Questions tagged [rishi]
rishi (Sanskrit: "seer; one who sees") — is a word that simply means a sage or a divine seer in general. the great sages of ancient India who, in deep states of meditation (communion with the cosmos), and through spiritual experimentation, discovered the underlying, fundamental truths of the Universe, and whose teachings formed the basis for the spiritual culture of the ancient Vedic civilization.
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Is the Anukramani index of sages and deities of the Rig Veda available online?
As I discuss in this answer, how the Vedas originated is that from time immemorial, sages known as Dhristas have heard mantras (sacred verses) directly from the gods during a state of Tapasya (deep ...
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What are different types of Rishis?
The types I know are Maharshi, Devarshi, Rajarshi, Bramharshi.
What is the difference among them?
What is their chronology?
Who awards/grants them those titles?
What kind of sadhana/practice ...
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Who all were the different Ved-Vyas?
We all know that the Mahabharat was written by Ved-Vyas, but what many of us don't know is that Ved-Vyas was not the name of the person but the title. This title is given to the one who add/modify/...
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Do Saptarishi exist in today's time?
We heard about saptarishi in almost every purana. They are always present in every story. As per my knowledge Saptarishi is a kind of post/designation in which candidates change from time to time.
In ...
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Names of female scholars from Vaidic and Upanishadic times, or "Brahmavadinis"
Wikipedia provides the names of some of the "Brahmavadinis" (ब्रह्मवादिनी) or female scholars of ancient times, who studied topics related to brahman (ब्रह्म) and took part in debates and discussions ...
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What scriptures say Indra has right/authority to test sages with Kama, Krodha, lobha, Moha, Madha and Matsarya?
Mylavarapu Srinivasa Rao is a well-known scholar of Hinduism and its philosphy in Telugu states.
He talks about Greatness of Indra in this video (in Telugu). He says
Indra is king of all Devas who ...
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Who was sage Harita, the son of Bhṛgu?
I came across a text similar to the Smṛtis or Law Books which is called the Harita Samhita.
He seems to be somebody of significance because his laws are repeated by Ṛṣi Markandeya in the book. The ...
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How did Rishis perform Tapasya (transcendental meditation) so that they heard Shruti/Veda?
The oldest and primary scripture we do have is Veda and we know that ancient Rishis heard Veda in the state of Tapasya directly from Ishwara and that is called Shruti.
But one question often comes in ...
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Story of a rishi converting a dog to a dragon that tries to eat the same rishi
I remember having heard the story in my childhood days. The basic plot of the story goes something like this: there is a poor dog which comes near a meditating rishi who takes pity and converts it ...
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Who was the sage who witnessed Mahabharata and Ramayana multiple times?
I recently heard about time travel and am curious to know about the sage who had seen Mahabharat and Ramayan multiple times.
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Why are Apsaras always sent to distract sages?
Why are Apsaras frequently sent to distract a sage from his ascetic practices? This theme seems to appear over and over again in many Puranic stories. Is there any significance attached to this theme ...
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Who was Maharshi Garga?
My gotra is Gargeya and I belong to a brahmin family. But I don't know who was Maharshi Garga.
Please tell me story if anybody know.
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Why does Sage Bhrigu have an extra eye on his foot?
It is a part of folklore that Sage Bhrigu has another eye on his foot. However, it is difficult to find on the internet any authoritative source for this piece of information.
The Wikipedia article ...
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On Identity of Sage Valmiki
Rishi Valmiki is the author of the Great Epic Ramayana. What are whereabouts of his earlier life? I have heard something like this about him (that he was dacoit) is there a way to prove or disprove ...
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Has the Anukramani of the Shukla Yajur Veda ever been published in any form?
Each of the four Vedas consists of four parts: Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads. But the core of the Vedas is the Samhitas, which consist of verses heard directly from the gods by sages ...
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If Shiva Linga is worshiped in all yugas then what curse did Rishi Bhrigu give to Lord Shiva?
EXPLANATION :
Shivalinga is said to be the Formless Brahman and is worshiped from the beginning.
There is also a story of Bhirgu rishi cursing Lord Shiva when he visited Kailash.
It was misunderstood ...
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Was the Akshay Patra ever used before Mahabharat?
