Saptarishi

The Saptarishi (from , a Sanskrit dvigu meaning "seven sages") are the seven rishis who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, though later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do so. They are regarded in the Vedas as the patriarchs of the Vedic religion.
The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218-221: Vashista, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, Atri, Visvamitra, and Agastya, followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Gautama and Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni, Vashiṣṭha and Kaśyapa, and Atri, Brighu. The late Gopatha Brāhmana 1.2.8 has Vashiṣṭa, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvāja, Gungu, Agastya, Bhrighu and Kaśyapa.
In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these rishis were recognized as the 'mind born sons' (Sanskrit: manasa putra) of Brahma, the representation of the Supreme Being as Creator. Other representations are Mahesha 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.
In some parts of India, people believe these are seven stars of the Big Dipper named "Vashista", "Marichi", "Pulastya", "Pulaha", "Atri", "Angiras" and "Kratu". There is another star slightly visible within it, known as "Arundhati". Arundhati is the wife of vasistha.The seven Rishis in the next Manvantara will be Díptimat, Gálava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauńi or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and Rishyasringa.
== Present Sapta Rishis ==
Sapta Rishis are the Hierarchy working under the guidance of the Highest Creative Intelligence, Parmatma. The present batch of the Sapta Rishis is Bhrigu, Atri, Angirasa Vashista, Pulastya, Pulalaha and Kratu. They bring down to the earth the required Knowledge and Energies to strengthen the processes of Transition (Pralaya). They are naturally the most evolved Light Beings in the Creation and the guardians of the Divine Laws.Sapta Rishis Path, the information to be found under menu selection RISHIS>Sapta Rishis
==Names Of The Sapta Rishis==
In post-Vedic religion, Manvantara is the astronomical time within an Kalpa (aeon), a "day(day only) of Brahma", like the present Śveta Vārāha Kalpa, where again 14 Manvantaras add up to create one Kalpa.
Each Manvantara is ruled by a specific Manu, apart from that all the deities, including Vishnu and Indra; Rishis and their sons are born anew in each new Manvantara, the Vishnu Purana mentions up to seventh Manvantara.
1st	2nd	3rdSons of Vashista	4th	5th	6th	7th
Marichi
Atri
Angiras
Pulaha
Kratu
Pulastya
Vashishtha	
Urja
Stambha
Prana
Nanda
Rishabha
Nischara
Arvarivat	
Kaukundihi
Kurundi
Dalaya
Sankha
Pravahita
Mita
Sammita	
Jyotirdhama
Prithu
Kavya
Chaitra
Agni
Vanaka
Pivara	
Hirannyaroma
Vedasrí
Urddhabahu
Vedabahu
Sudhaman
Parjanya
Mahamuni	
Sumedhas
Virajas
Havishmat
Uttama
Madhu
Abhinaman
Sahishnnu	
Kashyapa
Atri
Vashista
Vishvamitra
Gautama Maharishi 
Jamadagni
Bharadvaja
The names of the current Saptarshis are: Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. The Saptarishis keep changing for every Yuga. As per Hindu Shastras, there are four yugas: Krita Yuga / Sat Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. We are at present in the Kali Yuga, which will last for 432,000 years(we are in 5106 year now in 2015); Dvapara Yuga is twice Kali Yuga, Treta Yuga is thrice Kali Yuga and Krita Yuga is four times Kali Yuga. Over all, 4,320,000 years termed as 1 Chaturyuga. 1000 Chaturyugas make the day of 12 hours for Brahma(Creator) and during another 12 hours, Brahma takes rest and there is no creation during this period. Thus 1 day for Brahma constitutes 1000 Chaturyugas(= 4,320,000,000 years). Thus 1 year constitutes 360 x 4,320,000,000 = 1,555,200,000,000 years; lifespan of Brahma is 100 years = 100 x 1,555,200,000,000 = 155,520,000,000,000 years
In Hindu astronomy the seven stars of the Saptarshi Mandal or Big Dipper or Ursa Major are named as
Indian<BR>Name	Bayer<BR>Designation	Western<BR>Name
Kratu 	α UMa 	Dubhe
Pulaha 	β UMa 	Merak
Pulastya 	γ UMa 	Phecda
Atri 	δ UMa 	Megrez
Angiras 	ε UMa 	Alioth
Vashista 	ζ UMa 	Mizar
Bhrigu 	η UMa 	Alkaid
Vasishta is accompanied by his wife the faint companion star Arundhati(Alcor/80 Ursa Majoris). The valid avatar's clan will be named after Ashvamedh.
===Future Manvantaras===
Savarni shall be the 8th Manu and this Manvantara is called Savarni Manvantara. The seven Rishis in the eighth Manvantara will be Diptimat, Gslava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and Rishyasringa.
The ninth Manu will be Daksha-savarni and it is called Daksha-savarni Manvantara. Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman, and Satya will be the seven Rishis.
In the tenth Manwantara the Manu will be Brahma-savarni and it is called Brahma-savarni Manvantara. The seven Rishis will be Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and Satyaketu.
In the eleventh Manwantara the Manu will be Dharma-savarni and is called Dharma-savarni Manvantara. The seven Rishis will be Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and Anagha.
In the twelfth Manwantara the son of Rudra, Savarni, will be the Manu and is called Rudra-Savarni Manvantara. Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurtti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and Tapodhana will be the seven Rishis.
In the thirteenth Manwantara the Manu will be Rauchya and is called Rauchya Manvantara. The seven Rishis will be Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya and Sutapas.
In the fourteenth Manwantara, Bhautya will be the Manu and is called Bhautya Manvantara. The seven Rishis will be Agnibshu, Suchi, Aukra, Magadha, Gridhra, Yukta and Ajita. 
