Saptarishi- Angiras (Angira Rishi

Saptarishi

The first Manu was Swáyambhuva, then came Svárochisha, then Uttami, Támasa, Raivata and Cáksusha. The current Manu who presides over the seventh Manvantara is Vaivasvata, the son of the Sun God, Vivasvan. Vaivasvata, who is also known as Sraddhadeva, has ten sons: named Iksvaku, Nabhaga, Dhrsta, Saryati, Narisyanta, Nabhaga, Dista, Tarusa, Prsadhra and Vasuman. In this manvantara, or reign of Manu, among the devas are the Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Visvedevas, Maruts, Asvini-kumaras and Rbhus.

The king of heaven, Indra, is known as Purandara, and the Seven Great Rishis or saptarishi are: Kasyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. During this period of Manu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Visnu appears from the womb of Aditi in His incarnation as the son of Kasyapa.

The great Rishis are seers who know, and by their knowledge are the makers of shastra and "see" all mantras. The word comes from the root rish: rishati-prapnoti sarvvang mantrang jnanena pashyati sangsaraparangva, etc. To the Rishis, the Vedas were revealed. Vyasa taught the Rigveda so revealed to Paila, the Yajurveda to Vaishampayana, the Samaveda to Jaimini, Atharvaveda to Sumantu, and Itihasa and Puranas to Suta.

The three chief classes of Rishi are the Brahmarshi, born of the mind of Brahma, the Devarshi of lower rank, and Rajarshi or Kings who became Rishis through their knowledge and austerities, such as Janaka, Ritaparna, etc. The Shrutarshi are makers of Shastras, as Sushruta. The Kandarshi are of the Karmakanda, such as Jaimini.

The Saptarishi (from aptarṣi, a Sanskrit dvigu meaning "seven sages") are the seven rishis who are extolled throughout the Vedas and Vaisnava literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do. They are regarded in the Vedas as the patriarchs of the Vedic religion, sanatana-dharma.

The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given in the Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218-221: Vashista, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, Atri, Visvamitra, and Agastya, followed by the list in Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6, which is slightly different: Gautama and Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni, Vashiṣṭha and Kaśyapa, and Atri, Brighu. The later Gopatha Brāhmana 1.2.8 has Vashiṣṭa, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvāja, Gungu, Agastya, Vrighu and Kaśyapa.

In post-Vedic texts, different lists also appear; some of these rishis were recognized as the 'mind born sons' (manasa-putra) of Brahma.

Current Sapta Rishis

As noted in our last segment, the present age is considered to be the seventh Manvantara, under the guidance of Vaivasvata Manu. The names of the current Saptarshis, or Seven Great Sages for this Manvantara are: Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. These personalities change for every Yuga.

There are various different lists naming the Saptarishi, and the reason for this is simply the rolling cycles of the great ages. The Seven Great Rishis, or Maharishis, govern the functioning of the Cosmos across the ages, and all those named in the groups below have held the post of Saptarishi at some point. The Rishis have different names in different times and places, like so many of the divine incarnations.

The Saptarishis are given in both the Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4):

Atri
Bharadvaja
Gautama
Jamadagni
Kashyapa
Vashista
Vishwamitra

In the Krishna Yajurveda, the Sandhya-vandana mantra gives this list:

Angiras
Atri
Bhrigu
Gautama
Kashyapa
Kutsa
Vashista

And in the Mahabharata, the following Seven Rishis are named:

Atri
Kashyapa
Kratu
Marichi
Pulaha
Pulastya
Vashista

Brihat Samhita gives the Seven Rishis names as follows:

Angiras
Atri
Kratu
Marichi
Pulastya
Pulaha
Vashista

The Saptarishis are likewise mentioned in both the Sikh and Jain scriptures, these seven are named as Saptarishis, avatars of Lord Brahma:

Baches
Kalidas
Kashyap
Khat
Sukra
Valmiki
Vyas

In Jain literature, which seems to be closely modeled after Vaisnavism in many ways, the following narrative is given:

"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 Omniscent 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."