Rishis
Rishis South and Central AsiaHindu seers. These, divinely inspired sages composed the Vedic hymns, which in symbolic language convey the inner mysteries and deepest philosophy of Aryan belief. They were the forerunners and founders of the brahmins, their poetry extending the religious horizons of the invading pastoralists. In a state of samadhi, they experienced visions of the cosmic unity of the universe, an inward revelation that is indicated in the title of ‘the seven rishis’ people called them prajapatis, ‘the mindborn sons’ of Brahma. The oldest list includes the names of Gotama, Bharadwaja, Viswamitra, Jamad-agni, Vasishtha, Kasyapa, and Atri.
Of Bharadwaja it is said that ‘he lived through three lives’, after which ‘he became immortal and ascended to the heavenly world, to union with the sun‘. Jamad-agni had a more adventful span, his single life being that of a warrior brahmin. Having mastered all holy lore, he took as...
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