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classified the vast vEdic lore into several sections according

to their content and purpose. He is also the author of the

VEdAntha SUtrAs (Brahma SUtrAs). He is considered as

an incarnation of Lord VishNu Himself on account of these

stupendous achievements.

Sri KrishNa DvipAyana VyAsA (as he is known) was born

in an illustrious family of great sages. He was the great

grandson of the famous Brahmarishi, VasishTA and the

grand son of the sage Shakthi and the son of the eminent

sage ParAsarA; latter was blessed by VasishTA and

PulasthyA and on account of their blessings, ParAsarA was

endowed with the true knowledge of the Supreme Reality.

ParAsarA became the author of VishNu PurANam. VyAsA

was born of this great ParAsarA and Sathyavathi. VyAsA

was called “DhvaipAyanA” since he was born on an island.

He was also called ‘KrishNa Dhvai- pAyanA’ since his

complexion was dark.As he had his hermitage in Badari

kshEthram, he was also referred to as BAdarAyaNA. There

is vEdic reference to him as “SahOvaacha vyAasah

pArAsaryah”.

The Skanda purANam refers to Veda VyAsA and his achievements and affirms that he alone

was the author of the VedAntha SUtrAs. According to our tradition, it is an undisputed fact that

Veda VyAsA was the classifier of the VedAs, author of the PurANAs and the composer of MahA

Bhaaratham and VedAntha SUtrAs.

Sri vEdha VyAsA was a genius by birth. It is said that the great sages Yaj~nyavalkyA initiated

him into the study of the sacred lore and the other branches of knowledge. VyAsA resorted to

the quiet realms of the HimAlayAs (BadarikAsramam) and by performance of rigorous penance

and austerities, he realized the Supreme Truth eulogized in the VedAs and Upanishads.

The VishNu purANam describes (3.3) elaborately how Lord MahA VishNu incarnates Himself

in the form of VyAsA and classifies the vEdhAs during each DhvApara Yugam. The vEdhA was

all in one mass, &people were not able to imbibe the teachings of the vEdAs. For the good of

the people, VyAsA classified the vEdhic lore. The VishNu purANA mentions that this kind of

classification was effected 28 times by the Lord in the form of VyAsA. ParAsarA’s son, Sri

held VyAsA in great esteem. VyAsA advised the scions of the Kuru race to follow the path of

DharmA. The MB was authored by VyAsA for the good of humanity. VyAsA taught the truth in

MB that glory and honour could be achieved by the One imbibing and practising the cardinal

virtues of life. He has illustrated this truth by means of the stories of VidhurA, DharmavyAdhe,

TulAdharA and others.

The greatest achievement of Veda VyAsA was the collection, consolidation and classification of

the Vedic lore. It was VyAsA, who brought about the different divisions of the Vedic lore as the

four SamhithAs, the BrahmaNAs, the AraNyakAs and the Upanishads. The different texts

required for the different classes of priests, such as the Riks, the Yajus, the SAmans and the

Atharvans were separately codified by this great Master. VishNu PurANam says that VyAsA

accepted 4 disciples & taught each one of them a particular VedhA. He taught Rig VedhA to

PailA, Yajur vEdhA to VaismpAyanA, SAma VEdhA to Jaimini & the Atharva VedhA to

Sumanthu; further, he taught the PurANAs to RomaharshaNA. The classification of the VedhA

was accomplished by VyAsA and later the different branches and sub branches (SAkhAs)

evolved for each VedhA over the course of time.

Srimadh BhAgavatham (SB) describes that the Lord was born as VyAsA as the seventeenth

avathArA for the purpose of dividing the tree of VedAs into its many branches.

SB describes how Veda VyAsA was overcome by frustration inspite of the fact that he had

engaged himself whole heartedly for advancing the good of the people for years and years. He

felt uneasy at heart and when he began to reflect with discomfort that his work was not

completed, sage NAradhA called on him and advised VyAsA to sing solely on the glory of the

Lord to overcome this mood of depression. Following Sage NAradhA’s counsel, VyAsA

composed Sri- madh BhAgavatham and taught it to his son, Sukha Brahmam.

The MahA BharathA describes how at one time even this great VyAsA felt that his words of

wisdom (upadEsams) were not heeded by anyone. He said “I am shouting at the top of my

voice, with both my arms lifted up, that DahrmA alone leads one to all auspiciousness here and

in the hereafter. But alas! no one listens to me!”.

Sri vEdha VyAsA is an illustrious seer and a great exponent of the cultural heritage of India. We

depend on him for gaining the wisdom from the VedAs, IthihAsAs and PurANAs and the

knowledge about the Supreme Reality. VyAsA is the author of this eternal message: “Victory is

there, where there is DharmA”. The foundation of the Indian culture rooted in the VedAs has

been laid firmly by him for the entire world to follow.

Aalvaar Emberumaanaar, Jeeyar Thiru Vadikale Saranam.