Parashara (IAST: Parara) was a Rigvedic Maharishi (seer), and the author of many ancient Indian texts.

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 Vashista, the son of akti Mahari, and the father of Veda Vyasa. 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 student[citation needed]. He is the third member of the i Parampar of the Advaita Guru Parampar.

Contents

1 Genealogy 2 Life 3 igveda 4 Texts attributed to Parashara 5 Surnames 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References

Genealogy
According to the Vedas, Brahma created Vashista who with Arundhati had a son named akti Muni who sired Parashara. With Satyavat, Parashara fathered Veda Vyasa. Vysa sired Dhtarra, Pu and Vidura through his dead brother's wives. Vysa also sired uka through his wife, Jbli's daughter Pinjal (Vatik).[1] Thus Parashara was the great-grandfather of both the warring parties of the Mahbhrata, the Kauravas and the Pndavas. parashra used as the gotra for the ancestors and their offrings thereon.

Life
Parashara was raised by his grandfather, Vashista, because he lost his father at an early age. His father, akti Muni, was on a journey and came across an angry Rakshasa (demon) who had once been a king but was turned into a demon feeding on human flesh as a curse from Vivamitra. The demon devoured Parasharas father. In the Viu Pura, Parashara speaks about his anger from this:[2] "I had heard that my father had been devoured by a Rkasas employed by Vivamitra: violent anger seized me, and I commenced a sacrifice for the destruction of the Rkasas: hundreds of them were reduced to ashes by the rite, when, as they were about to be entirely exterminated, my grandfather Vashista said to me: Enough, my child; let thy wrath be appeased: the Rkasas 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 Muni(Sage), at the wish of lord vishnu brahma and mahadev the trio creature of the whole world ,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 perform coitus with her. But Satyavati was terrified of him and gave an excuse that there were many people present on either sides 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 Vysa. 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 antanu. Parashara was known as the "limping sage". He had his leg wounded during the attack of his rama. When a i 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.[3] The birthplace of Parashara Muni is believed to be at Panhala fort in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. A cave supposed to be of Parra Muni is present at the fort.

igveda
In the gveda, Parashara, son of akti Muni (Parashara ktya), is the seer of verses 1.65-73 which are all in praise of Agni (the sacred fire), and part of 9.97 (v.31-44) which is in praise of Soma. Below is 1.73.2 devo na ya savit satyamanm kratv nipti vjanni viv purupraasto amatirna satya tmeva Sevo didhiyyo bht He who is like the divine Sun, who knows the truth (of things), preserves by his actions (his votaries) in all encounters; like nature, he is unchangeable and, like soul, is the source of all happiness: he is ever to be cherished.[4]

Texts attributed to Parashara

Author of verses in the gveda: recorded as the author of RV 1.65-73 and part of RV 9.97. Parashara Smti (also called Parashara Dharma Sahit): a code of laws which is stated in the text (1.24) to be for Kali Yuga.[5] Speaker of Viu Purana considered by scholars as one of the earliest Puras.[6] Speaker of the Bhat Parashara Hor stra, also written as BPHS. It is considered a foundational text of astrology. The Sanskrit in which it is composed dates to the 7th or 8th centuries CE Speaker of the Vkyurveda ("the science of life of trees"), one of the earliest texts on botany.[1] This text was considered to be an ancient botany primer for students of Traditional Indian