Vyasa (title)

Vyasa (Devanagari: व्यास, vyāsa) a.k.a. Veda Vyāsa (वेदव्यास, veda-vyāsa) is the title given to the Rishi (sage) who comes at the end of every Dvapara Yuga to divide and compile the one Veda into four and compile the Puranas and Mahabharata for the benefit of mankind in the degraded age that follows, Kali Yuga. Vyasa is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. In the 28th mahayuga (current), Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa was Vyasa, whose name refers to his complexion and birthplace, and who is believed to be a partial incarnation of Vishnu that occurs once in every kalpa. In the upcoming 29th mahayuga, Guru Drona's son Rishi Aswatthama will be born as the next Vyasa. In the previous 27th mahayuga, Veda Vyasa's father was Vyasa.

Past Vyasa
The Vishnu Purana has a theory about Vyasa. The Hindu view of the universe is that of a cyclic phenomenon that comes into existence and dissolves repeatedly. Each kalpa cycle is presided over by a number of Manus, one for each manvantara, and each manvantara has a number of Yuga Cycles, each having four yuga ages of declining virtues. The Dvapara Yuga is the third yuga. The Vishnu Purana (Book 3, Ch 3) says:

''Twenty-eight times have the Vedas been arranged by the great Rishis in the Vaivasvata Manvantara... and consequently eight and twenty Vyasas have passed away; by whom, in the respective periods, the Veda has been divided into four''

During every Dvapara Yuga of the present Vaivasvat Manvantara, different Vyasas have divided the Vedas twenty-eight times. The names of those who acted as Vyasa:
 * 1) Brahma
 * 2) Prajapati
 * 3) Shukracharya
 * 4) Brihaspati
 * 5) Surya
 * 6) Mrityu
 * 7) Indra
 * 8) Vashishta
 * 9) Saraswata
 * 10) Tridhama
 * 11) Trishikh
 * 12) Bharadwaj
 * 13) Antariksh
 * 14) Varani
 * 15) Trayyarun
 * 16) Dhananjay
 * 17) Krutunjay
 * 18) Jay
 * 19) Bharadwaj
 * 20) Gautam
 * 21) Haryatma
 * 22) Vajshrava
 * 23) Trinbindhu
 * 24) Valmiki
 * 25) Shakti
 * 26) Parashara
 * 27) Jaratkaru
 * 28) Krishna Dwaipayana
 * 29) Ashwatthama, Drona's son (next Dvapara Yuga)

From Kurma Purana, in every Dvapara Yuga, a Veda Vyasa is born so as to divide the Vedas and disseminate their knowledge. In the present era, there have been twenty eight Dvapara Yugas and therefore been twenty eight individuals who have held the title of Veda Vyasa. The Kurma Purana gives their names as follows:
 * 1) Svayambhuva Manu
 * 2) Prajapati
 * 3) Ushana
 * 4) Brihaspati
 * 5) Savita
 * 6) Mrityu
 * 7) Indra
 * 8) Vashishtha
 * 9) Sarasvata
 * 10) Tridhama
 * 11) Rishabha
 * 12) Suteja
 * 13) Dharma
 * 14) Sachaksha
 * 15) Trayaruni
 * 16) Dhananjaya
 * 17) Kritanjaya
 * 18) Ritanjaya
 * 19) Bharadvaja
 * 20) Goutamaa
 * 21) Vachashrava
 * 22) Nara-Narayana
 * 23) Trinavindu
 * 24) Valmiki
 * 25) Shaktri
 * 26) Parashara
 * 27) Jatukarna
 * 28) Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa
 * 29) Aswatthama or Drauni, Drona's son (next Dvapara Yuga)

Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa divided the Vedas into four parts and taught them to four of his disciples. He taught:
 * Paila the Rig Veda
 * Vaishampayana the Yajur Veda
 * Jaimini the Sama Veda
 * Sumantu the Atharva Veda
 * Lomaharshana the Puranas

