Vyasa Peetha
{{Short description|Ashram of the Veda Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayan}}
{{Infobox monastery
| name = Vyasa Peetha
| native_name = व्यास पीठ
| full_name = Veda Vyasa Peetha
| other_names = Veda Vyasa Ashram
| full = Veda Vyasa Peetha
| dedication = Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata, etc
| founder = Veda Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayan
| location = Naimisharanya Teerth, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh
| country = India
| remains = Banyan Tree
| celebration = Guru Purnima
}}
Vyasa Peetha ( Sanskrit: व्यास पीठ ), 'the seat of Vyasa', is the site at Naimisharanya Teerth in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, India, where the Vedic sage Vyasa is said to have composed the Mahabaratha.{{Cite web |title=Vyas Gaddi {{!}} District Sitapur, Government of Uttar Pradesh {{!}} India |url=https://sitapur.nic.in/tourist-place/vyas-gaddi/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SoUfAAAAYAAJ&q=vyasa+peetha |title=Lucifer |date=1891 |publisher=George Redway |pages=19 |language=en}} An ashram called Vyas Gaddi is located at the site.
Etymology
Vyasa is traditionally regarded as the compiler of Vedas and the composer of the Mahabaratha.{{Cite book |last=Ramesh |first=Sri B. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EoaGAwAAQBAJ |title=VYASA |date=2012-05-04 |publisher=Sapna Book House (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-280-1780-3 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Kusumeshwaree |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yV0pAAAAYAAJ |title=Shreegurugeetartheshwaree |date=1974 |publisher=D. B. Dhawale |pages=166 |language=en}} Peetha means seat, altar or holy place where a deity resides ('sits'); it also refers to a temple or ashram where knowledge is acquired. Vyasa Gaddi refers to the ‘seat of Vyasa’.
The term Vyasa Peetha is also used to denote the seat where priests sits to recite the Veda's and other texts.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-01 |title=What is a Vyas Peeth? Who Can Sit on it? Know About this Place and Its Significance |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/spiritual/know-what-is-a-vyas-peeth-and-its-significance-article-107334087 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Times Now |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Kameshwar |first=G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FdNlAAAAMAAJ |title=Bend in the Sarayu: A Soota Chronicle |date=2006 |publisher=Rupa & Company |isbn=978-81-291-0942-2 |pages=232 |language=en}}
Description
Vyasa Peetha is located at Naimisharanya Teerth in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. It is an important sacred place in Hindu pilgrimage,{{Cite web |title=इसी वट के नीचे ऋषि व्यास ने दिए थे वेद-पुराणों के उपदेश, पितरों की नाभी कहलाता है यह स्थान |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/astrology/story-namisharanya-know-the-significance-of-visiting-namisharanya-temple-during-pitru-paksha-and-its-religious-importance-8824843.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Hindustan |language=hi}} and an ashram called Veda Vyasa Ashram and Vyas Gaddi is located at the site. There is a small shrine dedicated to Vyasa, and there are triangular piles of clothes representing the presiding deity in the temple.