Parashara

Courtesy:Sri.PP.Ramachander

 

                                                                  PARASHARA

                                            Parashara  was a Rigvedic rishi and the author of many ancient Indian texts including a dharma-sastra . He is often cited as a rishi born of low parentage. He is accredited for being the author of the first Purana: Vishnu Purana (before his Son Veda  Vyasa   wrote it in its present form). He was the grandson of Vasishta. There are several texts which give reference to Parashara as an author/speaker. Modern scholars believe that there were many individuals who used this name throughout time whereas others assert that the same Parashara taught these various texts and the time of writing them varied. The actual sage himself never wrote the texts, He was known as a traveling teacher, and the various texts attributed to him are given in reference to Parashara being the speaker to his students.

                                                Parashara was raised by his grandfather,Vasishta, because he lost his father at an early age. His father, Śaktri Muni, was on a journey and came across an angry Rakshasa who had once been a king but was turned into a demon feeding on human flesh as a curse from Visvamitra. The demon devoured Parashara's father. In the Vishnu Purana, Parashara speaks about his anger from this:

"I had heard that my father had been devoured by a Rākṣasas employed by Visvamitra: violent anger seized me, and I commenced a sacrifice for the destruction of the Rākṣasas: hundreds of them were reduced to ashes by the rite, when, as they were about to be entirely exterminated, my grandfather Vasishta said to me: Enough, my child; let thy wrath be appeased: the Rākṣasas are not culpable: thy father's death was the work of destiny. Anger is the passion of fools; it becometh not a wise man. By whom, it may be asked, is any one killed? Every man reaps the consequences of his own acts. Anger, my son, is the destruction of all that man obtains by arduous exertions, of fame, and of devout austerities; and prevents the attainment of heaven or of emancipation. The chief sages always shun wrath: be not subject to its influence, my child. Let no more of these unoffending spirits of darkness be consumed. Mercy is the might of the righteous."

                                              

                                                        Parashara was a disciple of Sage Kapila, received the Visnu Purana and the Pancharatra doctrines from the lips of Pulastya and in turn passed them on to his pupil Maitreya.

                                                         Parashara , on one of his travels across the country, halted for the night in a little hamlet on the banks of the river Yamuna. He was put up in the house of the village chief. When dawn broke, the chief asked his daughter, Satyavati, to ferry the sage to his next destination. When in the ferry, Parashara was offended by the stench of raw fish. He asked Satyavati as to from where the foul stench was emanating. Satyavati was a fisherman's daughter, and pursued the same occupation. It was from her the stench emanated. Realizing this, Parashara gave her the epithet "Matsyagandha", meaning "one with the smell of fish". Satyavati was thoroughly ashamed. Parashara felt sorry for his cruelty, and instantly granted her the boon, that the finest fragrance may emit from her person.

                                                         Parashara grew attached to Satyavati, and desired to have relation with her. But Satyavati was terrified of him and gave an excuse that there were many people present on either side of the Yamuna. So Parashara Muni, with his mystic power, created a dense sheet of mist around the boat. He then took her to an island on the Yamuna and in due course, they had a son, by name Vyāsa. But Parashara's wandering ascetic life did not suit Satyavati, and the couple separated. Satyavati returned to her father after this, and in due course, married Śantanu.

                                                          Parashara was known as the "limping sage". He had his leg wounded during the attack of his āśrama. When a Rishi  dies he merges back into an element or an archetype, Sage Jaimini was trampled by wild elephants, Sage Gautama was eaten by Cannibals, etc. When Sage Parashara was walking through a dense forest he and his students were attacked by wolves. He was unable to get away in his old age with a lame leg he left this world merging into the wolves.

                                                      The birthplace of Parashara Muni is believed to be at Panhala fort in Kolhapur in  Maharashtra. A cave supposed to be of Parāśāra Muni is present at the fort.