The great Saptarishi are the seven greatest sages of the Vedic realm who have attained a semi-immortal status, that of an exceedingly long lifespan thanks to their yogic power and by the facility of their penance. The seven saints were assigned to be present through the four great ages, to direct the humanity.
Importance and Brief about Saptarshi, Seven Sages of various Manavantara
All the Saptarishi are Brahmarishis which suggests that they had complete understanding of meaning of Brahman. These great "Brahmarishi's" were born divinely and appointed by Lord Brahma. Brahmarishis hold such power that they can defeating any weapon on earth, can forecast the longer term, and not influenced by the circle of life and death. Maharishi means ‘great sage’ in Sanskrit and refers to at least one who has greatly expanded and refined senses. Their pineal eye is totally open and their intuition is employed to its fullest capacity. Their attention and focus encompass the whole universe and yet they will still maintain incredibly precise detail in actions and thoughts.
The new Saptarishi's take the responsibility from the old Saptarishi's at the top of Manvantar. These Saptarishi's are very best rank over "Devatas" whose classifications are as follow which includes Rajarishi (Royal Sage, means king who is additionally a sage) and MahaRishi (Their pineal eye is open completely.
All about Manavantara The Period Or Age Of Manu
Manvantara is the cyclic age of "Manu" used for time measurement as per Hindu Cosmology. At the beginning of a Kalpa (day of Bhrama), Brahma creates Manu the progenitor to mankind to make the world and on his death, another Manu is made to continue the cycle. 14 manvantara’s create a Kalp( Day+ Night of Brahma) consistent with time cycles of hinduism. At the top of every kalp there's a pralay where the planet is destroyed and it lies during a state of rest this era where "The Lord Bhrama" will go to sleep is named as the “Night of Brahma” whereas neither Lord Vishnu nor Lord Shiva can sleep. The life of Brahma started within the Navel of Lord Vishnu and it's for 100 years (day Time). In the daytime, he creates the world and in night he absorbs the vital force back to him. The Cycle of Creation and destruction works forever like this.
Various Yuga And Kalpa - The Age of Humankind
As per various sacred text, exact calculation of the time period for entire universe is given as follow. A yuga in Sanatan Dharma Hinduism, is a large period of time, as it relates to the past, present and future. It is mostly used to describe one of the four Dharmic ages where classification of yugas is from Manvantara where each Manvantara has 71 Chaturyugas which mean's 4 sub-yugas-Satyug,Tretayug,Dwaparyug and Kalyug. In these four yuga's 1 yuga cycle is of 43,200,000 years. Satyayug or yuga of truth lies for 4800 years (17,28,000 human years), Tretayug is for 3600 years(12,96,000 human years), Dwaparyug is for 2400 years(8,64,000 human Years) and eventually, Kalyug is for 1200 years(4,32,000 human years).1 Yuga cycle makes Mahayuga where 1000 Mahayuga is called day/night of Brahma or Kalpa So 1 day of Brahma is 2000 Mahayuga and each 1000 Mahayuga is divided between 14 Manus. 1 Manu rules 71.42 Mahayuga. Thu one Manvantara is around 71 Mahayuga. So one year for brahma is 360 Brahma Years i.e 360*2000=720000 Mahayuga. The lifespan of Brahma is hundred years i.e 72000000 Mahayugas.The Current Brahma dies and new Brahma is created by Vishnu after these 100 years.
Meaning & Significance of Gotra In Sanatan Dharma
Our ancestral lineage, also known as Gotras, relates on to the Saptarishi. A Gotra may be a lineage or clan assigned to a everyone in Sanatan Dharma at birth where in most cases, the system is paternal and the Gotra assigned is that of the person’s father. According to the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.2.4, seven sages of Saptarshi are Kashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja and the decedents of these seven sages are stated to be gotras. The term Gotra being consistent with Hindu tradition which employed just for the lineages of Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vysya families. Hence, the kid is given a specific Gotra in reference to the actual clan of Saptarishi they belong to.
The Role of Saptarishi The Divine Saints In Hinduism
The Saptarishi or seven sages of Sanathan Dharma are the mind born sons of Lord Brahma – The creator of universe. This Great Saptarishi’s life period is known as Manvantar (306,720,000 Earth Years) serving as representative of their father Brahma.
