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Saptarshis (Samskrit : सप्तर्षयः) refer to the group of seven well-known rshis who have a significant role in Sanatana Dharma as propagators of knowledge. They are also the preceptors of rajas and maharajas belonging to great lineages such as Surya (Ikshvaku). Vashishta was the Kulaguru to Ikshvaku dynasty to which Raja Rama belonged. Some of these rshis are recognized as the Brahma manasaputras.

Saptarshis (Samskrit : सप्तर्षयः) refer to the group of seven well-known rshis who have a significant role in Sanatana Dharma as propagators of knowledge. They are also the preceptors of rajas and maharajas belonging to great lineages such as Surya (Ikshvaku). Vashishta was the Kulaguru to Ikshvaku dynasty to which Raja Rama belonged. Some of these rshis are recognized as the Brahma manasaputras. We see that the list of Saptarshis is highly diverse and varied in different texts and Puranas.

== In Vedas ==

== In Vedas ==

Earliest mention of Saptarshis is seen in mantras of samhita section Rigveda where they are revered as our forefathers.  <blockquote>अस्माकमत्र पितरस्त आसन्सप्त ऋषयो दौर्गहे बध्यमाने । (Rig. Veda. 4.42.8)<ref>Rig Veda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AA.%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%A8 Mandala 4 Sukta 42])</ref></blockquote>Other Rigveda references which mention about Saptarshis include Mandala 9, Sukta 67 and 107. For Sukta 67 the following is mentioned as the names of Saptarshis as mantra drashtas    <blockquote>ऋषयः - सप्तर्षयः(१-३ भरद्वाजो बार्हस्पत्यः, ४-६ कश्यपो मारीचः, ७-९ गोतमो राहूगणः, १०-१२ अत्रिःर्भौमः, १३-१५ विश्वामित्रो गाथिनः, १६-१८ जमदग्निर्भार्गवः, १९-२१ मैत्रावरुणिर्वासिष्ठः, २२-३२ पवित्र आङ्गिरसो वा वसिष्ठो वा उभौ वा)</blockquote>Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda Brahmanas and Upanishads also mention about Saptarshis and gives the names of the rshis as listed in the table below. For example the list of the Seven Rshis is given in Shatapata Brahmana as follows  <blockquote>इमावेव गोतमभरद्वाजौ। अयमेव गोतमोऽयं भरद्वाज इमावेव विश्वामित्रजमदग्नी अयमेव विश्वामित्रोऽयं जमदग्निरिमावेव वसिष्ठकश्यपावयमेव वसिष्ठोऽयं कश्यपो वागेवात्रिर्वाचा ह्यन्नमद्यतेऽत्तिर्ह वै नामैतद्यदत्रिरिति सर्वस्यात्ता भवति सर्वमस्यान्नम्भवति य एवं वेद - १४.५.२.[६] (Shata. Brah. 14.5.2.6)</blockquote>

Earliest mention of Saptarshis is seen in mantras of samhita section Rigveda where they are revered as our forefathers.  <blockquote>अस्माकमत्र पितरस्त आसन्सप्त ऋषयो दौर्गहे बध्यमाने । (Rig. Veda. 4.42.8)<ref>Rig Veda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AA.%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%A8 Mandala 4 Sukta 42])</ref></blockquote>Other Rigveda references which mention about Saptarshis include Mandala 9, Sukta 67 and 107. For Sukta 67 the following is mentioned as the names of Saptarshis as mantra drashtas    <blockquote>ऋषयः - सप्तर्षयः(१-३ भरद्वाजो बार्हस्पत्यः, ४-६ कश्यपो मारीचः, ७-९ गोतमो राहूगणः, १०-१२ अत्रिःर्भौमः, १३-१५ विश्वामित्रो गाथिनः, १६-१८ जमदग्निर्भार्गवः, १९-२१ मैत्रावरुणिर्वासिष्ठः, २२-३२ पवित्र आङ्गिरसो वा वसिष्ठो वा उभौ वा)</blockquote>Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda Brahmanas and Upanishads also mention about Saptarshis and gives the names of the rshis as listed in the table below. For example the list of the Seven Rshis is given in Shatapata Brahmana as follows  <blockquote>इमावेव गोतमभरद्वाजौ। अयमेव गोतमोऽयं भरद्वाज इमावेव विश्वामित्रजमदग्नी अयमेव विश्वामित्रोऽयं जमदग्निरिमावेव वसिष्ठकश्यपावयमेव वसिष्ठोऽयं कश्यपो वागेवात्रिर्वाचा ह्यन्नमद्यतेऽत्तिर्ह वै नामैतद्यदत्रिरिति सर्वस्यात्ता भवति सर्वमस्यान्नम्भवति य एवं वेद - १४.५.२.[६] (Shata. Brah. 14.5.2.6)</blockquote>

