How many Veda Vyasas were there? : Devi Bhagavatham

Artist : Sankara Narayana Sathiraju (shankarair@gmail.com) : All Rights Reserved

In this site whenever I say Vyasa or Veda Vyasa, I always mean Krishna Dwaipayana, the son of Parasara and Satyavati, the great grandson of Vasishtha and the father of Suka, Dhiritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura.

However, it is written in the Devi Bhagavatham, that every Dwapara Yuga, had its own Veda Vyasa, the one who classified the Vedas.

The important thing about our Veda Vyasa, is that he classified the Vedas into 4 vedas and included the Atharva Veda as the 4th Veda. And of course he also edited and compiled all the Puranas, which he received from his pUrvajAs (people born earlier to him). And as if this was not enough he authored the Mahabharatam and the Srimad Bhagavatham.

When Hanuman met Sri Rama for the first time.  Rama praised Hanuman to Lakshmana, saying that Hanuman‘s excellent speech clearly indicated mastery over the Rg, Yajur and Sama Vedas.

This is important also from the point of view that Valmiki referred to 3 vedas. Not one and not four. By the time of Sri Rama, there were 3 Vedas already.

So who did this classification? One of the earlier Vyasas. Who were they? Please see the list from Devi Bhagavatham reproduced below. Below that you can find some of my thoughts and conclusions, which I think are important.

The names of the Veda Vyasas of each Dvapara Yuga :

The present auspicious Manvantara is Vaivaswatha Manu; it is the seventh in due order; and the son of Satyavati, the best of the knowers of Dharma, is the Veda Vyâsa of the 28th Dvâpara Yuga of this seventh Manvantara. In the next Dvâpara, Yuga Asvatthama, the son of Drona will be the Veda Vyâsa. Twenty-seven Veda Vyâsas had expired and they duly compiled each their own Purâna Samhitas in their own Dvâpara Yugas.

1. In the first Dvâpara, Brahmâ Himself divided the Vedas;
2. In the second Dvâpara, the first Prajapati Vyâsa did the same;
3. So S’akra, (Indra) in the third,
4. Brihaspati, in the fourth,
5. Surya in the fifth;
6. Yama, in the sixth,
7. Indra, in the seventh,
8. Vasistha, in the eighth;
9. Sarasvata Risi in the ninth,
10. Tridhama, in the tenth;
11. Trivrisa, in the eleventh,
12. Bharadvâja, in the twelfth;
13. Antariksa, in the thirteenth;
14. Dharma, in the fourteenth;
15. Evaruni in the fifteenth;
16. Dhananjaya, in the sixteenth;
17. Medhatithi in the seventeenth;
18. Vrati, in the eighteenth;
19. Atri, in the nineteenth;
20. Gautama in the twentieth,
21. Uttama, whose soul was fixed on Hari, in the twenty-first,
22. Vâjasravâ Vena, in the twenty second;
23. His family descendant Soma, In the twenty-third;
24. Trinavindu, in the twenty-fourth;
25. Bhârgava, in the twenty-fifth;
26. Sakti, in the twenty-sixth,
27. Jâtûkarnya in the twenty-seventh
28. and Krisna Dvaipâyana became the twenty-eighth Veda Vyâsa in the Dvâpara Yugas.

My Thoughts and Conclusions :

kRSNa dwaipAyana was of the 28th Dwapara Yuga, his grandfather Sakthi was of the 26th Dwapara Yuga, his great grandfather Vasishta was of the 8th Dwapara Yuga. In my article How many kinds of Yugas are there?, I have detailed how the definitions of Mahayugas (Carturyugas) grew in length from the 5 years of the Paitamaha siddhanta to the 4,320,000 years of Aryabhatta, as more celestial bodies were taken into consideration, for computing Yuga durations.

• Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa is fifth generation from Brahma, but in the 28th Caturyuga.
• This would be about 140 years if we take 5 years as the duration for a Caturyuga.
• If we take it that each generation was born 15 years after the previous generation, we are looking at 75 years for 27 Caturyugas or about 3 years to a Caturyuga.
• If we take 12 years as the Caturyuga duration, we have 324 years between Brahma and our Vyasa. That is about 60 years between generations.
• What I am increasingly coming to believe is that first Caturyuga was 5 years old, the next was 12, then 60 and so on… The answer lies in finding the formula or equation that fits all the data points.

