Krishna Dvaipayana, also known as
Vyasa and Vedavyas, is the traditional author of the Mahabharata and Puranas as
well as the traditional compiler of the Vedas, some of the most important works
in the Hindu tradition. The name Krishna Dvaipayana refers to his complexion
and birth place.
Early Life
Vyasa appears for the first time
as the compiler of, and an important character in, the Mahabharata. It is said
that he was the expansion of the God Vishnu, who came in Dvapara Yuga to make
all the Vedic knowledge from oral tradition available in written form. He was
the son of Satyavati, adopted daughter of the fisherman Dusharaj and the
wandering sage Parashara, who is credited with being the author of the first
Purana, Vishnu Purana. He was born on an island in the river Yamuna.
Vedavyas
Hindus traditionally hold that
Vyasa categorised the primordial single Veda into three canonical collections
and that the fourth one, known as Atharvaveda, was recognized as Veda only very
much later. Hence he was called Veda Vyasa, or "Splitter of the
Vedas," the splitting being a feat that allowed people to understand the
divine knowledge of the Veda. The word vyasa means split, differentiate sor
describe. The Vishnu Purana elaborates on the role of Vyasa in Hindu
chronology.
Work
Vyasa is traditionally known as
the chronicler of this epic and also features as an important character in Mahabharata,
Vyasa asks Ganesha to assist him in writing the text. Ganesha imposes a
precondition that he would do so only if Vyasa would narrate the story without
a pause. Vyasa set a counter-condition that Ganesha understand the verses first
before transcribing them. Thus Vyasa narrated the entire Mahabharata and all
the Upanishads and the 18 Puranas, while Lord Ganesha wrote.
Legecy
Vyasa is widely revered in Hindu traditions. A grand temple in honour of Sri Veda Vyasa has been built at his birthplace in Kalpi, Orai, Uttar Pradesh. The temple is known as Shri Bal Vyas Mandir.