The Saptarishi, or Seven Sages of Hinduism, are revered seers who embody divine wisdom and cosmic order. Represented in the Ursa Major constellation, they guide humanity through spiritual knowledge and Vedic teachings. Ancient texts such as the Rigveda and Puranas describe them as enlightened beings blessed by Lord Brahma and Vishnu, whose insight bridges heaven and earth and continues to illuminate Hindu cosmology and ritual life.
Look up at the northern sky on a clear night, and you’ll see a gleaming arc of seven stars, the legendary Saptarishi, the Seven Sages of Hinduism. Across millennia, these celestial seers have symbolized divine wisdom, cosmic balance, and eternal guidance. Their stories echo through the Vedas, Puranas, and the night sky itself, where they form the Ursa Major constellation. But who were these sages, and how did they come to shine among the stars?
The Saptarishi, meaning “Seven Sages” in Sanskrit, are revered Vedic seers believed to embody the highest form of wisdom and divine knowledge in Hinduism. Each sage is said to have been born from the mind of Lord Brahma, entrusted with preserving cosmic order (ṛta) and transmitting sacred knowledge to humankind.
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 Vedic cosmology, the composition of the Saptarishi changes with every Manvantara (a cosmic age ruled by a Manu). In the current age, the Vaivasvata Manvantara the seven sages are:
Atri, Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vasishtha, and Vishwamitra.
Each represents a unique aspect of divine intellect, spiritual discipline, and moral duty.
In Hindu cosmology, the universe unfolds in cycles known as Manvantaras each governed by a different Manu, the progenitor of humankind. During every Manvantara, a new set of Saptarishis (Seven Sages) emerges to guide spiritual evolution and preserve cosmic harmony.
Two key groups of Saptarishis are most frequently mentioned in ancient scriptures, those of the Vaivasvata Manvantara (the current age) and the Svyambhu Manvantara (the first age).
(Our Present Cosmic Era)
In the current cycle, presided over by Vaivasvata Manu, the seven sages are:
1. Atri
2. Bharadvaja
3. Gautama
4. Jamadagni
5. Kashyapa
6. Vasishtha
7. Vishwamitra
Each of these sages is revered in the Rigveda and Puranas for their contributions to dharma, Vedic knowledge, and the moral fabric of civilization. Their stories form the foundation of spiritual instruction, temple rituals, and family lineages across India.
(The First Creation Cycle)
In the earliest cosmic epoch, known as the Svyambhu Manvantara, the seven sages were:
1. Angiras
2. Atri
3. Kratu
4. Marichi
5. Pulaha
6. Pulatsya
7. Vasishtha
These primordial seers are said to have emerged directly from the mind of Lord Brahma, helping shape creation through sacred hymns and spiritual laws. Their tapas (austerity) and wisdom anchored the early world in divine truth.
🔸Who he is: One of the most ancient Vedic sages and a Manas-putra (mind-born son) of Lord Brahma.
🔸Significance: Revered for his wisdom and for composing hymns in the Rig Veda. 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. Sage Atri embodied purity and spiritual discipline.
🔸Legacy: The couple are also hailed as the parents of Lord Dattatreya an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva symbolizes the unity of divine forces and self-realization.
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. Bhrigu symbolizes analytical intellect and karmic insight.
🔸Who he is: Author of the Bhrigu Samhita, one of the earliest known treatises on Vedic astrology (Jyotisha).
🔸Significance: Known for testing the trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva to determine the supreme deity, a story highlighting divine forgiveness and ego transcendence.
🔸Legacy: His son Shukra, guru of the Asuras and planet Venus, represents intellect and rebirth. The western Indian city Bharuch (from Bhrigukaccha in Gujarat) bears his name.
Pulatsya is a powerful and intelligent sage in Hindu tradition. Pulastya embodies transmission of wisdom across generations.
🔸Who he is: Son of Brahma and grandfather of Ravana, the demon-king of Ramayana.
🔸Significance: Passed on the sacred Vishnu Purana to Parashara Muni, ensuring the preservation of sacred knowledge.
🔸Legacy: His lineage bridges gods and demons, showing that wisdom transcends dualities of good and evil.
Popularized by the story of Ramayana and Puranas, Vasishtha muni needs no introduction to the regular reader of books on Hinduism. Vasishtha personifies the path of knowledge (Jnana Yoga) and inner serenity.
🔸Who he is: Guru of Lord Rama, one of the most venerated sages in Hindu tradition.
🔸Significance: Authored spiritual texts like the Yoga Vasishtha, teaching self-inquiry and liberation through knowledge.
🔸Legacy: Possessor of Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow, symbolizing abundance and spiritual nourishment.
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”.
🔸Who he is: Revered Vedic scholar and husband of Ahalya, whose story of redemption appears in the Ramayana.
🔸Significance: Credited with invoking the river Godavari, also called Gautami, through his penance.
🔸Legacy: Founded the Gautama lineage of Brahmins and is cited in Dharmashastra texts for his moral philosophy.
A sage who played a vital role in the creation of the world order. 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. Kashyapa stands for creativity, balance, and universality.
🔸Who he is: Forefather of gods (Devas), demons (Asuras), and humanity itself; husband of Aditi and Diti.
🔸Significance: His teachings shaped the order of creation and cosmic hierarchy.
🔸Legacy: The land of Kashmir is traditionally named after him, once believed to have been drained and civilized by his meditation.
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. Vishwamitra embodies transformation, perseverance, and the pursuit of divine truth.
🔸Who he is: A former king who attained the highest spiritual status through immense penance.
🔸Significance: Taught Rama and Lakshmana mantras of celestial warfare; composed the Gayatri Mantra, one of Hinduism’s holiest verses.
🔸Legacy: His rivalry with Vasishtha and triumph through austerity illustrate the power of will over birthright.
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 stand as beacons of divine intelligence, bridging the cosmic and human realms. 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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