The Sapta Rishi as per "Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad" are Atri, Bharadvaj, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vashista and Vishwamitra. As per" Krishna Yajurveda" Saptarshi are Angiras, Atri, Bhrigu, Gautama, Kashyapa, Kutsa and Vashista. Saptarishi included in "Brihat Samhita" is Saptarishi -Marichi, Vashista, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu. The present Manvantara is the seventh one and is known as Vaivasvata Manvantara after its ruler Vaivasvata Manu. According to the Vishnu Purana, Vaivasvata Manu who is also called as Sraddhadeva or Satyavrata. For the current Manvantara, the SaptaRishi are Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja, significance of following are shown below. The Saptarshi of this Manvantara per Brihadaranyaka religious text square measure listed below throughout this text. Brihadaranyaka religious text is one in every of the earliest Upanishad Hindu scriptures.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Bharadwaja
Bhardawaj also spell as Bharadvaja is one among the best sage in sacred writing times, one of the Saptarshi of Present time and conjointly a descendant of sage Angirasa and son of Devarshi Brihaspati. Thus three rishis are known as Traya Rishi of Bhardwaja Gotra. As per the legend, sage Bharadvaja was found on banks of stream Ganga and adopted by king Bharata. He had an insatiable thirst for learning vedas and additionally meditated for Hindu deity, Lord Shiva and Parvati.
The Great MahaRishi "Bharadwaj'" contributions to the ancient Indian literature, mainly in Puranas and Rig Veda, played a significant role in giving an insight to the then Indian society along with theories on medicine and Ayurveda. He and his family of students are considered as the authors of the sixth book of the Rigveda. The MahaRishi Bharadwaja was father of Dronacharya, the key character of Mahabharata and an instructor of "Pandava's" and "Kauravas" and grandfather of "Ashvatthama" a legendry in Mahabharata. Dronacharya participated in battles of Mahabharata alongside Kauravas. Besides making immense contributions to economics and literature, Rishi Bhardwaja was also a well-known physician who finds mention in the Charaka Samhita, a treatise on medicine. As per other legend, sage Bhardwaja is also mentioned in great epic Ramayana, where Lord Shree Ram was guided by him for stay during exile. Bhardvaja is also mentioned in some of the key Buddhist text also.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Vishwamitra
Sage Vishwamitra is one of the most respected saint of the Vedic time, author of the Gayatri Mantra and major portal of Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, thus considered as one of great MahaRishi and seven sages of current Manvantara. The MahaRishi Vishwamitra wasn't a Brahmana by birth, but a Kshatriya -warrior and the King in Chandravansh dynasty. Sage Vishwamitra is one of the key character of Ramayana - great epic of Sanatan Dharma and also spelled as Viswamitra, Vishvamitra, and known as Kaushika.
Legend behind the birth of Sage Vishwamitra is very interesting to know, Gadhi, son of Kushika was Chandravanshi King and he had daughter named Satyavati. Great sage Ruchika married to Satyavati, when they want son, sage Ruchika had created a divine rice pudding for Satyavati. Then she requested sage to create another rise for her mother also as she was the only daughter of King Gadhi. Thus Sage Ruchika had created two vessel of rice from which one great warrior and one great sage could take birth. Then, Satyavati and Ruchika blessed with great sage Jamadagni as son and King Gadhi had a son – Kaushika, great warrior and later on famous as Sage Vishwamitra. Kaushika had rule over Kanyakubja kingdom very effectively.