Chapter 9 of Book 12 of the Devi Bhagvat Puran mentions the following benediction by Devi Gayatri to Rishi Gautam:
Thus praised and worshipped, the World-Mother appeared and gave to the Risi one ...
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What are the Vedas technically? How can Upanishads be called Vedas when some parts are neither revelations nor hymns dedicated to any specific deity?
It is believed that the Vedas are the revelations from the Almighty to the seers in exalted states of consciousness.
Further, it is also believed that the Vedas are authorless.
Keeping these ...
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Does Shiva or Vishnu or Trikaladarshi Yogi know our Aagami Karma or our free will?
Aagami Karma is actions we do in this birth. This is generally said to be free will. See this question: Is our destiny predetermined? If yes, then why do our actions affect our karma?.
Does Shiva or ...
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How to identify saint/sage?
Now a days many people claim to be a saint. Is there any method to differentiate real saint and fake saint.
UPDATE.
A person can have only 1 Guru in his lifetime.
But if I come to know there is a ...
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What is the story of Sage Suta?
Sage Suta, is well known for narrating most of the Puranas and the Mahabharata, in the forest of Naimish. (We can read about the importance of Naimisharanya in this other question Naimisharanya in ...
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What are all the curses given by sage Durvasa?
What are all the curses given by sage Durvasa?
If possible list all such curses and also the persons to whom the curses were given.
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Why Maharishi Bhrigu was so powerful?
I have read that maharishi Bhrigu was choosing which diety to invite to their maha-yagna and he was testing the tri-murties (Shiva,Vishnu, Brahma ). During his test he was disappointed with Shiva and ...
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What scriptures describe Parashara asking for Moksha for everyone?
In 7 minute mark of this lecture, the Sri Vaishnava lecturer U. Ve. A.S. Rajagopalan Swami explains the importance of Sharanagati, or complete surrender to Vishnu as a means of getting Moksha, using ...
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Who is Agastya's brother in the Ramayana?
In the Aranya Kanda of the Ramayana, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita are on the way to the ashram of the famous sage Agastya when they first stop by at the ashram of another sage:
While viewing beautiful ...
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What do we know of the lives of Parvati's sisters Ekaparna & Ekapatala?
The Vayu Purana mentions Parvati as having four sisters:
मैनाकचैव दौहित्रो दौहित्री च तथा ह्युमा ।
एकपर्णा तथा चैव तथा या चैकपाटला ॥ ४ ॥
गङ्गा चैव सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सर्वासां पूर्वजा तथा ।
पूर्वमेव मयो...
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Who was Budha-Kaushika?
One of the many popular Mantra/Stotra in Hinduism is Ram-Raksha Stotra.
And as per this Wikipedia Link, it is written by Budha-Kaushika Rishi.
In Ram-raksha itself, it is mentioned that Lord Shiva ...
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Who were the Vedic composers (qualitatively)?
I am seeking something different from all that has already been touched upon.
I am aware of the fact that Vedas are 'Apaurusheya' and 'Anaadi' and that they were revealed to the sages by the Gods ...
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What is the story of Vasishta and Agastya's brother Matsya?
Most people only know about the fact the famous sage Vasishta, guru of Rama, was one of the mind-born sons of Brahma. But as I discuss in this question, Vasishta is no longer the son of Brahma. ...
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Are there any female rishis?
Most of the saints or rishis we see are male. Are there any female saints (except devotees through Bhakti yoga)?
Why do we find female rishis only rarely? Is there any reason?
Through which yoga ...
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If Devas and Rishis are self-realized, then why do they act contrary to it?
According to the Bhagavad Gita, a self-realized person is one who has gone beyond fear, anger, hatred, jealousy, pain and pleasure, etc. and all dualities of the material world. AKA he is situated in ...
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What do our scriptures mention about Maharshi Kanad & Paramanu (atoms)?
What details do our scriptures mention about Maharshi Kanad and (his theory) on Paramanus or atoms?
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What secret was Swami Vivekananda saying about in this phrase?
At The Parliament of Religions in Chicago 1893, Swami Vivekananda spoke about Paper on Hinduism. A part of it contains this:
There is another suggestion. Taking all these for granted, how is it
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What is the origin of Ganapathi Atharvasheersh?
