According to Hindu mythology, the Vedas originated from the four-headed Lord Brahma, who created the Universe. It was Sage Vyaasa who, for the very first time, segregated the Vedas into four separate texts, namely Rigveda, Yajurveda, Saamaveda and Atharvaveda and elucidated the profound philosophy contained in them.
Because of this stupendous contribution to humanity, he came to be called Vedavyaasa.
In time, many Sages wrote simpler versions based on the Vedas. They came to be commonly called Upanishads. There are twenty-one Upanishads based on Rigveda, one hundred and nine based on Yajurveda, one thousand based on Saamaveda and fifty based on Atharvaveda bringing the total Upanishads to one thousand one hundred and eighty.
Among them, ten are considered more important and hence popular. They are Eeshaavaasya Upanishad, Kena Upanishad, Kattha Upanishad, Prashna Upanishad, Mundaka Upanishad, Maandookya Upanishad, Taithareeya Upanishad, Aithreya Upanishad, Chhaandogya Upanishad and Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad.
The philosophical depth of the Vedas and Upanishads was beyond the grasp and understanding of the common man. Realizing this, Vedavyaasa wrote Mahabharatha, the world’s longest epic wherein he illuminated the vedic philosophy in simpler terms, meant to guide humanity to traverse through life’s various stages…with dignity, dedication, courage, equanimity, detachment and so on.
Even after completing the compilation of the Vedas and Mahabhaaratha, Vedavyaas remained restless. At the behest of Sage Narada, he wrote eighteen Puranas elaborating the Vedic philosophy in simple and interesting stories.
The three cardinal Upanishadic prayers are –
Asatho ma sadgamaya (Lead me from ignorance to knowledge)
Thamaso ma jyothir gamaya (…from darkness to light)
Mrithyo ma amritham gamaya (…from death to deathlessness.)
These are the universal truths form the nucleus detailed in the epics, Raamayana (Lead me from ignorance to knowledge), Mahaabhaaratha (…from darkness to light) and Bhaagavatham (…from death to eternal life).
There are eighteen Puraanas. They are Brahma Puranam, Padma Puranam, Vaishnava Puranam, Shaiva Puranam, Lainga Puranam, Garduda Puraanam, Naarada Puranam, Aagneya Puranam, Skanda Puranam, Bhavishya Puranam, Brahmavaivartha Puranam, Maarkandeya Puraanam, Vaamana Puraanam, Vaaraha Puraanam, Maatsya Puraanam, Kourma Puranam, Brahmaanda Puranam and Bhaagavatha Puranam.
Among them, Bhaagavatha Puraanam or Bhaagavatham is the most popular. It contains eighteen thousand verses presented in twelve chapters.
Stories relating to the Genesis or Start of the Universe, the Deluge, the Gods, the Sages and Humans are given. The ten main incarnations of Lord Vishnu and His other satellite incarnations are explained. The tenth chapter is the longest. In it, Sree Krishna’s life and how he is the incarnation of Vishnu, is elaborated. Hence it is called Vishnu Bhaagavatham.
The stories in Raamayana and Mahabhaaratha are included at appropriate places in Bhaagavatham.
While presenting the stories and the philosophy contained in Bhaagavatham, Vedavyaasa has chosen a unique narrative style.
(by S.R.A.Das)
