In a epic like Mahabarata, where there are lots of characters, I'm going to be putting a family tree as and when we introduce a new character. This way we shouldn't be lost as to who is whose half brother and who is whose step mother.
Vyasa, is both the author and an important character in Mahabarata. He happens to be the grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas. (We'll establish that relationship in a later part).
If you looked at the picture in my previous post, in the bottom half, it is Vyasa who narrates the story to Lord Ganesha. It is considered that Ganesha was the scribe as Vyasa dictated on condition that Ganesha should write after he fully understood each verse.
Vyasa is also called Dvaibayanar as he is considered to be born in the island of river Yamuna. (island -> referred as Deevu - like in Maldives ). Sometimes referred as Krishna Dvaibayanar referring to his complexion which was dark (Krishna -> means dark complexioned)
Vyasa is born to Parashara(compiler of Vishnu Purana), a wandering sage and Satyavathi, the daughter of a fisherman named Dusharaj. However, Satyavathi's relationship with Parashara was a one-time affair and was a secret (if not illegal as we don't know what was legal at that time) until much later.
Satyavathi later married Shantanu, the King of Hastinapuram (a city in modern Uttar Pradesh) on the condition that only her sons should claim the throne and not Shantanu's eldest son - Bhishma.
Below is a classical picture (slightly modified) of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma depicting Shantanu wooing Satyavathi.
Though Shantanu was upset with this condition, it is said that Bhishma later visted Satyavathi's father and vowed that he'd never claim the throne. When Dushara implied that even though Bhisma wouldn't claim the throne, Bishma's sons might later claim, Bhisma vowed that he wouldn't marry anyone.
With that condition, Bhishma brought Satyavathi to his father Shantanu.
Satyavathi had 2 sons with Shantanu: Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada died before he married, while Vichitravirya died after marrying Ambika and Ambala before having children.
Now that we've introduced too many characters in the very first post, let me stop it right here and come back later on in a separate post on Satyavathi, Shantanu or Bishma.
All we have to know for now is that Vyasa was born to Satyavathi and Parashara and that Shantanu was his step-father.Bhishma, his step-brother. Chitrangada and Vichitravirya his half-brothers.
If you didn't know the difference between a Half brother and a Step brother like me,
Half brother - shares just one common parent biologically. For e.g., Vyasa and Chitrangada (or say Vichitravirya) were Half brothers as Sathyavathi was their mom (though Vyasa's and Chitrangada's fathers were different).
Step brother - has no blood relation with no parent in common. For e.g., Vyasa and Bishma were Step brothers (they didn't share any parent in common).
Adiparva (first book of the 18 parvas that i mentioned in my prev. post) establishes most characters and the history and genealogy of the Bharata and the Kuru races. So, we'll be talking more about Satyavathi, Shantanu and Bhisma again.
Vyasa also compiled the Vedas and Puranas which were till then only dissemniated orally over generations. It is believed that Vyasa lived around 1500 B.C and that he was tall and with dark complexion.
Let's put a simple family tree for Vyasa for now.
The 18 Parvas (books) in MahaBaratam are
1. AdiParvam (the book of the Beginning)
2. Saba Parvam (the book of the Assembly Hall)
3. Vana Parvam (the book of the Forest)
4. Virada Parvam (the book of Virada)
5. Uthyoga Parvam (the book of Effort)
6. Bhishma Parvam (the book of Bhishma)
7. Drona Parvam (the book of Drona)
8. Karna Parvam (the book of Karna)
9. Sallian Parvam(the book of Sallian)
10. Souptheega Parvam (the book of Sleeping warriors)
11. Sthri Parvam (the book of Women)
12. Shanthi Parvam (the book of Peace)
13. Anushasana Parvam (the book of Instructions)
14. Aswamethiga Parvam (the book of the Horse Sacrifice)
15. Asrama Vaasiga Parvam (the book of Hermitage)
16. Mousara Parvam (the book of the Clubs)
17. Maha Prasthaniga Parvam (the book of the Great Journey)
18. Swarga Aarohaniga Parvam(the book of the Ascent to Heaven)
--
Addendum
19. Hari Parvam (the book of the Geneology of Hari)
If you do not remember these 18 Parvas, that's fine, we'll be describing each of these Parvas in the subsequent posts.
