Recently, I’ve been slowly reading the Srimad Bhagavatam. I’ve been using the translation by Swami Venkatesananda as I enjoyed his work on the Yog Vasishtha. (and wrote several posts on it) I’ve not enjoyed the Bhagavatam as much though. Like some other important works, it was composed by the sage Vyasa. I was surprised to read in the opening verses that he had not yet realized his oneness with the supreme Being. (he was Self realized but not yet fully awake) He goes on to say he composed the Bhagavatam after talking with the sage Narada. As with many such books, it is told in stories that narrate what is seen in another place and time. But many of the messages are not from a oneness perspective.
Vyasa could see the past and future and saw the coming of the Dark age (Kali Yuga). Until that time, the Vedas had been passed on orally but he saw that breaking down and sought to preserve them. He thus took on the task of editing (compiling in writing) the Vedas. He also composed the Bhagavad Gita, an excellent read.
As Shankara put it, “Even a little study of the Bhagavad Gita, like a drop of the flow of nectar, is sufficient for enlightenment.” (Baja Govindam 20)
The Gita is the core of the Mahabharata, the story of Krishna’s life. Krishna is considered the greatest, even among avatars. Without Vyasa’s effort, much more of the Vedic literature would have been lost, including the Rk Veda, worlds oldest known book. Amazing to consider he did this while still unfolding.
Davidya
🙂
I can understand Vyasas place in the Holy Tradition through what you write here, so important what he did. Patanjali is another name that reverberates in my consciousness but is not named in the Holy Tradition, and Narada, and more. Thanks for all your writing.
Yes, the named Holy Tradition in the guru puja and famous painting are just some of the more recent lights. Vasishtha was around during the Ramayana, Vyasa during the end of the Dwapara yuga when he saw the coming dark age. Shankara and his 4 were during the dark age. He restored the monastic tradition in India, but it since became dominant.
Patanjali was earlier, in Treta yuga, as was Narada. Even since Guru Dev, there has been 2 successors. Many are not named.