Adrishyanti
Vashishtha has lost his son Shakthri in a struggle for overall power with Vishwamitra and Kalmashapada. It takes him twelve whole years to regain his composure far enough to even recognize his beloved grandson, Parashara, who up until then was raised single-handedly by his steadfast mother, Adrishyanti.
While the stories of Parashara’s advanced intellect in his youth are probably exaggerated to some extent, it is undeniable that he has always been a force to reckoned with. We obviously know that he is Vyasa’s father, but what interests me more is who he is outside of that.
A once-in-a-generation genius, and yet Parashara is plagued by the unexplained absence of his father. He resorts eventually to addressing Vashishtha himself as ‘father’ (an interesting parallel with Arjuna and Bheeshma later). Vashishtha, either seeking to see his son once more in Parashara, or being sympathetic to the child’s unsated curiosity, does not correct him. In fact, Adrishyanti has to eventually step in to correct the situation.
After that, a lot of things happen, but eventually Parashara grows up to be one of the most renowned academics of his time. Like, Vyasa, he too becomes what I like to call a ‘celestial librarian’, whose job is to compile, categorize and preserve the best snapshot of society available in recent memory.
He goes on to author the Parashara Samhita, which among many other things, both good and bad, if I am not wrong, has one of the earliest documentations in explicit support of women’s rights. I prefer to believe that his bold respect towards women (however little it is explored in his Samhita as well as in MB) is a result of his mother’s influence.
He is not completely free of society’s chains or demands, as we see him solicit a young girl, when he is badgered by his ‘ancestors’.
However, he probably handles the situation the best out of the rest (still this shouldn’t have happened, but here we are). He at least compensates Satyavati, in respect, and in recognition. Better, he raises his son with the same values, and makes him into a man that cared enough to repay his mother’s debt manifold.
He respected her enough to give her the power to negotiate in a society where no one would blame him if he didn’t.
Adrishyanti's name itself points to her apparent invisibility within the narrative. However, personally, I would still choose to see her presence within the characters of the men and women that followed.