Let Dharma prevail!
Vyasa, is both the author and an important character in Mahabarata. He happens to be the grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas. (We'll establish that relationship in a later part).
If you looked at the picture in my previous post, in the bottom half, it is Vyasa who narrates the story to Lord Ganesha. It is considered that Ganesha was the scribe as Vyasa dictated on condition that Ganesha should write after he fully understood each verse.
Vyasa is also called Dvaibayanar as he is considered to be born in the island of river Yamuna. (island -> referred as Deevu - like in Maldives ). Sometimes referred as Krishna Dvaibayanar referring to his complexion which was dark (Krishna -> means dark complexioned)
Vyasa is born to Parashara(compiler of Vishnu Purana), a wandering sage and Satyavathi, the daughter of a fisherman named Dusharaj. However, Satyavathi's relationship with Parashara was a one-time affair and was a secret (if not illegal as we don't know what was legal at that time) until much later.
Satyavathi later married Shantanu, the King of Hastinapuram (a city in modern Uttar Pradesh) on the condition that only her sons should claim the throne and not Shantanu's eldest son - Bhishma.
Below is a classical picture (slightly modified) of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma depicting Shantanu wooing Satyavathi.
Though Shantanu was upset with this condition, it is said that Bhishma later visted Satyavathi's father and vowed that he'd never claim the throne. When Dushara implied that even though Bhisma wouldn't claim the throne, Bishma's sons might later claim, Bhisma vowed that he wouldn't marry anyone.
With that condition, Bhishma brought Satyavathi to his father Shantanu.
Satyavathi had 2 sons with Shantanu: Chitrangada and Vichitravirya. Chitrangada died before he married, while Vichitravirya died after marrying Ambika and Ambala before having children.
Now that we've introduced too many characters in the very first post, let me stop it right here and come back later on in a separate post on Satyavathi, Shantanu or Bishma.
All we have to know for now is that Vyasa was born to Satyavathi and Parashara and that Shantanu was his step-father.Bhishma, his step-brother. Chitrangada and Vichitravirya his half-brothers.
If you didn't know the difference between a Half brother and a Step brother like me,
Half brother - shares just one common parent biologically. For e.g., Vyasa and Chitrangada (or say Vichitravirya) were Half brothers as Sathyavathi was their mom (though Vyasa's and Chitrangada's fathers were different).
Step brother - has no blood relation with no parent in common. For e.g., Vyasa and Bishma were Step brothers (they didn't share any parent in common).
Adiparva (first book of the 18 parvas that i mentioned in my prev. post) establishes most characters and the history and genealogy of the Bharata and the Kuru races. So, we'll be talking more about Satyavathi, Shantanu and Bhisma again.
Vyasa also compiled the Vedas and Puranas which were till then only dissemniated orally over generations. It is believed that Vyasa lived around 1500 B.C and that he was tall and with dark complexion.
Let's put a simple family tree for Vyasa for now.
1. AdiParvam (the book of the Beginning)
2. Saba Parvam (the book of the Assembly Hall)
3. Vana Parvam (the book of the Forest)
4. Virada Parvam (the book of Virada)
5. Uthyoga Parvam (the book of Effort)
6. Bhishma Parvam (the book of Bhishma)
7. Drona Parvam (the book of Drona)
8. Karna Parvam (the book of Karna)
9. Sallian Parvam(the book of Sallian)
10. Souptheega Parvam (the book of Sleeping warriors)
11. Sthri Parvam (the book of Women)
12. Shanthi Parvam (the book of Peace)
13. Anushasana Parvam (the book of Instructions)
14. Aswamethiga Parvam (the book of the Horse Sacrifice)
15. Asrama Vaasiga Parvam (the book of Hermitage)
16. Mousara Parvam (the book of the Clubs)
17. Maha Prasthaniga Parvam (the book of the Great Journey)
18. Swarga Aarohaniga Parvam(the book of the Ascent to Heaven)
--
Addendum
19. Hari Parvam (the book of the Geneology of Hari)
If you do not remember these 18 Parvas, that's fine, we'll be describing each of these Parvas in the subsequent posts.
Let Dharma prevail!
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