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Added Creation of Saptarshis from Brahmanda Purana
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.
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 and their origin is highly diverse and varied in different texts and Puranas.
== Creation of Saptarshis ==
The creation of Saptarshis as explained in Brahmanda Purana is mentioned here. It should be noted that there are different versions about the origin of saptarshis are present. Brahmanda Purana mentions that those seven rshis (here actually eight brahmamanasa putras, are mentioned as seen in the sloka below instead of seven saptarshis) existing in Svayambhuva Manvantara were cursed by Shiva (at the time of Daksha yajna) were reborn in Chakshusha Manvantara as children of Pitamaha (Brahma). <blockquote>ब्रह्मणो जुह्वतः शुक्रमग्रौ पूर्वं प्रजेप्सया । ऋषयो जज्ञिरे दीर्घे द्वितीयमिति नः श्रुतम् ॥ २,१.२० ॥</blockquote><blockquote>भृग्वङ्गिरा मरीचिश्च पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः । अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च ह्यष्टौ ते ब्रह्मणः सुताः ॥ २,१.२१ ॥ (Brah. Pura. 2.1.20 - 21)<ref name=":3">Brahmanda Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7 Madhyabhaga Adhyaya 1])</ref></blockquote>The seers say - this has been heard by us that the seven rshis had their second birth, even as Brahma, with a desire of begetting children, was performing homa in the fire by means of his Shukra (semen). There were eight sons of Brahma - Bhrgu, Angiras, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu Atri, and Vaishista.
At the first instance, Kavi (Bhrgu) came out of the flame, then came Angiras when shukra was deposited on the burning coals (angaras). Then the shukra was divided into six parts by Brahma and deposited into the fire by way of Homa. Marichi rose from there at the outset from the rays and in that Kratu (yajna) the rshi named Kratu was born. Atri maharshi was born saying "I am the third" hence he is named as Atri. The fourth was born with overspreading hairs, hence remembered as Pulastya, while the fifth had long hairs, hence called Pulaha. Born from among the Vasus, self controlled and himself the embodiment of Vasu (wealth), he was called Vasishta by the expounders of Vedas. (Brah. Pura. 2.1.34 to 47)<ref name=":3" /><ref>Tagare, G. V., (1958 First Edition) ''[https://archive.org/details/BrahmandaPuranaG.V.TagarePart2/page/n8 The Brahmanda Purana, Part 2.]'' Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass Pvt. Ltd.</ref>
== वेदेषु ॥ In Vedas ==
== वेदेषु ॥ 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 । asmākamatra pitarasta āsansapta r̥ṣayo daurgahe badhyamāne । (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 example in 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><blockquote>r̥ṣayaḥ - saptarṣayaḥ(1-3 bharadvājo bārhaspatyaḥ, 4-6 kaśyapo mārīcaḥ, 7-9 gotamo rāhūgaṇaḥ, 10-12 atriḥrbhaumaḥ, 13-15 viśvāmitro gāthinaḥ, 16-18 jamadagnirbhārgavaḥ, 19-21 maitrāvaruṇirvāsiṣṭhaḥ, 22-32 pavitra āṅgiraso vā vasiṣṭho vā ubhau vā)</blockquote>[[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]], [[Samaveda (सामवेदः)|Samaveda]] and [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]] and [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|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><blockquote>imāveva gotamabharadvājau। ayameva gotamo'yaṁ bharadvāja imāveva viśvāmitrajamadagnī ayameva viśvāmitro'yaṁ jamadagnirimāveva vasiṣṭhakaśyapāvayameva vasiṣṭho'yaṁ kaśyapo vāgevātrirvācā hyannamadyate'ttirha vai nāmaitadyadatririti sarvasyāttā bhavati sarvamasyānnambhavati ya evaṁ veda - 14.5.2.[6] (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 । asmākamatra pitarasta āsansapta r̥ṣayo daurgahe badhyamāne । (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 example in 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><blockquote>r̥ṣayaḥ - saptarṣayaḥ(1-3 bharadvājo bārhaspatyaḥ, 4-6 kaśyapo mārīcaḥ, 7-9 gotamo rāhūgaṇaḥ, 10-12 atriḥrbhaumaḥ, 13-15 viśvāmitro gāthinaḥ, 16-18 jamadagnirbhārgavaḥ, 19-21 maitrāvaruṇirvāsiṣṭhaḥ, 22-32 pavitra āṅgiraso vā vasiṣṭho vā ubhau vā)</blockquote>[[Yajurveda (यजुर्वेदः)|Yajurveda]], [[Samaveda (सामवेदः)|Samaveda]] and [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] [[Brahmana (ब्राह्मणम्)|Brahmanas]] and [[Upanishads (उपनिषदः)|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><blockquote>imāveva gotamabharadvājau। ayameva gotamo'yaṁ bharadvāja imāveva viśvāmitrajamadagnī ayameva viśvāmitro'yaṁ jamadagnirimāveva vasiṣṭhakaśyapāvayameva vasiṣṭho'yaṁ kaśyapo vāgevātrirvācā hyannamadyate'ttirha vai nāmaitadyadatririti sarvasyāttā bhavati sarvamasyānnambhavati ya evaṁ veda - 14.5.2.[6] (Shata. Brah. 14.5.2.6)</blockquote>