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TheSaptarshi (Sanskrit:सप्तर्षि,lit. 'Seven sages'IAST:Saptarṣi) are the seven seers ofancient India who are extolled in theVedas, and otherHindu literature such as theSkanda Purana.[1] The VedicSamhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as theBrahmanas andUpanisads do, so these constellations are easily recognizable.
An early prototype of the "Saptarishi" concept may stem from the six families associated with the six "Family Books" in theRigveda Samhita (Mandalas 2–7 in ascending order:Gṛtsamāda,Viśvāmitra,Vāmadeva,Atri,Bharadvaja,Vasiṣṭha). While not a "Family Book", Mandala 8 is mostly attributed toKaṇva, who could be considered the 7th prototypical Saptarishi.
The earliest formal list of the seven rishis is given byJaiminiya Brahmana 2.218–221:Agastya,Atri,Bhardwaja,Gautama,Jamadagni,Vashistha, andVishvamitra followed byBrihadaranyakaUpanisad 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 theserishis[2] were recognized as the 'mind-born sons' (Sanskrit: मनस पुत्र,manasaputra) ofBrahma, the representation of theSupreme Being asCreator. Other representations areMaheshvara orShiva as theDestroyer andVishnu as thePreserver. Since these seven rishis were also among the primary eight rishis, who were considered to be the ancestors of theGotras ofBrahmins, the birth of these rishis was mythicized.
According to legend, the seven rishis in the nextmanvantara will be Diptimat, Galava,Parashurama,Kripa, Drauni orAshwatthama,Vyasa, and Rishyasringa.
Amanvantara (age ofManu) is a unit of time within akalpa (day ofBrahma). There are fourteenmanvantaras in akalpa, each separated bysandhyas (connecting periods). Eachmanvantara is ruled by a differentManu, with the current seventh one ruled byVaivasvata Manu.Rishis and their sons are born anew in eachmanvantara.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
| Manu (manvantara)[9] | Saptarishis |
|---|---|
| Svayambhuva | [10] Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Marichi, Vashishta. |
| Svarocisha | Urja, Stambha, Prana, Vata, Prishava, Niraya, and Parivan |
| Uttama | Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha, Pravahita, Mita, and Sammita |
| Tapasa/Tamasa | Jyotirdhama,Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pivara |
| Raivata | Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urdhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhama,Parjanya, and Mahamuni |
| Chakshusha | Sumedha, Viraja, Havishman, Uttar, Madhu, Sahishnu, and Atinama |
| Vaivasvata (current) | Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Agastya, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishvamitra, Bharadvaja |
| Savarni | Diptimat, Galava,Parashurama,Kripa, Drauni orAshwatthama,Vyasa, and Rishyasringa |
| Daksha-savarni | Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman, and Satya |
| Brahma-savarni | Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas, and Satyaketu |
| Dharma-savarni | Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman, and Anagha |
| Rudra-savarni | Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti, and Tapodhana |
| Deva-savarni | Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya, and Sutapas |
| Indra-savarni | Agnibshu, Suchi, Aukra, Magadha, Gridhra, Yukta and Ajita |
1. TheShatapatha Brahmana andBrihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4) acknowledge the names of sevenrishis (or Saptarshis) as:
2. The Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as:
3. The Mahabharata and Brihat Samhita offer the seven rishis' names as:
InJainism it is stated that, "Once atMathura situated inUttar 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."
In theDasam Granth, a text which is traditionally attributed toGuru Gobind Singh, mentions the biographies of the seven rishis, that is,Valmiki,Kashyapa,Sukra,Baches,Vyas, Khat andKalidas. These are described under the composition Brahm Avtar.[11]
In ancientIndian astronomy, the pattern of stars known in the West as theBig Dipper (part of the larger constellation ofUrsa Major) is called Saptarshi, with the seven stars representing seven rishis:Vashistha,Marichi,Pulastya,Pulaha,Atri,Angiras andKratu. A faint companion star near Vashistha, known asArundhati, is identified with Vashistha’s wife. Together, Vashistha and Arundhati correspond to the double star systemMizar and Alcor.[12]
InHindu astronomy, the seven stars of the Saptarshi Mandala, or Big Dipper are called:
| Indian Name | Bayer Designation | Western Name |
|---|---|---|
| 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).
a day in the life of Brahma is divided into 14 periods called manvantaras ("Manu intervals"), each of which lasts for 306,720,000 years. In every second cycle [(new kalpa after pralaya)] the world is recreated, and a new Manu appears to become the father of the next human race. The present age is considered to be the seventh Manu cycle.
Paraphrased: Mahayuga equals 12,000 Deva (divine) years (4,320,000 solar years). Manvantara equals 71 Mahayugas (306,720,000 solar years). Kalpa (day of Brahma) equals an Adi Sandhya, 14 Manvantaras, and 14 Sandhya Kalas, where 1st Manvantara preceded by Adi Sandhya and each Manvantara followed by Sandhya Kala, each Sandhya lasting same duration as Satya yuga (1,728,000 solar years), during which the entire earth is submerged in water. Day of Brahma equals 1,000 Mahayugas, the same length for a night of Brahma (Bhagavad-gita 8.17). Brahma lifespan (311.04 trillion solar years) equals 100 360-day years, each 12 months. Parardha is 50 Brahma years and we are in the 2nd half of his life. After 100 years of Brahma, the universe starts with a new Brahma. We are currently in the 28th Kali yuga of the first day of the 51st year of the second Parardha in the reign of the 7th (Vaivasvata) Manu.
Each manvantara is preceded and followed by a period of 1,728,000 (= 4K) years when the entire earthly universe (bhu-loka) will submerge under water. The period of this deluge is known as manvantara-sandhya (sandhya meaning, twilight).
In each Manvantara (period of a Manu), seven Rishis, certain deities, an Indra and a Manu, and the kings, his sons, are created and perish.
