According to the Vishnu Purana (3.1.30-32), the seven rishis of the present age, the seventh manvantara of Vaivasvata Manu, are Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishvamitra and Bharadvaja. The same seven names appear in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (2.2.4). The stars of the Saptarishi constellation are by tradition named from another list: Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasishtha.
| Name | Known in the texts for |
|---|---|
| Vasishtha | Royal priest of the Ikshvaku line, family guru of Dasharatha and Rama (Valmiki Ramayana 1.11, 2.5) |
| Kashyapa | Daksha gave him thirteen of his daughters in marriage, among them Aditi, Diti and Danu (Vishnu Purana 1.15.77, 1.15.124) |
| Atri | Husband of Anasuya; father of Dattatreya, Durvasa and Soma (Bhagavata 4.1.15) |
| Jamadagni | Husband of Renuka and father of Parashurama (Bhagavata 9.15.11-13) |
| Gautama | Husband of Ahalya; at his hermitage Rama freed Ahalya (Valmiki Ramayana 1.47-48) |
| Vishvamitra | Held by tradition to be the seer of the Gayatri mantra (Rigveda 3.62.10); took Rama and Lakshmana with him to guard his yajna (Valmiki Ramayana 1.18-21) |
| Bharadvaja | His hermitage at Prayaga, where Rama stayed on the way into exile (Valmiki Ramayana 2.48); father of Drona (Mahabharata 1.57.89) |
Each manvantara has its own seven
The Vishnu Purana (3.1) names a separate Manu, Indra, gods and seven rishis for each manvantara, and also the seven rishis of manvantaras to come (3.2). The present is the seventh, the Vaivasvata manvantara (3.1.30), and the list above is the one for it.
The seven rishis in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The Brihadaranyaka (2.2.3) says the seven rishis seated at the rim of the bowl that is the head are the pranas, the senses. The next verse (2.2.4) names them: Gautama and Bharadvaja, Vishvamitra and Jamadagni, Vasishtha and Kashyapa, and calls speech Atri.
The seven rishis in the sky
The group of seven bright stars in the northern sky is called the Saptarishi, part of what the West calls Ursa Major (the Big Dipper). The Shatapatha Brahmana (2.1.2.4) says the seven rishis were in former times called the ‘rikshas’ (bears) and that the Krittikas were their wives. The Vishnu Purana (4.24.105-106) describes the seven rishis of the sky as staying a hundred years in each nakshatra, and in Magha in the time of Parikshit.
By tradition the seven stars are named Kratu, Pulaha, Pulastya, Atri, Angiras, Vasishtha and Marichi, and the faint star beside Vasishtha is his wife Arundhati.
Where the sources differ
- The Mahabharata (Shanti Parva 12.322.26-27, Critical Edition) names seven ‘Chitrashikhandin’ rishis: Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasishtha. The names of the stars come from this list.
- The order of the names varies by text: the Vishnu Purana begins with Vasishtha, the Brihadaranyaka with Gautama and Bharadvaja.
- Each manvantara has its own seven, so another list need not be wrong; it may belong to another manvantara or another tradition.
Frequently asked questions
What are the names of the seven rishis?
The seven rishis of the present manvantara: Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishvamitra and Bharadvaja (Vishnu Purana 3.1.32).
Which stars in the sky are the Saptarishi?
The seven bright stars of the northern sky that the West counts in Ursa Major (the Big Dipper). Tradition names them after Marichi, Vasishtha, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha and Kratu.
Are the seven rishis always the same?
No. According to the Vishnu Purana (3.1-3.2), each manvantara has its own seven rishis; the list above is for the present, Vaivasvata manvantara.
Which rishi is the seer of the Gayatri mantra?
Tradition holds Vishvamitra, one of these seven, to be the seer of the Gayatri mantra of Rigveda 3.62.10.
Sources
- Vishnu Purana 1.15.77 and 124, 3.1.30-32, 4.24.105-106 (Sanskrit text, GRETIL)
- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 2.2.3-4, Kanva recension (sanskritdocuments.org)
- Shatapatha Brahmana 2.1.2.4 (Julius Eggeling’s translation, wisdomlib.org)
- Mahabharata 1.57.89 and 12.322.26-28, Critical Edition (Sanskrit text, GRETIL)
- Valmiki Ramayana 1.11, 1.18-21, 1.47-48, 2.5, 2.48, Critical Edition (Sanskrit text, GRETIL)
- Bhagavata Purana 4.1.15 and 9.15.11-13 (Sanskrit text, GRETIL)
- Wikipedia articles on the Saptarishi and the Gayatri mantra (star names, seer of the mantra)
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