Another key turnaround of life of Kaushika to become Vishwamitra was conflict with great sage Vashista. Once Vishwarmitra visited sage Vashista’s ashram and he and his entire army were fed by Vashista’s cow – known as Kamdhenu. After seen this miracle, Vishwamitra asked for possession of Kamdhenu but Vashista had refuse his request with humble. But Vishwamitra was firm to take Kamdhenu and ordered his army to capture it. But during war Sage Vashishta destroyed Vishvamitra’s entire army. Then life of Kaushika – Vishwamitra was changed and he undertook penance for several thousands of years and pleased Mahadev. The Lord Mahadev then gave Vishvamitra several celestial weapons. The Rishi Vashistha destroyed all of Vishvamitra’s celestial weapons including the Brahmastra using the Brahmadanda (stick embedded with the power of Brahma Dev). This realization dawned upon him that spiritual powers were far more important than possession of divine weapons. The Rishi Vishwamitra had kingdom and began undertaking severe austerities and tapa in the quest to become a greater Rishi than Vashishta himself as he passed through several trials before ultimately acquiring the title of Brahmarishi.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Vasishtha
The Rishi Vashistha the most famous among the Saptarishis, seven stars of the constellation, Manas Putra of Lord Brahma and Rajya Guru of Ikshavaku clan to whom Shri Rama belonged and spiritual teacher - the Guru of Lord Shree Rama and his brothers. Sage Vashista had established Ashram – Gurukul on bank on sacred River Saryu in state of Ayodhya. The Maharishi Vashishta and Shri Lord Rama's conversation is with regard to Vedanta and Yoga is recorded in Yoga Vashishta. He was the author of Mandala 7 of Rigveda and famous as first sage of Vedanta School as per Adi Guru Shankaracharya. The Rishi Vashistha had possession of the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu and her child Nandini – which fulfill any wish of owner. The Rishi Vashitha's wife Arundhati is known for her chastity and is believed to be one of the stars in the collection Ursa Major that forms a double star with that of Mizar identified with Maharishi Vashishta. He had contributed Yogavashishta Maharamayana, Vashishta Dharmasutra for knowledge and Dharma. He was highly knowledgeable in astrology and extracted Vashishta Shiksha, Vashishta Purana, Vashishta Saddhakalp, , Vashishta Tantra.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Gautama
Sage Gautama was one of the Maha Rishi of Vedic Time and one of the Saptarshi – Seven Sage of current Manvantara. Maharshi Gautama was the great grandson of Sage Angiras, a grandson of Maharshi Utathya and a son of Maharshi Dirghatamas or Rahugana and Mata Pradveshi. Angiras was one of the greatest Saptarshi of first Manvaantara and Manas Putra of Lord Brahma. Maharshi Gautam was born in Treta Yug on first day of the Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. The name Gautama mean by the remover of darkness and ignorance with use of spiritual knowledge. It is believed that the birth place was the Himalayan Plato of Bhrahmavarta. From the early childhood Gautam was very bright child and trained by father, mother and grandparents and he inherited intelligence from them.
There are lots of contribution of Maharshi Gautam towards the various sharshra of Sanatan Dharma which includes the Gautam Dharmasutra – believed to be first scripture in social and religious law like duties of King, house holder, various sanskar, , Gautam Medhsutra etc. He was a great spiritual Guru also, thus famous as Akshapaad too. He had many great disciples like Praachina-yogya, Shaandilya, Gaargya, and Bharadwaja etc.
Maharshi Gautam got married to Ahalya and had three sons named Shataanand, Nodha and Vamadev and one daughter named Anjani.The Gautama MahaRishi's seers are found in Rigveda as well as his findings are also mentioned in Jainism and Buddhism. The key tale related to Lord Shree Ram, Sage Gautam, Indradev and Ahalya was when Indra came to Ahalya’s kutir in the form of Maharshi Gautam, she recognized him immediately with immense power and threatened him with the curse thus Indra had to leave the Kutir. When Maharshi Gautam saw Indra coming out of her Kutir. He was so furious that he cursed Indra to become impotent for his mischief and also cursed his wife to turn into a stone for not punishing Indra. After cursing and assuring her that when Lord Ram will come and touch the stone, she will free from curse return in human form.
The river Godavari is named because of its association with Gautama. The Trimbakeshvar being considered as descendent of Lord Shiva that constitutes the source of the Jyotirlinga which has happened for the sake of Gautama. The MahaRishi has even undertook larger benefit for humanity where he meditated to please Varuna Deva when there was drought and other people were suffering of the drought but his request was turned down saying he couldn't go against law governed by Mahadev himself the good MahaRishi requested Varuna to make sure supply of water in reservoir in order that people might not suffer thanks to lack of rain.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Atri
Atri is one of Saptarishi the seven great sages and Manas Putra of Lord Brahma who is credited with composing an outsized number of hymns to Agni, Indra, sacred Mantra of Vedas and other Vedic deities of Hinduism. Atri is one among the Saptarishi (seven great Vedic sages) within the Hindu tradition, and therefore the one most mentioned in its scripture Rigveda where the fifth Mandala (Book 5) of Rigveda is named the Atri Mandala under his honour, where eighty seven hymns in it are attributed to him and his descendants. Atri was married to Anasuya Devi. The Great MahaRishi is father of three sons, Dattatreya – incarnation of Tridev Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, Durvasas and Soma and as per Hindu sacred texts, he is the last among the seven saptharishis and is believed to have originated from the tongue. The wife of Atri was Anasuya, who is taken into account one among the seven female pativratas.
