The liberation of Vyasa
It was the first day of KaliYuga. Yudhishtra had set foot on Mount Meru as he was welcomed by the gods. And when he did, Dwapara disappeared and KaliYuga set in. Vyasa, who was the author of the Mahabharata, his Magnum Opus and other commentaries on the Vedas was in a sad mood. The Kauravas and Pandavas were his great grandkids and Yudhishtra in particular was his favorite. His passing on had set his heart adrift. Unfortunately or fortunately, he was designated as a “Chiranjeevi” or an immortal. And he was ruminating on the great events that had unfolded in the last 100 years and his mind was filled with grief.
His hermitage at Naimisha-Aranya looked bleak and desolate, as it reflected the mood of its master. Narada, the celestial sage, seeing this state, came down to the Ashrama and was received by Vyasa. Seeing the state of Vyasa, Narada wondered about the beauty of Maya. How was it that Vyasa, who was Vishnu’s incarnate have such grief? What was it they said, “Vyasa Vishnu Rupaya, Vyasa Rupaya Vishnave”. (The incarnate of Vishnu is Vyasa, and Vishnu is the incarnation of Vyasa.)
Narada inquired of Vyasa and Vyasa explained his desolate mood. Vyasa was in grief. Narada then asked him whether he had visited Lord Shiva and thanked him for having his son, Ganesha write the Mahabharata for him. Ganesha, who had broken his tusk because his writing instrument had failed him to continue writing while Vyasa had dictated the poem. Vyasa then realized what had to be done. Narada, then told Vyasa that Nandiswara and Shiva would guide him on his path to happiness.
Vyasa, then set afoot to Kailasha/Shiva Loka. He reached Kailasha. It was the day of Trayodashi and Pradosham, the special day in Kailasha when Shiva and Parvati would perform the divine dance for their devotee. The Pradosham was the day that Shiva had drunk the hala-hala poison during Amritha Manthan and Parvati had rushed to rescue and nurse him back to health after the poison threatened to consume him as well. The celebrations were afoot and Vyasa was welcomed by the ever vigilant Nandikeshawara, the bull of Shiva. As he was seated, he exchanged glances with Ganesha who smiled and showed his absent left tusk.
The celebrations were foot and the drums were thundering as Parvati and Shiva made their appearance. The Ganas led by Ganesha, Nandiswara and Subramanya bowed in obeisance to the divine couple.
Seeing this grand entrance, Vyasa stood up and shouted aloud with hands joined above his head, “There is no god other than Govinda”. The whole assembly was thunderstruck by this. Nandiswara was furious. Shiva glanced at him to calm him down and Vyasa could not bring his hands down. His hands were stuck above his head and it started to pain Vyasa.
Shiva then turned to Vyasa and asked him, “O great sage and the incarnation of Vishnu, how is that you do not see the non-duality of Shiva and Vishnu? How is it that, you, who has the knowledge of Brahman speak thus? How is it that when you know that I am the greatest story teller of the Ramayana and the Sundara Kanda that you come to my assembly and make such an announcement? Surely, you must be wrought by something.”
Vyasa then realized his folly and told Shiva, “I am sad and depressed. My grandsons and great grandsons fought in the great battle of Mahabharata and they are all dead. Even the survivors cannot claim victory as well as they lost their near and dear. Krishna has left the world and so has Yudhishtra. Please release me from this misery.”
Shiva then looked at Vyasa with kindness and released his hands and said to him. “O Vyasa, the enlightened one. You came here and offended me and Nandiswara. I do forgive you for your temporary loss of gnana. As you know, Parvati and the ganas love it when I tell them the story of Rama. Why don’t you write the story of Vishnu and his greatness? The Mahabaharata while being a great work can teach morals but cannot teach devotion. Krishna is the hero of the yuga that has just passed and he is just a character in the epic. Why don’t you write the story of Krishna and the Bhagavata Purana? I will have Ganesha scribe it again without losing his other tusk?” The story of Krishna will be called Harivamsa Purana which will be the life of Krishna before the Mahabharata starts and the final purana of Vyasa be the Bhagavata Purana. I can assure you that writing these two puranas will alieve your grief.”
Vyasa then was inspired and his grief dissipated. He knew what he had to do. He had to finish writing these two magnum opuses with the help of Ganesha and hand it to the three eyed god to enjoy reciting for the rest of time. Vyasa then took the blessings of Parvati and Ganesha and went back to his hermitage to begin composing. He then realized writing these two compendiums would be his final works for the yuga and his bestowment to mankind for the onset of Kali Yuga.
With this resolve in mind and determined to complete the work, he returned to his hermitage and sat down in meditation on the all-pervading Vishnu. And in his mind he saw Shiva and Vishnu interchanging reflecting the non-duality of Brahman. And then it all made sense to him. His grief was gone. He completed the works and Ganesa scribed it for him dutifully.
After the writings, Kali had to step back to counter the effect of the Harivamsa Purana and the Bhagavata Purana. Wherever Vyasa’s work was recited, Kali would have to step back for Dharma.
And in his mind eye, he saw the smile of the three eyed god and the four armed divine being bringing understanding to him and to Kaliyuga. Narada came as well and they all wondered about the greatness of the one true god. Vyasa then retired from Naimsiha Aranya back to the Himalayas where he would commence his penances.
He who reads this story with great devotion and recognize the non-duality of Brahman and the Supreme gods Shiva and Vishnu will suffer less from the afflictions of Kali Yuga. Praise be unto Vishnu and Shiva.
Author Note: The story of Vyasa visiting Shivaloka and punished is in one of Adi Shankara's work.