References and More :

• How long did ancient Indians live?
• Kaliyuga duration 360000 years, 1200 divine years, Vishnu Puranam. Tracking the growth of the Kaliyugam from 12 to 432000 years
• Human Evolution
• Generations between Rama and Krishna.
• Generations previous to Sri Rama.
• Calendars and Time in India

• Date of Sri Rama
• Date of the Mahabharata War
• Date of Veda Mantras
• Equinoxes and Dating Vedas

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

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Timeline of the SvetaVarahakalpa from Swayambhu Manu to Qutb Ud Din Aibak

This paper is structured into sections as follows.

1. The manus. (A human calendar duration instead of the astronomical manvantara duration), with references.
2. Vaiwaswatha Manu to Sri Rama, with references
3. Sri Rama to Sri Krishna, with references
4. Sri Krishna’s contemporary and senior Jarasandha to Kalki, just before Qutb Ud Din Aibak. with references
5. A discussion on the late entry of Aryans 1000 years after Krishna, with references.
6. Pre-Vedic to Vedic to Aryan to Buddhist to Muslim to Christian to Hindu Secular Cultures.

Shiva : Photo Credit : Satya Sarada Kandula : All Rights Reserved

The Manus of the SvetaVaraha Kalpa

1. Svayambhuva (Brahma’s son, Daksha’s father-in-law, Dhruva’s grandfather)
2. Svarochisha (Dhruva’s cousin, Surya’s cousin, Vaiwasvata’s Uncle)
3. Outtama (Dhruva’s cousin, Surya’s cousin, Vaiwasvata’s Uncle)
4. Tamas (Dhruva’s cousin, Surya’s cousin, Vaiwasvata’s Uncle)
5. Raivata (Dhruva’s cousin, Surya’s cousin, Vaiwasvata’s Uncle)
6. Chakshusha (Dhruva’s great-grandson, Surya’s cousin, Vaiwasvata’s Uncle)
7. Vaiwasvata (Sun of Viwaswan (Surya), grand son of Aditi and Kasyapa).

As per the Srimad Bhagavatham the Manvantaras are very long 1/14th of a kalpa in duration.  However the Puranic Encyclopedia of Vettam Mani gives the relationships between the Manus, as indicated above. These relationships are at variance with the Markandeya Purana.

Must Refer : Manus, Saptarishis and Manvantaras as per Matsya Purana, Manus – The Lineage, Kalpas, Manvantaras, Samvatsaras

From Vaiwaswatha Manu to Sri Rama :

1. Vishnu,
2. Brahma,
3. Marichi,
4. Kashyapa,
5. Surya,
6. Vaivasvata Manu,
7. Ikshvaku,
8. Kakutstha,
9. Raghu,
10. Aja,
11. Dasharatha,
12. Rama.

Must Refer : Caksusha Manvantaram ends with the Matysa Avataram Flood, Vaivaswata Manvantaram Begins : Srimad Bhagavatam., Sri Rama’s Lineage as per the Agni Purana, Sri Rama’s Ancestor, Vaivasvata Manu was a Dravidian King : Srimad Bhagavatam, Generations between Rama and Krishna., How long did ancient Indians live?, Generations previous to Sri Rama. Generations previous to Sri Rama.

From Sri Rama to Sri Krishna

1. Satrughna (Sri Rama’s brother)
2. Surasena
3. Vasudeva
4. Sri Krishna

Must Refer : vasudEvA’s sister named after her grandmother s’rtakIrthi : Satrughna’s wife, Satrughna : He founded Mathura, Generations between Rama and Krishna. How long did ancient Indians live? Yadu, Puru, Kuru

From Sri Krishna to Qutb Ud Din Aibak

1. Descendants of Jarasandha ruled Magadha approximately till the arrival of the Aryans in year 1000 of Kaliyuga, 1000 years after Sri Krishna’s ascent.
2. Aryans did not “invade India”, but over time they owned the culture and claimed that they were descended from the Indian heroes. Aryan culture dominated India from 1000 Kaliyuga to 1000 CE (ie, 2000 BCE to 1000 AD).
   1. They brought in the concept of a superior Aryavarta (Uttar Pradesh and around.)
   2. and modified the Dharma Sastras.
   3. In their literature, they altered the skin complexion of the ancient heroes (black to blue).
   4. They also altered the features and characteristics of non-Aryan, indigenous people.
   5. They invested the indigenous people with magical (eg nagas), wicked (eg rakshasas), ape like (eg Vanaras).
   6. Though many rshis were black they claimed that all brahmins were fair and that sudras were dark.
3. 