At the end of every four ages there is a disappearance of the Vedas and it is the province of the seven Rishis to come down upon earth from heaven to give them currency again.
==Saptarishis given in major Hindu texts==
Image:HinducosmoMap2.svg|thumb|right|200px|alt=Click! Dhruva, Saptarishi, Shani, Bṛhaspati, Budha, Shukra, Chandra, Vivasvan, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu
rect 172 2 277 31 w:Dhruva
rect 171 96 259 122 w:Saptarishi
rect 174 148 239 179 w:Shani
rect 170 198 258 222 w:Bṛhaspati
rect 171 256 242 278 w:Budha
rect 177 282 240 298 w:Shukra
rect 177 317 221 333 w:Chandra
rect 177 332 212 349 w:Vivasvan
rect 101 375 261 398 w:Garbhodaksayi Vishnu
1. The Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4) acknowledge the names of seven rishis (or Saptarshis) as: 
*Atri
*Bharadvaja
*Gautama
*Jamadagni
*Kashyapa
*Vashista
*Vishwamitra
2. Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as: 
*Angiras
*Atri
*Bhrigu
*Gautama
*Kashyapa
*Kutsa
*Vashista
3. Mahabharata gives the Seven Rishis' names: 
*Marichi
*Atri
*Pulaha
*Pulastya
*Kratu
*Vashista
*Kashyapa
etc.
4. Brihat Samhita gives the Seven Rishis' names as: 
*Marichi
*Vashista
*Angiras
*Atri
*Pulastya
*Pulaha
*Kratu
The reason for the differences in the mentioned list is that there are seven Rishis who govern the functioning of the Cosmos in batches and all the above-mentioned Rishis have had the post of a 'Saptarishi' at some point. These Rishis had different names in different places. Saptarishis are seven Rishis and nobody else is given the title of the saptarishis. Hence, clearly they have different names. But, many rishis were known as maharishis (great sages.)
===Chart===
 	ShatapathaBrahmana	BrihadaranyakaUpanisad	SandhyaVandana	Mahabharata	BrihatSamhita	JaiminiyaBrahmana	GopathaBrahmana	 	Manasputras 	Prajapatis
1	Vishwamitra 	Vishwamitra 	 	 	 	Vishwamitra 	Vishwamitra 	 	 	Vishvakarman
 	 	 	 	Marichi 	Marichi 	 	 	 	Marichi 	Marichi
2	Kashyapa 	Kashyapa 	Kashyapa 	Kashyapa 	 	 	Kashyapa 	 	 	KasyapaSon of Marichi. Father of Adityas
 	 	 	Kutsa 	 	 	 	 	 	DakshaEither son of father of Aditi wife of Kasyapa 	Daksha(Thumb)
3	Jamadagni 	Jamadagni 	Angiras 	 	Angiras 	Jamadagni 	Jamadagni 	 	AngirasThus spoke Brahma to him “O Angirasa, you are my third “manasa putra”. The first of Agni-devas (fire gods).(3rd Man) 	Angiras
 	 	Brighu 	Brighu 	 	 	 	Brighu 	 	BhriguMarried to Khyati, the daughter of Daksha. Was a compatriot of and lived during the time of Manu. Father of Shukra. Tested the trimuti.	Bhrigu
4	Bharadvaja 	Bharadvaja 	 	Pulaha 	Pulaha 	Bharadvaja 	Bharadvaja 	 	PulahaBelieved to be the fifth son who sprang from Brahma's head. Married to Daksha's daughters, Kshama.(5th Man) 	Pulaha
 	 	 	 	Pul-astya 	Pul-astya 	Ag-astya 	Ag-astya 	 	Pul-astya 	Pul-astya
5	Vashista 	Vashista 	Vashista 	Vashista 	Vashista 	Vashista 	Vashista 	 	VashisthaHe had in his possession the divine cow Kamadhenu 	Vasistha
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Narada 	Narada
6	Gautama 	Gautama 	Gautama 	 	 	Gautama 	Gautama 	 	 	GautamaA descendant of Angiraswon the hand of Ahalya by circumambulating the divine cowIndra, was fascinated with Gautam's wife, Ahalya. Indra came in the form of Gautam and made love to AhalyaHe was the son of RahuganaHe is descended from Angirasa
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Kardama
7	Atri 	Atri 	Atri 	Atri 	Atri 	Atri 	Gungu 	 	Atrifather of Soma 	Atri
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Prahlada(Daitya)
 	 	 	 	Kratu 	Kratu 	 	 	 	Kratuson-in-law of Prajapati Daksha. Good friend of Lord Rudra 	Kratu(Eye)
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Prachetas
==Sapatrishi in Sikhism==
In Dasam Granth, second scriptures of Sikhs written by Guru Gobind Singh, mentioned seven rishis as Avtar of Brahma, known as Sapatrishi.Composition 9 - Brahma Avtar Those are
#Valmiki Rishi
#Kashyap Rishi
#Sukra Rishi
#Baches Rishi
#Vyas Rishi
#Khat Rishi
#Kalidas Rishi
==Sapatrishi in Jainism==
In Jainism theoryPareekshaa by Arjika Gyaanmati Mataji it is stated that, "Once at Mathura situated in Uttar Pradesh Seven Riddhidhari Digamber saints having 'Aakaashgamini Vidhya' came during rainy season for chaturmaas whose names were 1.) Surmanyu, 2.) Shrimanyu, 3.) Shrinichay, 4.) Sarvasundar, 5.) Jayvaan, 6.) Vinaylaalas 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 Shatrughan' in all four directions of city."
==See also==
* Nachiketa
*Dhruva
==References==
Category:Hindu sages
Category:Hindu astronomy