An early prototype of the "Saptarishi" concept may stem from the six families associated with the six "Family Books" in the
Rigveda Samhita (Mandalas 2–7 in ascending order:
Gṛtsamāda,
Viśvāmitra,
Vāmadeva,
Atri,
Bharadvaja,
Vasiṣṭha). While not a "Family Book", Mandala 8 is mostly attributed to
Kaṇva, who could be considered the 7th prototypical Saptarishi. The earliest formal list of the seven rishis is given by
Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218–221:
Agastya,
Atri,
Bhardwaja,
Gautama,
Jamadagni,
Vasistha, and
Vishvamitra followed by
Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni,
Kashyapa, Vasistha, and Vishvamitra. The late Gopatha Brahmana 1.2.8 has Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Gungu, Agastya, and Kashyapa. In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these
rishis were recognized as the 'mind-born sons' (Sanskrit: मानस पुत्र,
manasaputra) of
Brahma, the representation of the
Supreme Being as
Creator. Other representations are
Maheshvara or
Shiva as the
Destroyer and
Vishnu as the
Preserver. Since these seven rishis were also among the primary eight rishis, who were considered to be the ancestors of the
Gotras of
Brahmins, the birth of these rishis was mythicized. According to legend, the seven rishis in the next
manvantara will be Diptimat, Galava,
Parashurama,
Kripa, Drauni or
Ashwatthama,
Vyasa, and Rishyasringa.
Names A
manvantara (age of
Manu) is a unit of time within a
kalpa (day of
Brahma). There are fourteen
manvantaras in a
kalpa, each separated by
sandhyas (connecting periods). Each
manvantara is ruled by a different
Manu, with the current seventh one ruled by
Vaivasvata Manu.
Rishis and their sons are born anew in each
manvantara. in Hindu units of time measurement, on a
logarithmic scale.
Lists Image:HinducosmoMap2.svg|thumb|right|250px|alt=Click! Dhruva, Saptarishi, Shani, Bṛhaspati, Budha, Shukra, Chandra, Vivasvan, Garbhodaksayi Vishnu rect 172 2 277 31
w:Dhruva rect 171 96 259 122
w:Saptarishi rect 174 148 239 179
w:Shani rect 170 198 258 222
w:Bṛhaspati rect 171 256 242 278
w:Budha rect 177 282 240 298
w:Shukra rect 177 317 221 333
w:Chandra rect 177 332 212 349
w:Vivasvan rect 101 375 261 398
w:Garbhodaksayi Vishnu 1. The
Shatapatha Brahmana and
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4) acknowledge the names of seven
rishis (or Saptarshis) as: •
Atri •
Bharadvaja •
Gautama Maharishi •
Jamadagni •
Kashyapa •
Vasistha •
Vishvamitra 2. The Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as: •
Angiras • Atri •
Bhrigu •
Gautama Maharishi • Kashyapa •
Kutsa • Vasistha 3. The Mahabharata and Brihat Samhita offer the seven rishis' names as: • Angiras • Atri •
Kratu •
Marichi •
Pulaha •
Pulastya • Vasistha ==Jainism==