Introduction
Believed to be one of the Manasputras of Lord Brahma, Sage Vashishta was one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages). He was in fact the seventh Saptarishi of Manavantara. Vashishta was married to Arundhati and he had in his possession Nandini and Kamadhenu (cows who could grant the wishes of their owners).
Credited to be the primary author of Rig Veda’s seventh Mandala, Vashishta was one of the nine Prajapatis. His hymns are considered to be an authentic record of historical and geographical facets. Vashishta Samhita, a treatise on electional astrology is attributed to Vashishta.
Tales featuring Vashista
Numerous folklores and tales feature Vashishta. Some of them are as follows
The tale of Vashistha – King Vishwamitra (Kaushika), after becoming impressed with Vashishta’s cows, Kamadhenu and Nandini, tried to acquire them by force. But, even after repeated attempts was unable to do so. Thereafter, he performed penance in front of Lord Shiva and acquired divine powers in exchange. But, even with the acquired power he was unable to get hold of Kamadhenu and Nandini. He then decided to be a Brahmrishi, thereby shunning family and social luxury.
The tale of King Dileepa – King Dileepa of the Raghuvamsha Dynasty and his wife Sudakshina, had no children. They visited Vashishta for this reason and sought his help. Vashistha advised Dileepa to serve Nandini and if she was satisfied with his service, his wish would be granted. Thus, Dileepa tirelessly served Nandini for twenty days and on the twenty-first day a lion suddenly attacked Nandini. Dileepa immediately offered himself to the Lion and requested Nandini to be spared. After that he realized that the Lion was just an illusion to test his devotion and Nandini granted him his wish.
Vashishta Ashram
Brahmrishi Vashistha’s Ashram, located in Ayodhya, is spread over an area of almost 40 acres. Brahmrishi Vashishta was regarded as the Guru of Suryavamsha. King Ishvaku, the king of Ayodhya, visited Vashishta with the request to solve the water crisis of his kingdom. Sage Vashistha then performed some special prayers, after which river Sarayu flowed out of the well in his Ashram. The river Sarayu is also called Ishvaki or Vashisti and is believed to be one of most significant spiritual tirthas of the country.
Vashishta Guha Ashram, located on the Devprayag route, has a Shiva Linga at the very end of a long cave.
Vashishta In Buddhism
In the Buddhist literature of Vinayapitaka, Lord Buddha declares that only a few Vedic Rishis had true knowledge of the Vedas and Vashistha was one of them.
Yoga Vashishta
Regarded as a composition of Valmiki, the Yoga Vashishta narrates the discourse between young Prince Rama and Sage Vashishta. The advice given by Vashishta to Rama is directly associated with the Advaita Vedanta, especially the principle of non-duality. Dated between the 11th and 14th century, the book has around 32,000 shlokas and numerous anecdotes and short stories.
Context of the Book
After the end of Prince Rama’s tour of the country, the disillusioned prince was extremely dispassionate with the apparent reality. A concerned King Dasarath, sought Sage Vashishta’s assistance. Sage Vashishta explained Dasarath that Rama’s reaction was but a beginning of a journey towards spiritual enlightenment. It is in this situation that Sage Vashishta undertakes a discourse with Prince Rama.
Content of the Book
The discourse between Sage Vashishta and Prince Rama is considered to be one of those rare and rich conversations, which directly guides us towards spiritual liberation. The spiritual and scientific incisiveness of the conversation makes the reader reflect and analyze the truth behind the apparent reality. The philosophical discourse and the non-dual approach towards creation, enriches the mind of an individual.
Structure of the Book
Yoga Vashishta is essentially divided into six components and they are as follows:
- Dispassion
- Qualifications of the seeker
- Creation
- Existence
- Dissolution
- Liberation
The path towards the process of spiritual liberation is aptly summed up in the following seven Bhoomikas:
- Śubhecchā (seeking Truth)
- Vicāraṇa (correct inquiry)
- Tanumānasa (attenuation – or thinning out of mental activities)
- Sattvāpatti (attainment of Sattva “reality”)
- Asaṃsakti (unaffected)
- Parārthabhāvanī (Visualising Brahman all around)
- Turīya (eternal samādhi)
Text origin and evolution
The Yoga Vashishta is considered to be a result of the amalgamation of Mahayana Buddhism, Samkhya, Yoga, Saiva Siddhant, Jainism and Vedant. It is basically an excellent example of the synchronization of diverse and vivid elements. As very aptly described by V.D Savarkar, the Indian freedom fighter, in his Autobiography:
“All of a sudden I fell upon the Yoga Vashishta, and I found it of such absorbing interest that I have come to regard it ever since as the best work on the Vedanta Philosophy. The propositions were so logical, the verse is so beautiful, and the exposition is so thorough and penetrating that the soul loses itself in raptures over it. Such a fine combination of philosophy and poetry is a gift reserved only for Sanskrit poets”
“When I used to be lost in the reading of the Yoga Vashishta, the coil of rope I was weaving dropped automatically from my hands; and, for hours on end I lost the sense of possessing the body and the senses associated with that body. My foot would not move and my hand was at a standstill. I felt the deeper yearning to surrender it all. All propaganda, all work seemed such a worthless task, a sheer waste of life. At last the mind and the matter asserted their sway over the body and swung it back to work again”
Vashishta Dharmasutra
Sage Vashishta had also scribed Dharmasutras in his collection known as Vashishta Dharmasutra. It has 30 chapters in it and is observed to be very much similar to Ashvalayana Dharmasutra, Boudhayana Dharmasutra, Koushitaki Dharmasutra, Sankhyayana Dharmasutra and Gowthama Dharmasutra.
1) Wikipedia
2) Sages in Indian art and literature
3) Prachin Charitra Kosha -Part 1
4) Bharatiya sanskriti kosha vol.9