Veda Vyasa – the editor of Hindu Scriptures

Veda Vyasa is popularly known as the author of the epic Mahabharata. And perhaps even more popular as the author of Bhagavad Gita, a part of Mahabharata, which has gained independent status sheerly through its immortal philosophical content. Most Hindus associate him with the Mahabharata and do not realize that majority of the Holy Scriptures in Hinduism was edited by Veda Vyasa. The present day form of many Hindu scriptures is primarily due to the tireless work done by Veda Vyasa and his students.

In the initial stage, the philosophical thoughts of Santana Dharma (Hinduism) remained scattered. Veda Vyasa is said to have collected all the Vedic passages and edited them and complied into four parts – Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. It is believed that he taught the four Vedas to his four disciples. The division of the Vedas into four sections – Mantras (hymns), Brahmanas (rituals), Aranyakas (modes of worship) and Upanishads (philosophic revelations) – was done by Veda Vyasa.

He is believed to be the author of the Brahmasutras, which propounds Advaita through the teaching found in Upanishads.

Vyasa composed and compiled majority of the Puranas. Through the numerous stories in the Puranas, Vyasa brought the message of the Vedas to the common man. The Bhagavata Purana, one of the most famous Puranas, dealing with the life of Lord Krishna is credited to Vyasa.