Apāntara-tamas
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Apāntara-tamas literally means ‘one who has dispelled the inner darkness’.
An ancient sage, classed among the Brahmarṣis, is said to have been manifested out of the word ‘bhuh’ uttered by Lord Nārāyaṇa. Since Vāc or word is identified with the goddess Sarasvatī, he is also said to be Sārasvata or son of Sarasvati. Lord Nārāyaṇa commanded him to edit the Vedas and propagate them in each manvantara (age of Manu).
He was later on reborn as Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana or Vedavyāsa during the Dvāpara-yuga. He is also known by the other two names:
- Prācīnagarbha
- Vedācārya
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore