A cluster of seven stars forming a part of the glowing Ursa Major constellation in the sky, are given the revered status of “Saptarishi” (sapta-seven, rishi-sages), in Hindu culture, astronomy, and literature. Described in ancient Hindu books as divine beings who possessed the wisdom of the Universe, Saptarishis are believed to have understood the Param Brahman (supreme reality). Forming the Saptarishi Mandala or collection of seven sages in the night sky, Saptarishis have been mentioned in the Vedic sources, from where they went on to become the eternal residents of the horizon.
According to Hindu texts, the members of the Saptarishi Mandala change with the shift in the Manvantara (period of a Manu). Usually, two groups of Saptarishis are described-
In the period of Vaivasvata Manu, the Saptarishis were Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamdagni, Kashyapa, Vasishtha, and Vishwamitra.
Under Svyambhu Manu, the Saptarishis were Angiras, Atri, Kratu, Marichi, Pulaha, Pulatsya and Vasishtha. Based on the lists above, let us take a look at the popular sages across various descriptions of Saptarishi. These will be Atri, Bhrigu, Pulatsya, Vasishtha, Gautama, Kashyapa, and Vishwamitra.
A learned sage of the Vedic period, Atri is the Manas-Putra, or born from the mind of Lord Brahma. In the Puranic stories, sage Atri is mentioned as a householder, accompanied by his wife Anusuya, who is revered as a “Sati” or devout wife. The couple are also hailed as the parents of Lord Dattatreya (he who was adopted or dattak of Atri).
The author of the Bhrigu Samhita, a seminal work on ancient Indian astrology, sage Bhrigu is remembered in the Puranas as an intelligent and egoistic sage, who challenged the authority of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Bhrigu is married to Prajapati Daksha’s daughter Khyati and Kavyamata. From the latter Bhrigu became the father of Shukra, who went on to become the Guru of Asuras and one of the Navagraha. A story connected with the sage tells that he traveled to a Western Indian town, which was named Bhrigukaccha, the modern city of Bharuch in Gujarat.
The Pitamaha or grandfather of the king of demons Ravana, Pulatsya is a powerful and intelligent sage in Hindu tradition. One of his key contributions is the telling of the sacred Vishnu Purana to Parashara Muni, an example of the wisdom the sage earned as the son of Brahma.
Popularized by the story of Ramayana and Puranas, Vasishtha muni needs no introduction to the regular reader of books on Hinduism. In the story of Rama, Vasishtha appears as the Guru of Rama, teaching him Shaastra (scriptures). He has written compendiums of ancient knowledge such as Yoga Vasishtha and is known in literature and art as the possessor of the divine wish-fulfilling cow, Kamadhenu.
The most well-known story of Rishi Guatama comes from the Ramayana, in the episode of Ahalya-Uddhara by Rama, where he is introduced as a sage and husband of Ahalya. The wisdom of Gautama rishi goes well beyond this instance in Hindu culture. The sage is credited with bringing the river Godavari to earth, which is also known as “Gautami”. The sage is also the head of a line of Vedic Brahmins named “Gautama”.
A sage who played a vital role in the creation of the world order, Kashyapa Rishi is most often described as the father of Deva and Asuras, the two warring groups born from his wives Diti and Aditi. An interesting legend related to this Vedic scholar and philosopher is the origin of Kashmir, which was a lake earlier and is believed to have been civilized as a result of the Tapasya of Kashyapa, after whom the land was named.w
Undoubtedly one of the more popular members of the Saptarishi cluster, Vishwamitra appears throughout the various stages of Hindu culture, in Veda, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas, as a philosopher, warrior, teacher, and lover (in the story of Vishwamitra and Menaka). Due to his worldly attitude, Vishwamitra is hailed as the teacher of Rama and Lakshmana, who taught them the art of war. He also makes appearances during his tussles with Vasishta, over the tutelage of their students and the possession of sacred Kamadhenu.
Some interesting facts about the other members of the list of Saptarishis in different sources are-
Angiras- He is described as one of the fire deities, and also the author of certain portions of the Atharvaveda.
Bharadvaja- He is the father of the Mahabharata warrior-teacher Drona, and according to the Bhagavata Purana, the son of Brihaspati.
Jamdagni- He is best known as the father of Parashuram, an incarnation of Vishnu. In episodes from Puranas, he is described as a powerful warrior-sage. He ordered his son Parashuram to behead his mother Renuka but brought her back to life after the pleading of his son. Jamadagni is also the protector of Kamadhenu, who was taken away by Kartavirya Arjuna. Protecting the cow, the sage was killed by the king, and as a consequence of this, an angered Parashuram took the vow to annihilate Kshatriyas from the earth.
Kratu- He is the husband of one of Daksha’s daughters and the father of the Balakhilya sages, who had an ethereal form measuring only a thumb high.
Marichi- He is the grandfather of Rakshasaraja Ravana.
Pulaha- A lesser-known Rishi, Pulaha is the father of Kimpurushas, a composite of human and animal, who became the protectors of Kubera’s Loka.
As we look up and try to identify the seven sages in the sky, the question is natural- “How did Saptarishi become stars?” The story of their transformation comes in the Puranas, where they are mentioned as the guardians of Dhruva, the devotee of Vishnu-Narayana. After bestowing on his devotee, the boon of “Dhruvapada” and an eternal place in the sky, Vishnu made the Saptarishis a part of his constellation. Since then, Dhruva Tara, or the pole star is always in the company of the Saptarishisi in the sky.
A unique Hindu ritual during the marriage ceremony involves the groom showing the bride the two stars- Vasishtha and Arundhati. This couple in Hindu culture is the symbol of an ideal marriage, one that the newlywed hopes to achieve. Arundhati, the star is located in the middle of the Saptarishi cluster, glimmering alongside her beloved husband.
The Saptarishis are sometimes seen performing poses of Yoga, the ancient wisdom that they learned from Shiva, near the sacred Kantisarovara lake located in the Himalayas. These seven sages are revered due to the profound wisdom they attained, which gave them the status of “Brahmarishi”- a sage who has realized the knowledge of Brahma. Rising above the realm of humans, demons, and gods, the Saptarishis are “shining” examples of what it means to be enlightened.
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