   Photo Credit : Satya Sarada Kandula : All Rights Reserved

   Aryans blended happily with the local Nagas and others and permeated nation wide a concept of Aryan Nobility, much like the concept of a white man’s “honor” during colonial rule.

4. At the advent of Kaliyuga, the rshis, Saunaka and others moved to Naimisaranya. At the advent of Qutb-Ud-Din-Aibak, their descendants moved to Badari and other asramas.
5. Initially the Aryans learnt the Vedas and Caste System of the indigenous people. Several Aryans became Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras, in addition to becoming Brahmins. Around 2000 Kaliyuga, ie about 1000 BCE they started modifying the dharmasastras and appending particular sections of particular puranas.
6. They further developed the astronomical siddhantas of Maya (Surya Siddhantam) and so on.
7. With the beginnings of the muslim rule, updates to the puranas stopped, Kalki, the son of Vishnuyasa fought against the mlecchas and others. With this that Kaliyuga ended.

Must Refer :

Magadha from Jarasandha (senior to Sri Krishna) to Satavahanas to pre Qutb Ud Din period as per Vishnu Puranam, Magadha kings as per Bhavishyat Purana, Magadha kings as per Bhavishyat Purana, Aryans to Asoka (Bhavishya Purana), Aryan + Naga: Sisunagas, Gauthama Kasyapa Buddha, Chandragupta : Bhavishya Purana, Dark, handsome heroes of Uttar Pradesh – Sri Rama and Sri Krishna, Anarya! Dushyantha, Sri Rama, Sri Krishna. Kaliyuga duration 360000 years, 1200 divine years, Vishnu Puranam. Tracking the growth of the Kaliyugam from 12 to 432000 years,  How many kinds of Yugas are there?

More References :

• Calendar from Vyasa’s birth to Janamejaya’s Coronation
• Pratishthanapura: Capital of Satavahanas and of Sudyumna – Ila : Son of Manu : Vishnu Puranam
• Indian History – A New Construct
• Equinoxes and Dating Vedas
• Date of Sri Rama
• Date of the Mahabharata War
• Date of Veda Mantras
• Saptarishi Calendar
• Indian History – A New Construct

Pre-Vedic to Vedic to Aryan to Buddhist to Muslim to Christian to Secular Cultures:

Pre – Vedic Period : The earlier Manvantaras were guided by Brahma and his descendants the Manus. At this time there was only one varna and the only Veda was AUM. The incidents of the Puranas took place during this time. They were narrated by original narrators such as Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, Agni and others to rishis such as Sanat kumara, Narada and others all the way down through the tretha Yuga till the time of Veda Vyasa, who edited and compiled them.

Pralaya : The flood took place on the east coast of India and possibly also on the west coast. This was the Krutha Yuga  of the Vaiwaswatha Manvantara and it marked the beginning of the colonisation of  Uttar Pradesh (then Kosala), by the Dravidian (read Andhra) Ikshvakus. Some of the Ikshvakus married local girls : eg. Dasaratha married Kausalya of Kosala. Gautama and Vasishtha were 2 of the saptarishis that were taken north by Vishnu and Vaiwasvatha Manu at the time of the Matsya Avataram.

Vasishta’s Veda Mantras concerning the ocean could have been during  this period.

Vedic Period : Many of the Veda Mantras were composed/revealed during the early Tretha Yuga. The upanishads were written/revealed close on the heels of the Veda Mantras often by the sons and grandsons of the Vedic rshis and sometimes by their students. The Valmiki Ramayanam was composed in the Tretha Yuga.

Bhagavad Gita : The Vedas were classified by Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa in the present form during the Dwapara Yuga, though from Brahma’s time various Vyasas, including his grandfather and great-grandfather did attempt such a classification. Vyasa recieved the Puranas collected by his father Parasara and various other sources and he edited and compiled them, significantly reducing their size.

The Bhagavad Gita : was composed after Upanishads in the Dwapara Yuga at the time of the Bharata War and documented by Veda Vyasa in the Mahabharata in the1st year of Kaliyuga, 3102 BCE.

