Parashara

Parashara is a revered Vedic sage, best known as the father of Vyasa (through Satyavati) and the author of foundational texts in Hindu dharma. He is first mentioned in the Mahabharata (Adi Parva), where his encounter with Satyavati leads to the birth of Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharata. Parashara is credited with composing the Vishnu Purana, one of the eighteen Mahapuranas, which details the cosmology, genealogies, and legends centered on Vishnu.

The text itself states, 'Parashara, the great sage, composed this Purana' (Vishnu Purana 1.1.1). He also authored the Parashara Smriti, a legal and ethical code cited in later Dharmaśāstra works. In Jyotisha (Vedic astrology), his Parashara Hora is the foundational text; the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is attributed to him and remains the standard reference for astrological interpretation.

Iconographically, Parashara is depicted as a bearded sage, often holding a staff and astrological symbols, representing his wisdom and mastery of cosmic knowledge. According to the Skanda Purana, he was the grandson of Vasishtha and the son of Shakti, and he performed a great sacrifice to destroy demons, later restrained by his grandfather. Regional traditions, especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, honor him in astrological lineages, and his works are studied by scholars of Puranic and astrological traditions.

In Hindu cosmology, Parashara's writings bridge the Vedic and Puranic eras, systematizing dharma, cosmology, and predictive sciences. His role as the father of Vyasa places him at the root of the epic and Puranic literature, making him a pivotal figure in the transmission of sacred knowledge.

Depicted as a Vedic sage with a beard. Often shown with astrological symbols.