Saptarshi

Saptarshi: Vishvamitra (top left), Jamadagni (top middle), Gautama (top right), Vasishtha (in the middle, beardless), Kashyapa (down left), Bharadvaja (down middle, in a yogic asana, upside down), Atri (down right). Pahari, from a Bandralta-Mankot workshop; c. 1700. Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh

In traditional Hindu astronomy, the seven stars of the Big Dipper are identified with the names of Saptarshis

The Saptarshi (Sanskrit: सप्तर्षि, lit. 'Seven sages' IAST: Saptarṣi) are the seven seers of ancient India who are extolled in the Vedas, and other Hindu literature such as the Skanda Purana.^[1] The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do so these constellations are easily recognizable.

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 Samhita (Mandalas 2–7 in ascending order: Gṛtsamāda, Viśvāmitra, Vāmadeva, Atri, Bharadvaja, 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 rishis^[2] were recognized as the 'mind-born sons' (Sanskrit: मनस पुत्र, manasaputra) 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 Gotras of Brahmins, 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.

Names

Main articles: Manu (Hinduism) and Manvantara

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.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Manvantara in Hindu units of time measurement, on a logarithmic scale.

Saptarishis in each manvantara of the current kalpa (Śveta-Vārāha Kalpa)

Manu (manvantara)[9]	Saptarishis
Svayambhuva	[10] Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Marichi, Vashistha.
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)	Vashishta, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishvamitra, Bharadvaja
Savarni	Diptimat, Galava, Parashurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, 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

Lists

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

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

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

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."

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, Sukra, Baches, Vyas, Khat and Kalidas. These are described under the composition Brahm Avtar.^[11]

Astronomy

In ancient Indian astronomy, the asterism of the Big Dipper (part of the constellation of Ursa Major) is called saptarishi, with the seven stars representing seven rishis, namely "Vashistha", "Marichi", "Pulastya", "Pulaha", "Atri", "Angiras" and "Kratu". There is another star slightly visible within it, known as "Arundhati". Arundhati and Vashishtha are married, and together form the Mizar double.^[12]

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

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). The valid avatar's clan is supposed to be named after their ashvamedha.

See also

• Nachiketa
• Dhruva
• Apkallu

References

1. www.wisdomlib.org (2012-06-24). "Saptarshi, Saptarishi, Saptarṣi, Saptaṛṣi: 13 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
2. "Who are Saptarshi, the importance of their worship". Jai Bhole. Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2020-09-02.
3. Doniger, Wendy; Hawley, John Stratton, eds. (1999). "Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. p. 691 (Manu). ISBN 0877790442. 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.
4. Gupta, S. V. (2010). "Ch. 1.2.4 Time Measurements". In Hull, Robert; Osgood, Richard M. Jr.; Parisi, Jurgen; Warlimont, Hans (eds.). Units of Measurement: Past, Present and Future. International System of Units. Springer Series in Materials Science: 122. Springer. pp. 7–8. ISBN 9783642007378. 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.
5. Krishnamurthy, V. (2019). "Ch. 20: The Cosmic Flow of Time as per Scriptures". Meet the Ancient Scriptures of Hinduism. Notion Press. ISBN 9781684669387. 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).
6. Wilkins, William Joseph (1913) [1882]. Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Purānic (3rd ed.). Calcutta: London Missionary Society. p. 365. 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.
7. Account of the several Manus and Manwantaras Archived 2008-07-06 at the Wayback Machine 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 Chákshusha: 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...
8. Pralaya Archived 2008-07-06 at the Wayback Machine The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky, Vol. 2, p. 307 THE SEVEN AND FOURTEEN MANUS.
9. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Teachings of Lord Caitanya (Third Edition): The Golden Avatara. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. pp. 109\u2013. ISBN 978-91-7149-730-7.
10. Wilson, Horace Hayman; trans. (1840) "Vishńu Puráńa Archived 2008-07-06 at the Wayback Machine", Sacred-Texts.com. Contains an account of the several Manus and Manwantaras.
11. Page 17, Dasam Granth, SS Kapoor
12. Shankar, P.N (1 January 1985). A guide to the night sky (PDF). Bangalore: Karnataka Rajya Vignana Parishat. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2019.