First 1000 years of Kaliyuga : Magadha was ruled by Jarasandha’s descendants, and Vedic Culture prevailed.

Aryans to Buddha : Around 2000 BCE, Aryans entered India peacefully, learned and later owned the existing Vedic Culture. They adopted all castes and blended with the locals. They further rigidified the dharmasastras, caste system, regionalism, and further developed the mathematics, astronomy and literature. Gautama Buddha, was a descendant of Kasyapa and Aryavati, the leader of the first Aryan settlers in India.

Buddha, Siva and.. : Photo Credit : Satya Sarada Kandula : All Rights Reserved

Buddhist Culture : From Buddha’s time around 1842 BCE to the start of the Buddhist Andhra Kings (among whom Satakarni was one) in 1206 BCE, Buddhism slowly gained ascendancy. Buddhist Andhra Kings controlled Magadha till 750 BCE. Various dynasties gained control of the Gangetic region with Vedic and Buddhist Cultures both gaining power and influencing each other. The Dharmasastras were further modified. Adi Sankaracharya’s advaita philosopy must have gained in strength at this time.

Muslim Culture : Islam that gained popularity in the middle east around 600 CE/AD, became dominant in North India with the Muslim Rule around 1000 CE/AD and lasted till about 1857 CE/AD.

Christian Culture : Christian thought infiltrated Indian thinking via the British Rule and Missionary presence starting around 1857 AD/CE till 1900 AD/CE.

Hindu Secular Culture : A culture that is at once Vedic and Secular with Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Sikh influences and with an “Isvar Allah tero naam, Sabko sanmati de Bhagvaan” motto was a result of the need for nationalism and freedom from the rule of a foreign people and was the way to go till the late 20th century.

Hindutva Culture : A culture that is emergent as a result of groups of Secular Hindus feeling that too much has been taken away from them by the Hindu Secular Leaders and angered by the physical conflicts with muslims and verbal/written/propaganda conflicts with christianity.

Metro Culture : “Do your own thing with equal indifference and apathy to all”. People born in many religions belong here.

We’re Spiritual Not Religious Cults :  These are often centred around Godmen and Gurus who offer kind words, a way of living, health advice, social service and various other forms of positivity reinforcing disciplines, to people born in any religion but willing to die in spirituality.

Must Refer : Date of the Puranas, The Vedas were of the Tretha Yuga – Srimad Bhagavatham, Vedas, Pralaya Katha Vinayaka and Mata: Kruta Yuga Flood Narrations, Siva Mahapuranam Vidyeswara Samhitam 2nd Adhyayam. Indian Caste System: Then and Now: Jati, Varna, Kula Brahmans Then and Brahmins Now.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

Krutha (Krita, Krta) Yuga Definition in Vishnu Puranam

Reference : Vishnu Puranam Page : 334; 4th Amsa  -  24th Adhyaya.

Kruta Yuga Definition in Vishnu Puranam

When the sun, moon, and jupiter come together with Tishya (Pushya) Nakshatram in one rasi, then you have a kruta yugam. (This occurs once in every 12 years approx. Jupiter spends an average of a year per rasi, during which time the sun spends one month in that rasi and the moon spends approx. 2 days in that rasi.

Tishya Nakshatram is in Karkataka Rasi, called Cancer in English, but it may not be an exact match).

So as per this definition, this kind of  Kruta Yuga Occurs every 12 years.

See Also : How many kinds of Yugas are there? and Nakshatras, Grahas, Varas, Rasis, Masas, Rtus

Notes :

1. Of the 4th Amsa, the 21st Adhyaya to the first hundred and one shlokas of the 24th Adhyaya, the description is aboutthe kings of the Kaliyuga who controlled Magadha, Kasi etc.
2. The tense used is future, the narration is in the voice of Parasara
3. The style is prosaic and not poetic.
   • It is my view that these adhyayas were updated from time to time as time went on, to keep the text updated as well as to preserve the time stamp of the original puranam.
4. From the 102nd verse quoted above, we are back to the poetic form of the original Parasara.
5. However since the next verses demonstrate a knowledge of Mahapadma Nanda’s coronation, I think that some of them must be of that period or later.

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

Linking is permitted, copying and quoting are forbidden. This is a living document that will be updated as I get more knowledge.