Saptarshi

 ( Rishis ) 

The Saptarshi ( ) are the seven seers of ancient India who are extolled in the , and other Hindu texts such as the Skanda Purana. The Vedic never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do, so these constellations are easily recognizable.

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Hindu sacred text An early prototype of the "Saptarishi" concept may stem from the six families associated with the six "Family Books" in the Rigveda (Mandalas 2–7 in ascending order: Gritsamada, Viśvāmitra, Vamadeva, Atri, Bhardwaja, Vasiṣṭha). While not a "Family Book", Mandala 8 is mostly attributed to Kaṇva, who could be considered the 7th prototypical Saptarishi.

The earliest formal list of the seven rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218–221: Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vashistha, and Vishvamitra followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vashistha, and Vishvamitra. The late Gopatha Brahmana 1.2.8 has Vashistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Gungu, Agastya, and Kashyapa.

In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these were recognized as the 'mind-born sons' (Sanskrit: मनस पुत्र, manasputra) of Brahma, the representation of the Supreme Being as Creator. Other representations are Maheshvara or Shiva as the Destroyer and Vishnu as the Preserver. Since these seven rishis were also among the primary eight rishis, who were considered to be the ancestors of the of , the birth of these rishis was mythicized.

According to legend, the seven rishis in the next manvantara will be Diptimat, Galava, Parashurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa, and Rishyasringa.

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Names A manvantara (age of Manu) is a unit of time within a kalpa (day of Brahma). There are fourteen manvantaras in a kalpa, each separated by sandhyas (connecting periods). Each manvantara is ruled by a different Manu, with the current seventh one ruled by Vaivasvata Manu. Rishis and their sons are born anew in each manvantara.

(2025). 9783642007378, Springer. ISBN 9783642007378

(2025). 9781684669387, Notion Press. ISBN 9781684669387

Account of the several Manus and Manwantaras Vishnu Purana, translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, 1840, Book III: Chapter I. p. 259, The first Manu was Swáyambhuva, then came Swárochisha, then Auttami, then Támasa, then Raivata, then Chakshusha: these six Manus have died. The Manu who presides over the seventh Manwantara, which is the present period, is Vaivaswata, the son of the sun... Pralaya The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky, Vol. 2, p. 307 THE SEVEN AND FOURTEEN MANUS.

+ Saptarishis in each manvantara of the current kalpa (Śveta-Vārāha Kalpa) ! Manu ( manvantara) His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada9789171497307, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. . ISBN 9789171497307 !! Saptarishis

Wilson, Horace Hayman; trans. (1840) " Vishńu Puráńa ", Sacred-Texts.com. Contains an account of the several Manus and Manwantaras. Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Marichi, Vashistha.

Urja, Stambha, Prana, Vata, Prishava, Niraya, and Parivan

Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha, Pravahita, Mita, and Sammita

Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara

Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urdhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhama, Parjanya, and Mahamuni

Sumedha, Viraja, Havishman, Uttar, Madhu, Sahishnu, and Atinama

Vashishta, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishvamitra, Bharadvaja

Diptimat, Galava, Parashurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa, and Rishyasringa

Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman, and Satya

Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas, and Satyaketu

Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman, and Anagha

Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhana

Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas

Agnibshu, Suchi, Aukra, Magadha, Gridhra, Yukta and Ajita

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Lists Image:HinducosmoMap2.svg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Click! Dhruva, Saptarishi, Shani, Bṛhaspati, Budha, Shukra, Chandra, Vivasvan, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu rect 172 2 277 31 rect 171 96 259 122 rect 174 148 239 179 rect 170 198 258 222 rect 171 256 242 278 rect 177 282 240 298 rect 177 317 221 333 rect 177 332 212 349 rect 101 375 261 398

1. The Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4) acknowledge the names of seven (or Saptarshis) as:

• Atri
• Bharadvaja
• Gautama Maharishi
• Jamadagni
• Kashyapa
• Vasistha
• Vishwamitra

2. The Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as:

• Angiras
• Atri
• Bhrigu
• Gautama Maharishi
• Kashyapa
• Kutsa
• Vasistha

3. The Mahabharata and Brihat Samhita offer the seven rishis' names as:

• Angiras
• Atri
• Kratu
• Marichi
• Pulaha
• Pulastya
• Vasistha

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Jainism In Jainism it is stated that, "Once at Mathura situated in Uttar Pradesh seven Riddhidhari Digamber saints having 'Aakaashgamini Vidhya' came during the rainy season for chaturmaas whose names were 1.) Surmanyu, 2.) Shrimanyu, 3.) Shrinichay, 4.) Sarvasundar, 5.) Jayvaan, 6.) Vinaylaala and 7.) Jaymitra. They all were sons of King Shri Nandan of Prabhapurnagar and queen Dharini. Shri Nandan king took diksha becoming shishya of Omniscient Pritinkar Muniraaj and attained salvation. Because of great tapcharan of these seven digamber munis the 'Mahamaari' disease stopped its evil effect and they all gained the name as 'Saptrishi'. Many idols of these seven munis were made after that event by King Shatrughna in all four directions of the city."

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Sikhism In the Dasam Granth, a text which is traditionally attributed to Guru Gobind Singh, mentions the biographies of the seven rishis, that is, Valmiki, Kashyapa, Shukra, Baches, Vyas, Khat and Kalidas. These are described under the composition Brahm Avtar.Page 17, Dasam Granth, SS Kapoor

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Astronomy In ancient Indian astronomy, the pattern of stars known in the West as the Big Dipper (part of the larger constellation of Ursa Major) is called Saptarshi, with the seven stars representing seven rishis: Vashistha, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu. A faint companion star near Vashistha, known as Arundhati, is identified with Vashistha’s wife. Together, Vashistha and Arundhati correspond to the double star system Mizar and Alcor.

In Hindu astronomy, the seven stars of the Saptarshi Mandala, or Big Dipper are called:

Kratu	α UMa	Dubhe
Pulaha	β UMa	Merak
Pulastya	γ UMa	Phecda
Atri	δ UMa	Megrez
Angiras	ε UMa	Alioth
Vasistha	ζ UMa	Mizar
Marichi	η UMa	Alkaid

Vasishtha is accompanied by Arundhati, a faint companion star (Alcor/80 Ursa Majoris).

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See also

• Nachiketa
• Dhruva
• Apkallu

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