STORY OF RISHI PARASHARA
Maharshi Parashara was one of the most revered sages of ancient India and is widely regarded as the father of Jyotish Shastra—what we today know as Vedic Astrology. His timeless treatise, the Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra, forms the foundation of astrological practice in the Vedic tradition and continues to guide astrologers to this day. Parashara’s wisdom was not limited to the stars; he was also a great Purāṇic seer. He is credited with composing the Vishnu Purana, considered one of the most ancient and significant among the eighteen Mahāpurāṇas. His spiritual and literary legacy was carried forward by his illustrious son, Veda Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas and the author of the Mahābhārata. Through his contributions, Maharshi Parashara not only shaped the cosmic sciences but also wove a spiritual lineage that continues to illuminate the path of seekers across generations.
Parashara Rishi, the legendary seer and father of Jyotish Shastra, was born to Shakti Muni and Adrishyanti. His life is marked not only by extraordinary wisdom but also by resilience born of early loss. Shakti Muni, his father and the eldest son of Sage Vasishtha, tragically passed away before Parashara’s birth. As a result, Parashara was raised by his revered grandfather, Vasishtha, one of the eternal Saptarishis (Seven Great Seers), who nurtured and guided the young sage with deep Vedic knowledge and spiritual insight.
Parashara was later initiated into higher wisdom under the tutelage of Sages Bashkal and Yajnavalkya, placing him firmly in the most luminous of spiritual lineages. Under their guidance, and with the foundation laid by Vasishtha himself, Parashara developed an extraordinary command over both spiritual disciplines and metaphysical sciences.
His contributions to Hindu dharma are immense. He is traditionally credited as the author of the Vishnu Purana, a text that beautifully outlines cosmology, theology, and devotional practice centered around Lord Vishnu. Moreover, his work Bṛhat Parāśara Horā Śāstra is considered the cornerstone of Vedic Astrology, where he systematically laid out the principles of karma, time cycles, planetary effects, and predictive techniques that continue to shape the astrological sciences to this day.
Parashara Rishi’s life, framed by sorrow, wisdom, and divine purpose, is a shining example of how even through adversity, the soul can rise to become a guiding light for countless generations. Through his son Veda Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahabharata, his spiritual legacy only expanded further, influencing not just Jyotish and philosophy, but the very fabric of Sanatana Dharma.
There is an interesting story behind the birth of Sage Parashara, involving the tragic death of his father, Shakti Muni.
Once, while Shakti Muni was crossing a narrow bridge, he encountered King Kalmashapada of Ayodhya, who belonged to the Ikshvaku Dynasty. The king was riding in his chariot, leaving no room for Shakti Muni to pass.
Shakti Muni politely requested the king to make way, but the king refused to pull back his chariot. The two remained at an impasse, locked in a standoff.
When the king refused to yield, Shakti Muni became furious and cursed him to become a Rakshasa. The curse took effect, and the king was soon transformed into a monstrous being. In his rakshasa form, he went on to slay Shakti Muni and the other sons of Sage Vasishtha.
When Rishi Vasishtha learned of this tragedy, he was overcome with grief and despair. Distraught by the loss of his sons, he even contemplated ending his own life. Despite several attempts, he was unable to succeed. Eventually, he withdrew to the Himalayas with his family, seeking solace in solitude.
One day, as he sat immersed in sorrow, he suddenly heard the recitation of the Vedas echoing through the air. Startled, he looked around—but saw no one. In that moment, Adrishyanti, the wife of Shakti Muni, revealed to him that she was pregnant—and that it was the child in her womb who was chanting the Vedas.
Vasishtha was filled with joy and awe. The divine promise carried in this unborn child gave him new purpose. He abandoned all thoughts of giving up his life.
That child was none other than Parashara—destined to become one of the greatest sages of the Vedic tradition.
There is also a mention of Rishi Parashara in the Mahabharata, where he becomes enchanted by a girl who smelled like fish, named Matsyagandha. This girl was Satyavati, whose work was to ferry people across the Yamuna River. One day, Rishi Parashara met her when he wished to cross the river.
He was drawn to her and expressed his desire to have a relationship. However, Satyavati refused, unwilling to engage in an act she believed to be immoral. Yet, Rishi Parashara continued to persuade and plead with her. Eventually, Satyavati agreed—but only on the condition that he fulfill three specific demands:
- No one should be able to see them during the encounter. In response, Parashara used his yogic powers to envelop the area in a dense, concealing fog.
- Her virginity must remain intact even after the union. Parashara assured her that she would regain her virginity immediately after giving birth.
- She wished for the fishy odor that clung to her body to be replaced with a fragrant aroma.
Parashara Rishi fulfilled all her conditions, and only then did they unite. From this union, a son was born, named Krishna Dvaipayana, who later became renowned as Veda Vyasa—the sage who compiled the four Vedas and authored the Mahabharata.
Later in his life, when he came to know that his father had been killed by a Rakshasa, he resolved to take revenge by wiping out the Rakshasa clan from the face of the Earth. To accomplish this, he began a Rakshasa Satra Yajna, during which all the Rakshasas started to fall into the sacred fire one by one.
...into the sacrificial fire, turning into ashes one by one. At that moment, Maharshi Pulastya arrived and requested him to stop, explaining that it was unjust to kill all Rakshasas indiscriminately, especially those who had done no harm. He taught Parashara the principle of non-violence (ahimsa). Moved by the teachings and prayers of both Pulastya and Vyasa, Parashara finally stopped the yajna.
Maharishi Pulastya blessed Parashara and predicted that he would one day compose the Purāṇa Saṁhitā, which he indeed fulfilled, along with many other works. Rishi Parashara acquired knowledge in numerous disciplines and generously shared it with the world. Several verses in the Rig Veda are attributed to him.
Among his notable compositions are the Vishnu Purana, Parashara Samhita, Parashara Gita, and the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, during the discourse between Bhishma and Yudhishthira, Bhishma narrates a profound dialogue between Raja Janaka and Rishi Parashara, which is known as the Parashara Gita.
Though he authored many sacred texts, his contributions to Jyotish Shastra (Vedic Astrology) stand out as his most enduring legacy. Both ancient and modern astrology are based on the principles laid down by him, earning him the revered title of ‘Father of Vedic Astrology’.