== In Astronomy ==

== In Astronomy ==

The Ursa Major constellation in the sky is called Saptarshi mandala according to the astronomical terminology. Astronomical texts describe the Saptarshis as the representatives of Brahma serving for a period of Manvantara and dissolving at the time of Pralaya.<blockquote>सप्तर्षि मण्डलं नित्यं तस्याधस्तात्प्रकीर्तितम् ।। मरीचिश्च वसिष्ठश्च अङ्गिराश्चात्रिरेव च ।। २२ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>पुलस्त्यः पुलहश्चैव क्रतुस्सप्तर्षयोऽमलाः ।। वशिष्ठमाश्रिता साध्वी तेषाम्मध्यादरुन्धती ।। २३ ।। (Vish. Dhar. 1.106.22-23)<ref>Vishnudharmottara Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AC Kanda 1 Adhyaya 106])</ref></blockquote>Vishnudharmottara Purana and Brihat Samhita (Page no 157 Adhyaya 13 Slokas 5-10)<ref name=":0">Sastri, Subrahmanya, V. and Bhat, Ramakrishna, M., (1946) ''Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita with an English Translation and Notes.'' Bangalore : M.B. D. Printing Press</ref> gives the Seven Rshis' names as Marichi, Vasishta, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu. Arundhati is associated with Vasishta. Slokas 5 and 6 of Brihat Samhita goes as follows : Maharshi Marichi is situated in the east, to the west of him is Vasishta; to his west is Angiras, and to the west of Angiras is situated Atri in whose neighborhood can be seen Pulastya. Next to him are in order Pulaha and Kratu. Arundhati, the paragon of virtue, is following Vasishta. The position of the seven seers is given along with their positioning in the lunar mansion when Raja Yudhisthira was ruling over the earth.<ref name=":0" />

The Ursa Major constellation in the sky is called Saptarshi mandala according to the astronomical terminology. Astronomical texts describe the Saptarshis as the representatives of Brahma serving for a period of [[Manvantaras (मन्वन्तराणि)|Manvantara]] and dissolving at the time of Pralaya.<blockquote>सप्तर्षि मण्डलं नित्यं तस्याधस्तात्प्रकीर्तितम् ।। मरीचिश्च वसिष्ठश्च अङ्गिराश्चात्रिरेव च ।। २२ ।।</blockquote><blockquote>पुलस्त्यः पुलहश्चैव क्रतुस्सप्तर्षयोऽमलाः ।। वशिष्ठमाश्रिता साध्वी तेषाम्मध्यादरुन्धती ।। २३ ।। (Vish. Dhar. 1.106.22-23)<ref>Vishnudharmottara Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AC Kanda 1 Adhyaya 106])</ref></blockquote>Vishnudharmottara Purana and Brihat Samhita (Page no 157 Adhyaya 13 Slokas 5-10)<ref name=":0">Sastri, Subrahmanya, V. and Bhat, Ramakrishna, M., (1946) ''Varahamihira's Brihat Samhita with an English Translation and Notes.'' Bangalore : M.B. D. Printing Press</ref> gives the Seven Rshis' names as Marichi, Vasishta, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu. Arundhati is associated with Vasishta. Slokas 5 and 6 of Brihat Samhita goes as follows : Maharshi Marichi is situated in the east, to the west of him is Vasishta; to his west is Angiras, and to the west of Angiras is situated Atri in whose neighborhood can be seen Pulastya. Next to him are in order Pulaha and Kratu. Arundhati, the paragon of virtue, is following Vasishta. The position of the seven seers is given along with their positioning in the lunar mansion of Magha is when Raja Yudhisthira was ruling over the earth.<ref name=":0" />

Role of Saptarshis

== Role of Saptarshis ==

[[Category:Rishis]]

[[Category:Rishis]]