| 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" /> | | 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" /> |
| + | In the Mahabharata Anusashana Parva there is an anecdote of the Saptarshis encountering the Yatudhani named Krtya (an asura) with an intention of killing them but first asking them to explain the meaning of their names. Sri. Nityananda Mishra has put together this anecdote and explains how the Saptarshi explain their names along with their esoteric meanings. The Saptarshis seeking to pick the lotuses from the lake guarded by Yatudhani are allowed to do so only after explaining their names. The rshis sense the motive of Yatudhani and explain their names in an esoteric manner not understandable to the asura (Mahabharata Anushasana Parva Slokas 85-103).<ref>Pt. Ramnarayandatt Shastri. ''Mahabharata, Volume 6, Anushashana, Asvamedhika, Ashramavasika, Mausala, Mahaprasthanika and Svargarohana Parvas.'' Gorakhpur : Gita Press. ([https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n385/mode/1up Page no 5761])</ref> |
− | In the Mahabharata Anusashana Parva there is an anecdote of the Saptarshis encountering the Yatudhani named Krtya (an asura) with an intention of killing them but first asking them to explain the meaning of their names. Sri. Nityananda Mishra has put together this anecdote and explains how the Saptarshi explain their names along with their esoteric meanings. The Saptarshi's seeking to pick the lotuses from the lake guarded by Yatudhani are allowed to do so only after explaining their names. The rshis sense the motive of Yatudhani and explain their names in an esoteric manner not understandable to the asura. | + | In the Mahabharata Anusashana Parva, the following are the slokas from adhyaya 93 describing the anecdote of Saptarshis and Yatudhani an asura. |