayana, the author of the Vedanta Sutras. Vyāsa is also considered to be one of the seven Chiranjivins (long lived, or immortals), who are still in existence according to general Hindu belief.

Vyasa appears for the first time as the author of, and an important character in the Mahābhārata. He was the son of Satyavati, daughter of a ferryman or fisherman, and the wandering sage Parashara. He was born on an island in the river Yamuna. The place is named after him as Vedvyas, possibly the modern-day town of Kalpi in the Jalaun district of Uttar Pradesh. He was dark-complexioned and hence may be called by the name Krishna (black), and also the name Dwaipayana, meaning 'island-born'.

Vyasa was grandfather to the Kauravas and Pandavas. Their fathers, Dhritarashtra and Pandu, adopted as the sons of Vichitravirya by the royal family, were fathered by him. He had a third son, Vidura, by a serving maid.

Vyasa (Devanagari: व्यास, vyāsa)

He is also sometimes called Veda Vyasa (वेद व्यास, veda vyāsa), (the one who classified the Vedas in to four parts) or Krishna Dvaipayana (referring to his complexion and birthplace)

Also see: Badarayana

Vyasa is the son of Satyavati and the sage Parasara. Satyavati was the adopted daughter of a fisherman, and plied a boat across the river Yamuna. One day she was taking the sage Parasara across. The sage was smitten with sudden desire for this woman, and she consented. The sage created a mist around an island in the middle of the river and there they consummated their passion. Such was the power of the rishi, that a son was born immediately to Satyavati. Even more remarkably, the son (Vyasa) immediately grew into a man, immensly learned in the scriptures! The sage then granted a boon to Satyavati, first that of converting her fishy odor to a divine fraganace and then by restoring her chastity.

Vyasa is also the biological father of Pandu, Dhritharashtra and Vidura. He is most famous as the composer of Mahabharata, which he dictated to Ganapati.

Vyasa (व्‍यास): Compiler of the Vedas, son of sage Parasara.