One of the key legend related to life of Rishi Atri is associated with Sati Anasuya and birth of Guru Dattatreya. The fame, glory and chastity of Sati Anasuya spread across the universe thus Indradev feels unsafe and requested tridev to break chastity. Thus, The Trideva took the form of beggars and came to Atri and Anasuya’s hut and requested for food. Sage Atri was not in Ashram, thus she requested for wait for him but tridev did not waited and made an unusual request that she serve the food to them disrobed. Sati had trust on Sage Atri and her spiritual strength of her husband. So she did as requested once she comes in front of Tridev, they convert into three child. After some time sage Atri came back to Ashram and saw Anasuya with three child, sage realized that these are not child but Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh only. Then Tridev present in real form and asked Anasuya for boon, thus Anasuya requested them as actual son. After some time three sons were born to Atri and Anasuya, Dattatreya, Chandra, and Durvasa. Where Dattatreya was Vishnu, Chandra was Brahma, and Durvasa was Shiva. Even in Ramayana, conversion between Sati Anasuya, Atri, Lord Ram and Ma Devi Sita were mentioned.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Jmadagini
Jamadagni rishi one of the seven sage of curren manavantar and father of ParashuRama, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. He was a descendant of the sage Bhrigu, one amongst the prajapatis created by Lord Brahma. Jamadagni was son of great sage Richīka and Satyavati, daughter of Kshatriyariya king Gaadhi. Jamadagni had five children with wife Renuka, the youngest of whom was Parasurama who is avatar of Lord Vishnu and other are Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, Brutwakanwa. Jamadagni was well versed within the scriptures and munition while not formal instruction.
According to the Mahabharat, Jamadagni once became aggravated with the sun god Hindu deity for creating an excessive amount of heat. The warrior-sage shot many arrows into the sky alarming Hindu deity. Hindu deity then appeared before the rishi as a Brahmin and gave him two inventions that helped humanity take care of his heat which are sandals and an umbrella. In the Buddhist scripture Vinaya Pitaka section of the Mahavagga, Lord Buddha pays respect to Jamadagni by declaring that the Vedas Shruti their true form were revealed to the original Vedic rishis. Another key tale related to Jamadagni is attached with Kartavirya Arjun belonged to the Haihaya dynasty a merciless king. He once visited Saint Jamdagni’s ashram. Arjun came to know about the immense importance and specialty of Kamdhenu cow and wanted to take it with him. But Saint Jamdagni did not allow him so Kartavirya Arjun was furious due to this rejection. He killed Saint Jamdagni and took Kamdhenu with him. After this Parashuram killed Kartavirya Arjun and also brought Kamdhenu back. Then Parshuram decided to kill all the Kshatriyas from the face of the Earth. He travelled the whole planet and killed Kshatriyas 21 times.
Legend, Importance, Life, Key Tales of Rishi Kashyapa
The Rishi Kashyap after whom Kashmir is said to be named as the author of several hymns and verses of the Rigveda. The Rishi Kashyap is said to be the progenitor of all living beings. As per Vishnu Purana states that he married 13 daughters of Prajapati Daksh so as to bring to life every living form and fathered Devas, Asuras, Nagas, Yakshas, Dravida, and all living creatures. The Maharishi Kasyapa's childeren from Aditi were Adityas or demigods, Diti were Daityas or demons, Vinata was Garuda and Aruna, Kadru was the Nagas (serpents), Krodhavasha were Pisachas, Kala were Asuras and rakshasas, Danu was Danavas (giants), Khasa were Yakshas, Apsaras were born to his wife Muni, Ira gave birth to all vegetation, Tamra to all birds , Sursa gave birth to Uragas (dragons), Arishta was the mother of the Gandharvas (celestial beings), and Surbhi was the mother of Kamadhenu and other cattle.
Thus the Saptarishis being the most enlightened beings and are considered to be greater than even Devas. Their knowledge has been passed on through generations and all Vedic and post-Vedic scriptures can be attributed to them and their family of sons and students from these Rishis Gotras are derived. In honour of Saptarishi's Rishi Panchami is celebrated which falls on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in Bhadrapada month.