Rishi

A rishi (ṛṣi) denotes a Vedic poet by whom Vedic hymns were composed, or according to post-Vedic tradition a "sage" to whom they were "originally revealed" (Ṛṣis are also called "kavi", "brahmán", "kāru", "kīri", "vāghat", "vipra", etc.). Rishi is also a popular Indian name.

Etymology

The word's PIE (Proto Indo-European) etymology is contested.
Manfred Mayrhofer in his "Etymological Dictionary" (I 261) prefers a connection to either "IAST|ṛṣ" "pour, flow" (PIE "PIE|*h₁ers"), Rishi symbolizes intelligence and wisdom. Which is connected with Germ. "rasen"; or to "IAST|ras" "yell". The root has a close Avestan cognate "Unicode|ərəšiš" (Yasna 31.5; cf. 40.4) "an ecstatic" (see also Yurodivy, Vates). Differently, the Indo-European dictionary of Julius Pokorny connects the word to a PIE root "PIE|*h₃er-s" meaning "rise, protrude", in the sense of "excellent, egregious".

The outdated, century-old connections made by Monier-Williams can be neglected now: he tentatively suggests derivation from "IAST|drś" "to see" [http://flaez.ch/cgi-bin/mw.pl?query=RSi] . Monier-Williams also quotes Hebrew form 'arsan' (a sage, a man old in wisdom) and 'arrach' (old, ancient, aged) as related to rishi. However, Hebrew is a non-IE language. In Sanskrit, forms of the root 'rish' become 'arsh-' in many words, "e.g.," arsh. Monier-Williams also conjectures that the root 'drish' (to see) might have given rise to an obsolete root 'rish' meaning 'to see'.

In Indian tradition, the word has been derived from the two roots 'rsh'. Sanskrit grammarians ("cf." Commentary on Unādi-Sutra, iv, 119) derive this word from the second root which means (1) 'to go, move' (- Dhatupāth of Pānini, xxviii). V. S. Apte [V. S. Apte (Sanskrit-Hindi Kosh, 1890, reprint 1997 by Motilāl Banārasidās Publishers, Delhi)] gives this particular meaning and derivation, and Monier-Williams [cf.Monier-Williams's dictionary (p.226) ] also gives the same, with some qualification.Another form of this root means (2) 'to flow, to move near by flowing'. Secondary meanings are (3) 'to push, thrust', or (4) to kill, which are not related to "rishi." (All the meanings and derivations cited above are based upon Sanskrit English Dictionary of Monier-Williams) ["cf." Monier-Williams's SED, p.226 ] . Monier-Williams also quotes Tārānātha who compiled the great (Sanskrit-to-Sanskrit) dictionary named "ṛṣati jñānena saṃsāra-pāram" ("i.e.," one who reaches beyond this mundane world by means of spiritual knowledge).

Other uses of "Rishi"

In Carnatic Music's Melakarta system of raga classification, one of the groups(chakras) of melakarta ragas is referred to as the Rishi (or Rsi) chakra.

"Seer" of the Vedas

In the Vedas, the word denotes an inspired poet of Ṛgvedic hymns, who alone or with others invokes the deities with poetry of a sacred character. In particular, Ṛṣi refers to the authors of the hymns of the Rigveda. Post-Vedic tradition regards the Rishis as patriarchal "sages" or saints, occupying the same position in India history as the patriarchs of other countries, constituting a peculiar class of beings in the early mythical system, as distinct from Asuras, Devas and mortal men. The patriarchical structure is evident in the gotra names of Vedic sages as well. From the Brahmana texts onwards, there also are various sets of seven patriarchical Rishis, the saptarshis (Sapta-rishis or seven rishis) (cf. Mahābhārata-xii) [Cf. D. D. Kosambi.]

The main rishis recorded in the Brahmanas and the Rigveda-Anukramanis include Gritsamada, Vishvamitra, Vamadeva, Atri, Bharadvaja, Vasishta, Angiras, Kaṇva.

Seven Rishis (the Saptarshi) are often mentioned in the Brahmanas and later works as typical representatives of the character and spirit of the pre-historic or mythical period; in Shatapatha Brahmana 14.5.2.6 (Brhad Aranyaka Upanisad), their names are Gautama, Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, and Atri. Daksha, Bhrigu and Nārada were also added to the saptarshis IAST|riṣis in Āshvalāyana-Shrauta-Sutra, where these ten principal patriarchs were created by the first Manu (Svāyambhuva Manu) for producing everyone else.

In Mahabharata 12, on the other hand, there is the post-Vedic list of Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vasishtha. The Mahābhārata list explicitly refers to the saptarshis of the first manvantara (cf. SED by Monier-Williams) and not to those of the present manvantara. Each manvantara had a unique set of saptarshi. In Harivamsha 417ff, the names of the Rishis of each manvantara are enumerated.

In addition to the SaptaIAST|rṣi, there are other classifications of sages. In descending order of precedence, they are Brahmarshi , Maharshi, Rajarshi. DevaIAST|rṣi, ParamIAST|rṣi, ShrutaIAST|rṣi and KvndaIAST|rṣi are added in Manusmriti iv-94 and xi-236 and in two dramas of Kālidasa.

The Chaturvarga-Chintāmani of Hemādri puts 'IAST|riṣi' at the seventh place in the eight-fold division of Brāhmanas. Amarakosha [Cf. Amarakosha (2.7.41-42) ] (the famous Sanskrit synonym lexicon compiled by Amarasimha) mentions seven types of IAST|riṣis : Shrutarshi, Kāndarshi, Paramarshi, Maharshi, Rājarshi, Brahmarshi and Devarshi. Amarakosha strictly distinguishes Rishi from other types of sages, such as sanyāsi, IAST|bhikṣu, parivrājaka, tapasvi, muni, brahmachāri, yati, etc., and gives only one synonym for 'IAST|riṣi': satyavachāh (one who speaks truth). According to tradition, other sages might falter, but a IAST|riṣi was believed to speak truth only, because he had "reached" the Higher World (of Truth, of God) according to the Sanskrit etymology of the term 'IAST|riṣi'.

In Hindu astronomy, the SaptaIAST|rṣi form the constellation of Ursa Major (e. g. RV 10.82.2 and 10.109.4 ; AV 60.40.1.), which are distinct from Dhruva (Polaris).

Notes

References

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See also

*Apaurusheyatva
*Vedas
*