Saptarshi, Saptarishi, ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i, Saptaṛṣ¾±, Saptariá¹£i: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Saptarshi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, biology, Tamil. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i and Saptaṛṣ¾± and Saptariá¹£i can be transliterated into English as Saptarsi or Saptarshi or Saptarishi or Saptarisi, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Saptaṛṣ¾± (सपà¥à¤¤à¤‹à¤·à¤�).—The sons of BrahmÄ who bear the Gaá¹…gÄ in their locks; with the constellations traversing Maghas, commenced the Kali age; when they move to PÅ«rvÄá¹£Äá¸ha, there began the reign of Nanda;1 separate for every epoch; cursed by MaheÅ›vara were born in Janaloka, and born in CÄká¹£uá¹£a epoch during the VÄruṇa sacrifice.2 Kuṇá¸am of, near Agastya's hermitage;3 look on the first PrajÄpati emerging out of EkÄrṇava;4 residents of Brahmaká¹£etra.5
- 1) BhÄgavata-purÄṇa V. 17. 3; XII. 2. 27-33.
- 2) BrahmÄṇá¸a-purÄṇa II. 36. 18; 23. 38; 26. 30; III. 1. 13.
- 3) Ib. III. 5. 80; 13. 62; 35. 43.
- 4) Ib. I. 1. 185.
- 5) VÄ: 59: 105-106.
1b) The seven sages born on the earth in DvÄpara; conquered death by foregoing desire for progeny; were followed in the path of Ūrdhvaretasas by 88,000 others; all immortals decline after the deluge;1 their permanent abode in front of Dhruva;2 a lakh of yojanas above ÅšanaiÅ›cara;3 lived with Magha during the age of ParÄ«ká¹£it;4 their one year = 3030 years of our reckoning;5 gave out Å›rautadharma at the commencement of the TretÄyugam;6 remembered by Indra they went to UmÄ and Åšiva and got their marriage celebrated; they tested UmÄ's firmness in her love in different ways and found her not wanting at all.7
- 1) Matsya-purÄṇa 124. 106-11.
- 2) BrahmÄṇá¸a-purÄṇa II. 21. 168; 24. 122; 29. 17, 45; IV. 2. 134. Matsya-purÄṇa 4. 37: 128. 74. Viṣṇu-purÄṇa II: 9. 10.
- 3) VÄyu-purÄṇa 53. 97: 101. 134: Viṣṇu-purÄṇa II. 7. 9.
- 4) Matsya-purÄṇa 273. 39, 44.
- 5) Ib. 142. 13. VÄyu-purÄṇa 57. 18.
- 6) Matsya-purÄṇa 142. 40-41; Br: II. 32. 34, 42, 91-4; 35. 103, 184, 189.
- 7) Matsya-purÄṇa 154. 311-41.

The Purana (पà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤�, purÄṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿) or Saptamuni refers to the “seven sagesâ€�, according to the Bá¹›hatsaṃhitÄ (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by VarÄhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiá¹£a).—Accordingly, “I shall now expound about the movements of the Seven Ṛṣis (³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i) [i.e., saptamuniâ€�saptabhir munibhiá¸�], through whom the northern region shines as though bedecked with a pearl necklace, like a maiden with a smiling countenance wearing a garland of white lotuses. Or by the direction of her lord—the Pole-Star (Seven Ṛṣis), the northern maiden (quarter) appears to dance round as the Seven Ṛṣis move in their course. I begin to treat of these stars adopting the views of Vá¹›ddha Gargaâ€�.

Jyotisha (जà¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤¤à¤¿à¤�, Âá²â´Ç³Ù¾±á¹£a or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomyâ€� or “Vedic astrologyâ€� and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (shilpa)³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿) refers to a group of ParivÄra-DevatÄs (“attendant deitiesâ€�) according to chapter 22 (KriyÄpÄda) of the ±Ê²¹»å³¾²¹²õ²¹á¹ƒh¾±³ÙÄå: the most widely followed of SaṃhitÄ covering the entire range of concerns of PÄñcarÄtra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matterâ€�ÂáñÄå²Ô²¹, yoga, °ì°ù¾±²âÄå and ³¦²¹°ù²âÄå) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [±è²¹°ù¾±±¹Äå°ù²¹-±¹¾±»å³ó¾±]: Iconometry continues, this chapter being given over to rules for the attendant deities [±è²¹°ù¾±±¹Äå°ù²¹-»å±ð±¹²¹³ÙÄå]: [e.g., ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i] [...]. Then the discussion turns to the vehicles of the gods, namely BrahmÄ’s Swan and Rudra’s Ox, etc. (61b-64).