In Shiva Purana, it mentions various incarnations of Vyasa and Shiva. In Varaha Kalpa of the Seventh Manvantara, Vishnu illuminated all the three world by his divine presence. This seventh Manvantara consisted of four yugas which repeated themselves in a cyclic way for twelve times.
 * 1) The first Dvapara Yuga, of this seventh manvantara saw the manifestation of lord Shiva for the welfare of the Brahmins. When Kali Yuga arrived Shiva again manifested himself along with goddess Shakti and was known as Mahamuni Shweta. Brahma had the privilege of becoming his disciple.
 * 2) During the second Dvapara, sage Vyasa existed as Satya, Prajapati and Shiva became famous as Sutar. Shiva in his incarnation of Sutra had many disciples among whom Dundubhi was very famous.
 * 3) During the third Dvapara, sage Vyasa took his incarnation as Bhargava and lord Shiva became famous as Daman. Shiva in his incarnation as Daman had four disciples among whom Vishoka was very famous. When Kali Yuga arrived after this third Dvapara. Shiva along with his Disciples helped Sage Vyasa.
 * 4) During the fourth Dvapara, Sage Vyasa took his incarnation as Angira and Shiva as Suhotra. Even in this incarnation Shiva had four disciples among whom Sumukh was very famous. Shiva along with his disciples helped Angira.
 * 5) During the fifth Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Savita and Shiva as 'Kanka' who was very famous for his tremendous austerities. Kanka had four disciples among whom Sanak was very famous.
 * 6) During the sixth Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Mrityu and Shiva as 'Lokakshi'. Lokakshi had four disciples among whom Sudhama was very prominent.
 * 7) During the seventh Dvapara, sage Vyasa manifested himself as Indra and Shiva as Jaigisatya. Jaigisatya had four disciples among whom Saraswat was very prominent.
 * 8) During the eighth Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Vashishtha and Shiva as Dadhivahan. Dadhivahan had four disciples among whom Kapila was very famous.
 * 9) During the ninth Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Saraswat and Shiva as 'Rishabh'. Shiva in his incarnation as Rishabhdeva had four disciples among whom Parashar was very famous.
 * 10) During the eleventh Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Trivarta and Shiva as 'Kali'. Shiva in his incarnation as Kali had four disciples among whom Lambodara was very famous.
 * 11) During the 12th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Satateja and Shiva incarnates in golden-complexion. In Shiva's this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Sarvajña was very famous.
 * 12) During the 13th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Narayana and Shiva as Bali Maharishi (don't confuse him with Mahabali). In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Sudhama was very famous.
 * 13) During the 14th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Raksha and Shiva as Gautama. Shiva in his incarnation as Gautama had four disciples among whom Atri was very famous.
 * 14) During the 15th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Tryyani and Shiva as 'Vedashira'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Kuni was very famous.
 * 15) During the 16th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Deva and Shiva as Gokarna for imparting instructions in Yoga. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Kashyapa was very famous.
 * 16) During the 17th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Devakritañjaya and Shiva as Guhavasi. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Uthathya was very famous.
 * 17) During the 18th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Ritañjaya and Shiva as Shikhandi. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Ruchika was very famous.
 * 18) During the 19th Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Bharadhwaja and Shiva as Jati and Mali. In this two incarnations, the four disciples among whom Hiranyanama was very famous.
 * 19) During the 20 Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Gauthama and Shiva as 'Attahasa'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Sumanta was famous.
 * 20) During twenty-first Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Vacashravas and Shiva as 'Daruka'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Plaksa was famous.
 * 21) During the twenty-second Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Susmayana and Shiva as 'Langali Bhima' in Kashi. He is also known as "Bhava" and "Halayudha" by Devas at the 22nd Kali Yuga.
 * 22) During the twenty-third Dvapara, Vyasa took incarnation as Trinabindu and Shiva as 'Shveta'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Usika was famous.
 * 23) During the twenty-fourth Dvapara, Vyasa took incarnation as Yaksa and Shiva as 'Suli'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Salihotra was famous.
 * 24) During the twenty-fifth Dvapara, Vyasa took incarnation as Sakti and Shiva as 'Mundishvara'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Chagala was famous.
 * 25) During the twenty-sixth Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Parashara and Shiva as 'Sahishnu'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Uluka was famous.
 * 26) During the twenty seventh Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Jatukarna and Shiva as 'Somasharman'. In this incarnation, the four disciples among whom Akshapada was very famous.
 * 27) During the twenty-eight (current) Dvapara, sage Vyasa took incarnation as Krishna Dwaipayana and Shiva as 'Lakuli'.

Current Vyasa
Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa lived around the 3rd millennium BCE. The festival of Guru Purnima is dedicated to him. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima, for it is the day believed to be both his birthday and the day he divided the Vedas. He is the author of the Mahabharata, as well as a character in it. He is considered to be the scribe of both the Vedas and Puranas.

Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa is also considered to be one of the seven Chiranjivins (long lived, or immortals), who are still in existence according to general Hindu belief. Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa will also become one of the Saptarishi in the 8th Manvantara along with sage Kripa, sage Aswatthama and sage Parashurama

Vyas as a surname follow from ‘Vyasa’ and was once awarded to the royal family of ranawas.

Future Vyasa
Ashwatthama or Drauni was the son of Dronacharya. Drona did many years of severe penance to please Shiva in order to obtain a son who possesses the same valiance as of Shiva. Aswatthama is the avatar of one of the eleven Rudras and he is one of the seven Chiranjivi or the immortal ones. He is the grandson of the sage Bharadwaja. He is a mighty Maharathi who fought on the Kaurava side against the Pandavas in Mahabharata war. Aswatthama along with his maternal uncle Kripacharya and Kritavarma is believed to be the lone survivors still living who actually fought in the kurukshetra war. Along with sage Parashurama, sage Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa and sage Kripa, Aswatthama is considered to be foremost among the rishis in Kali Yuga. Aswatthama will become the next sage Vyasa, who in turn divide the Veda in 29th Mahayuga of 7th Manvantara. Aswatthama will also become one of the Saptarishi in the 8th Manvantara along with sage Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa, sage Kripa and sage Parashurama. Like Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, and Arjuna, he is a master of the science of weapons and is regarded as the foremost among warriors. Aswatthama studied Dhanurvidya or martial arts and Brahmavidya or the science of the self or Atma from Parashurama, Maharishi Durvasa, Maharishi Krishna Dvaipāyana Vyasa, Bhishma, Kripa and Drona. Aswatthama is the master of all forms of knowledge and possesses complete mastery over 64 forms of arts or Kalas and 18 Vidyas or branches of knowledge.

Also, Sage Suta possibly will be Vyasa in final Mahayuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara. The Shiva Purana mentions that:-

"76-77. lord rudra annihilates them i shall explain it at the end of vaivasvata kalpa. thus i have mentioned all about the manvantaras to you. it is a holy narrative conclusive to wealth and increase of the family."