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Paraashar
 


Paraashar
 See also    Vashishth,   Vishwaamitra,   Satyavatee

Who Was Paraashar?
 Paraashar was the grandson of Brahmarshi Vashishth. Vashishth had 100 sons. One of his sons was Shakti. His wife's name was Adrashyanti. Once Shakti was coming from somewhere, that he met a king named Kalmaashpaad coming in his chariot. The king was very proud, so when he saw a Braahman coming on the way, he did not respect him, rather he said - "You are coming on this way, don't you see that a king is coming on this road. You should have given way to me." Shakti said - "You are telling me otherwise. I am a Braahman and a pedestrian, it is you who should have given me the way." But Kalmaashpad stuck to his statement. At this Shakti gave him Shaap of being a Raakshas.

Vishwaamitra Jee was seeing all this from a distance. He got an good opportunity to show his anger to Vashishth (as he was his greatest enemy at that time). He saw a Raakshas named Kinkar. He asked him to enter the king's body. He entered the king's body, so the king started behaving like a Raakshas. In this process, he insulted another Braahman, so he also gave him Shaap to be a Raakshas. Now he fully got converted into Raakshas.

He went to Shakti and said - "Let me start my Raakshas career with eating you." And he ate him. He killed his brother too. When Vashishth Jee heard this. He became very sad and started towards forest. There he met Shakti's wife Adrashyanti who was pregnant. He got pitied on her and brought her in his Aashram. After some time she gave birth to a son. Vashishth Jee named him Paraashar.

Paraashar and Satyavatee
 One day Paraashar was crossing Gangaa River. Satyavatee was a daughter of a fisherman and used to take passengers across Gangaa River. Her another name was Matsyagandhaa, because her body smelled like a fish. Her smell was so strong that it used to spread miles together. Nobody liked that smell, so nobody wanted to marry her. As Paraashar was crossing Gangaa in her boat, looking at her, he thought something and said to her - "For how long you will be rowing this boat? Your life is not only to row boat to take passengers across the river. The history of Bhaarat Varsh is waiting for you." Satyavatee did not understand anything, so she kept looking at him.

Paraashar said - "Didn't you recognize me?" Satyavatee said - "I did not." Paraashar said - "I am Maharshi Paraashar." Hearing this Satyavatee greeted him with great respect asking his forgiveness for any mistake if she committed any. Paraashar said - "You are the future of Bhaarat Varsh, but first I will have to prepare you for the future. I wish to give you a son." Satyavatee said - "But I am maiden and I fear from the society. Besides I have the smell of fish too." Paraashar said - "I know. You will not be blamed for anything. And I will remove your smell too. From now on you will be smelling sweet and your smell will spread miles together."

After this Maharshi created a smoke around them, gave her a son and went away. She gave birth to a son on an island. He was named Krishn Dwaipaayan. Later he divided Ved so he was known as Ved Vyaas. He had three sons - Dhritraashtra, Paandu and Vidur, wrote Mahaabhaarat, Bhaagvat Puraan and divided Ved for ease to read. He had one son more - Shuk Dev Jee who was also good at telling stories of Puraan. Shuk Dev Jee told Bhaagvat Puraan to Raajaa Pareekshit.

 

  

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact: bhagvatjee@yahoo.com
Updated on 05/20/09