Shilpashastra (शिलà¥à¤ªà¤¶à¤¾à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¥à¤°, Å›ilpaÅ›Ästra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
General definition (in Hinduism)
: WikiPedia: HinduismThe Saptarishi (from ²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i, "seven sages") are the seven rishis who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, though later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do so. They are regarded in the Vedas as the patriarchs of the Vedic religion.
The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218-221:
- Vashista,
- Bharadvaja,
- Jamadagni,
- Gautama,
- Atri,
- Visvamitra, and
- Agastya,
followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list:
- Gautama and
- µþ³ó²¹°ù²¹»å±¹ÄåÂá²¹,
- ViÅ›vÄmitra and
- Jamadagni,
- Vashiá¹£á¹ha and
- Kaśyapa, and
- Atri,
- Brighu.
The late Gopatha BrÄhmana 1.2.8 has
- ³Õ²¹²õ³ó¾±á¹£á¹²¹,
- ³Õ¾±Å›±¹Äå³¾¾±³Ù°ù²¹,
- Jamadagni,
- Gautama,
- µþ³ó²¹°ù²¹»å±¹ÄåÂá²¹,
- Gungu,
- Agastya,
- Vrighu and
- °²¹Å›²â²¹±è²¹.
In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these rishis were recognized as the 'mind born sons' (Sanskrit: manasa putra) of Brahma, the representation of the Supreme Being as Creator. Other representations are Mahesha 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.
: Apam Napat: Indian MythologySaptaRishis, are the seven great sages in Indian Mythology. They have attained a semi-immortal status, that of an exceedingly long life span due to their Yogic power and by the power of their penance.
The sages are
- Vasishta the preceptor of Ishvahu clan,
- Marichi,
- Angirasa,
- Atri,
- Pualsthya,
- Pulaaha
- and Krathu.
The all revolve around Dhruva, the pole star.
They are said to be the constellation Ursa Major (Big dipper). Arundhati, the wife of Vasishta accompanies him in this constellation. Some of these sages appear in many stories, while the others have very few references in Indian mythology. Some of the other occur very often in these stories, even though they are not part of the SaptaRishis.
Some of these Rishis (Sages) are:
- Agastya,
- Vishwamitra,
- Bharadwaja,
- Kanva,
- Bhrigu,
- Gautama,
- and Durvasa.
However, according to the Satapatha-brahmana the seven sages are
- Gautama,
- Vishwamitra,
- Jamadagni,
- Vasishta,
- Kashyapa
- and Atri.
Biology (plants and animals)
: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Saptarshi in India is the name of a plant defined with Plumbago zeylanica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Plumbago rosea L. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Prodr. Fl. SW. Afr. (1967)
· Flora of Tropical East Africa, Plumbaginaceae (1976)
· Taxon (1979)
· FBI (1882)
· Fontqueria (1987)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Saptarshi, for example diet and recipes, extract dosage, chemical composition, side effects, health benefits, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹á¹›á¹£¾± (सपà¥à¤¤à¤‹à¤·à¤�).—m pl (S) The seven saints of the Brahmarshi order, contemporary with each Manu. The names of the several series differ; the names of the saints of the present Manwantara are kaÅ›yapa, atri, bharadvÄja, viÅ›vÄmitra, gautama, jamadagni, vaÅ›iá¹£á¹ha, or, according to other authority, marÄ«ci, atri, aá¹…girasa, pulasti or styÄ, pulaha, kratu, vaÅ›iá¹£á¹ha. These form, in astronomy, the asterism of Ursa major.
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²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿).—m pl S The same with ²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹á¹›á¹£¾±.
: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹á¹›á¹£¾± (सपà¥à¤¤à¤‹à¤·à¤�).â€�m plu The seven saints of the ²ú°ù²¹³ó³¾²¹°ùá¹£i order. (In astronomy.) The as- terism of Ursa major.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿).—m. Plu.