Where do we find the Ganapati Atharvasheersh in scriptures? What is the meaning of the word 'Atharvsheersh'. Who is the writer of it (Rishi Ganak or Atharvan)?
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Who was the wife of Kaushik who stopped the Sun from rising to save her husband's life?
Markandeya Purana mentions the story of a Brahmin named Kaushik who got the following curse from sage Mandavya:
"That sinful wretch of a man, by whom, I sorely afflicted and reduced to a ...
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Who was Akritavrana, the follower & witness of Parshurama's actions?
Section CXV of the Vana Parva of Mahabharat mentions a rishi called Akritavrana who used to reside on the Mahendra hill, the abode of Lord Parshurama. In the Mahabharat, he narrates the entire life-...
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Who is the daughter of Atri?
Chapter 8 (pg 47) of the Upodghatapada of Brahmanda Purana states the lineage of Atri and Vasistha. It recounts Atri's family and an incident where Atri releases the Sun from it's eclipse.
After the ...
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How did rishi Bhringi take birth with 3 legs?
There are many sculptures of rishi Bhringi in temples of South India; which show he has 3 legs. Is there any scriptural basis that he had 3 legs by birth or did he get them after birth?
Here are some ...
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What was the story of sage Kandu killing a cow following his father's words?
Rama is known as embodiment of Dharma. He followed his father's words and went to exile for 14 years. When Rama was ordered to leave the city to leave to forest, his mother Kaikeyi and his brother ...
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What were the 7 previous births of Brahmarishi Vasishtha?
The Yog Vasishtha narrates the fascinating story of an immortal crow named Bhushunda who is met by Brahmarishi Vasisth. In Chapter 22 while reminiscing about his past lives, the divine crow tells ...
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What is the lineage of Yajnavalkya, the guru of Janaka?
Yajnavalkya is an ancient rishi who is associated with many texts in Sanskrit such as the Shatapatha Brahmana, Shukla Yajurveda and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. His discussions with Raja Janaka of ...
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Was Rishi Vyasa the great grandson of Rishi Vashishtha?
The wiki articles on the following 4 Rishis says that: Rishi Shakti was the son of Rishi Vashishtha (to whom the text Yoga Vashishtha - a conversation between him and Shri Rama is ascribed), Shakti's ...
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How did Shukracharya get Sanjeevani Vidya?
There are many instances where Shukracharya made use of his Sanjeevani Vidya to revive the dead Asuras. My question is how did he get this knowledge and who gave it to him?
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Which scripture mentions Vasishth praying to Tantrik Goddess Tara?
The Tarapith Temple in West Bengal Goddess Tara, one of the Dash-Mahavidyashas, and has an interesting legend associated with it:
Another oral legend about the temple states that sage Vashishtha ...
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What is the story of Badarayana Vyasa?
We know that present Vyasa is Krishna Dwaipayana. There is a detail about him in Mahabharata. But who is Badarayana Vyasa and what is his story? In which mahayuga was he the Vyasa?
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Who are these learned rishis mentioned in the Mahabharat?
The Anushasan Parva of Mahabharat mentions many dignitaries that are praiseworthy and names a few rishis:
After this I shall recite the names of those foremost Rishis who are known as Manavas. They ...
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How to reconcile these incendiary acts of Devaguru Bṛhaspati, in the story of Dīrghatamas (from Mahābhārata)?
In the Book 1: Adi Parva, Sambhava Parva (Section 104) of the Mahābhārata, we encounter an appalling story of sage Dīrghatamas, as narrated by Pitāmaha Bhīṣhma to Satyavatī.
I'm quoting the ...
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Where did sage Bhrigu do penance?
According to this article, Bhrigu Rishi tested the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh(Shiva) for who is the best God and should be worshipped. It is also mentioned in this question about him ...
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What is the connection between Vidura from Mahabharata & Rishi Atri?
Mahabharat Sambhava Parva mentions the following about Vidura:
O king, thou shouldst know that he who was known on earth as Vidura, who was the first of all virtuous men, who was the god of Justice ...
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akashic records and Hinduism
Akashic Records are defined by some hindus and theosophists as a compendium of thoughts, events, and emotions encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the astral plane.
Its been ...
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