(-°ùá¹£a²â²¹á¸�) 1. The constellation Ursa Major, the seven stars of which are the seven great saints, viz:—Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasisht'Ha. 2. The seven sages themselves. E. sapta seven, and ṛṣ¾± a sage.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿).—i. e. saptan-ṛṣ¾±, m. pl. 1. The seven Ṛṣis or great saints, MarÄ«ci, Atri, etc. 2. The constellation Ursa major.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿).—[masculine] [plural] the seven sages or the seven stars of the Great Bear.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿):—[=sapta-ṛṣ¾±] [from sapta > saptan] m. [plural] = ²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i, [Ṛg-veda; Åšatapatha-brÄhmaṇa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] Name of the authors of the hymn, [Ṛg-veda ix, 107; AnukramaṇikÄ]
3) [=²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹-°ùá¹£i] [from sapta > saptan] m [plural]. (ta-ṛṣ¾±) the 7 Ṛṣis q.v.
4) [v.s. ...] (in [astronomy]) the 7 stars of the constellation Ursa Major (-pÅ«tÄ dik, ‘the northern quarter of the skyâ€�)
5) [v.s. ...] sg. one of the 7 Ṛṣis, [MahÄbhÄrata]
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿):â€�(°ùá¹£i²â²¹á¸�) 1. m. Ursa major, its seven stars having the names of seven sages.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संसà¥à¤•ृतमà¥� (²õ²¹á¹ƒs°ìá¹›t²¹³¾), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSaptaṛṣ¾± (ಸಪà³à²¤à²‹à²·à²�):â€�
1) [noun] = ಸಪà³à²¤à²°à³à²·à²¿à²®à²‚ಡಲ [saptarshimamdala].
2) [noun] (used in pl. with -ಗಳà³� [galu]) the seven celebrated sages - MarÄ«ci, Atri, AÅ‹gÄ«rasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasiá¹£á¹ha.
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³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (ಸಪà³à²¤à²°à³à²·à²¿):—[noun] = ಸಪà³à²¤à²‹à²·à²� [saptarishi].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconSaptariá¹£i (ஸபà¯à®¤à®°à®¿à®·à®¿) noun < ²õ²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i. The seven sages. See சதà¯à®¤à®°à®¿à®·à®¿à®•ளà¯�. [satharishigal.]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Sapta-ṛṣ¾± (सपà¥à¤¤-ऋषà¤�):—n. the seven stars (supposed to represent the seven great sages) of the Great Bear;
2) ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i (सपà¥à¤¤à¤°à¥à¤·à¤¿):—n. â†� सपà¥à¤¤-ऋषà¤� [sapta-ṛṣ¾±]
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Rishi, Sapta.
Starts with: Saptarshicara, Saptarshija, Saptarshika, Saptarshikunda, Saptarshiloka, Saptarshimamdala, Saptarshimant, Saptarshimantalam, Saptarshimat, Saptarshimata, Saptarshina, Saptarshis, Saptarshisamaja, Saptarshisamvat, Saptarshishvaramahatmya, Saptarshismriti, Saptarshismritisamgraha, Saptarshistotra, Saptarshita, Saptarshivat.
Full-text (+160): Saptarshita, Saptarshicara, Saptarshistotra, Saptarshismriti, Saptarshija, Saptarshimata, Saptarshikunda, Saptarshimat, Saptarshiloka, Saptarshivat, Saptarshisamaja, Saptarshimantalam, Atinaman, Saptarshisamvat, Saptarshis, Saptarshimamdala, Atri, Vasishtha, Saptarshismritisamgraha, Nishcara.
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Search found 48 books and stories containing Saptarshi, Saptarishi, ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£i, Saptaṛṣ¾±, Saptarsi, Sapta-rishi, Sapta-ṛṣ¾±, Sapta-rsi, Sapta-rshi, Sapta-rá¹£i, Saptariá¹£i, Saptarisi, Saptharishi, Sapdarishi, Sapdharishi, Saptarishis, Sapta rishis; (plurals include: Saptarshis, Saptarishis, ³§²¹±è³Ù²¹°ùá¹£is, Saptaṛṣ¾±s, Saptarsis, rishis, ṛṣ¾±s, rsis, rshis, rá¹£is, Saptariá¹£is, Saptarisis, Saptharishis, Sapdarishis, Sapdharishis, Saptarishises, Sapta rishises). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
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