Names of Saptarishis in major Hindu texts[edit]

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
 Vishwamitra
2. Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as:

 Angiras
 Atri
 Bhrigu
 Gautama Maharishi
 Kashyapa
 Kutsa
 Vasistha
3. Mahabharata gives the Seven Rishis' names:

 Marichi
 Atri
 Pulaha
 Pulastya
 Kratu
 Vasistha
 Kashyapa
etc.
4. Brihat Samhita gives the Seven Rishis' names as:

 Marichi
 Vasistha
 Angiras
 Atri
 Pulastya
 Pulaha
 Kratu
 The Saptarishi (from Sanskrit: सप्तर्षि (saptarṣī), a Sanskrit dvigu meaning "seven
sages") are the seven rishis in ancient India, who are extolled at many places in
the Vedas and other 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: Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Vashistha and Vishvamitra follo
wed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Gautama and
Bharadvaja, Shandilya and Jamadagni, Vashistha and Kashyapa and Atri, Bhrigu.
The late Gopatha Brahmana 1.2.8 has Vashistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni,
Gautama, Bharadvaja, Gungu, Agastya, Bhrigu and Kashyapa.
 In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these rishis were recognized as
the 'mind-born sons' (Sanskrit: मनस पुत्र, manasputra) of Brahma, the representation
of the Supreme Being as Creator. Other representations are Mahesh or Shiva as
the Destroyer and Vishnu as the Preserver. Since these seven rishis were also
among the primary seven rishis, who were considered to be the ancestors of
the Gotras of Brahmins, the birth of these rishis was mythicized.
 In ancient Indian astronomy, the constellation of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) is called
saptarishi, with the seven stars representing seven rishis, namely "Vashistha",
"Marichi", "Pulastya", "Pulaha", "Atri", "Angiras" and "Kratu". There is another star
slightly visible within it, known as "Arundhati". Arundhati is the wife of Vashistha.
Vashishtha and Arundhati together form the Mizar double.[1]
 As per legend, the seven Rishis in the next Manvantara will be Diptimat,
Galava, Parashurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and Rishyasringa.

 Present Saptarishis[edit]
 Saptarishis are the hierarchy working under the guidance of the highest creative
intelligence, Paramatma. The present batch of the Saptarishis are Kashyapa, Atri,
Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. They bring
down to the earth the required knowledge and energies to strengthen the processes
of transition (pralaya). They are naturally the most evolved 'light beings' in the
creation and the guardians of the divine laws.
 Names of the Saptarishis[edit]
 In post-Vedic religion, Manvantara is the astronomical time within a Kalpa (aeon), a
"day (day only) of Brahma", like the present Śveta Vārāha Kalpa, where again
14 Manvantaras add up to create one Kalpa.
 Each Manvantara is ruled by a specific Manu. Apart from the omnipotent supreme
almighty-Vishnu & next in line to brahma's place-Vayu; other deities such as
ChaturmukhBrahma(present Brahma whose age is currently around 51 years)
and Shiva, Shakti, Indra, 's cycle would have completed and they would have been
united with the Omnipotent supreme entity - Brahman(Vishnu). Later
on, Vayu ascends the throne of Brahma and the process of creation thus begins
again after the mahapralaya(great destruction of the universe), Rishis and their sons
are born anew in each new Manvantara according to the Vishnu Purana.
  Manvantara in Hindu units of time measurement, on a logarithmic scale.

Manvantaras and Saptarishis in each of them

Manu
Saptarishis
(Manvantara)

Swayambhu Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasishtha.[2]

Swarochisha Urja, Stambha, Prana, Nanda, Rishabha, Nischara and Arvarivat

Kaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha, Pravahita, Mita and Sammita

Auttami
(Sons of Vasistha)

Tamasa Jyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka and Pivara

Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu,

Raivata
Sudhaman, Parjanya and Mahamuni

Sumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhinaman, and

Chakshusha
Sahishnnu

Kashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama
Vaivasvata
Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja

Diptimat, Gslava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauni

Savarni
or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and Rishyasringa

Daksha-savarni Savana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman, and Satya

Havishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and

Brahma-savarni
Satyaketu
 Nischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and
Dharma-savarni
Anagha

Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and

Rudra-Savarni
Tapodhana

Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya

Rauchya
and Sutapas

Bhautya Agnibshu, Suchi, Aukra, Magadha, Gridhra, Yukta and Ajita

 The names of the current Saptarshis

are: Kashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama
Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. The Saptarishis keep changing for every
Manvantara. As per Hindu Shastras, there are four yugas: Krita Yuga / Sat Yuga,
Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. We are at present in the Kali Yuga, which
will last for 432,000 years (we are in 5111 year now in 2020); Dvapara Yuga is twice
Kali Yuga, Treta Yuga is thrice Kali Yuga and Satya Yuga is four times Kali Yuga.
Over all, 4,320,000 years termed as 1 Chaturyuga. 1000 Chaturyugas make the day
of 12 hours for Brahma(Creator) and during another 12 hours (nights of Brahma),
Brahma takes rest and there is no creation during this period. Thus 1 day for Brahma
constitutes 2 * 1000 Chaturyugas (= 8,640,000,000 years) as per earthly time
calculation. Brahma has got month and year. Thus 1 year constitutes 360 x
8,640,000,000 = 3,110,400,000,000 years; lifespan of Brahma is 100 years = 100 x
3,110,400,000,000 = 311,040,000,000,000 years or 311.04 trillion earthly years.
 1 Kalpa = 1 day of Brahma = 12 hours of Brahma = 1 night of Brahama = 1000 yuga
cycle. 1 yuga cycle = Satya yuga (1,728,000 years) + Treta yuga (1,296,000 years) +
Dvapara yuga (8,64,000 years) + Kali Yuga (4,32,000).
 Brahma's life span seems huge but he also dies. Brahma's life in the Karan ocean is
just like a bubble. A bubble comes out during exhale and disappears during inhaling
of Mahavishnu.
 This is material universe, creation and annihilation. One who is intelligent does not
get bewildered by such data. He goes beyond such data and looks for eternal and
starts searching who is the cause of all cause and tries to connect. One who finally
gets connected is actually successful. Positions of demigod are also temporary.
Hence, not beneficial.
 In Hindu astronomy the seven stars of the Saptarshi Mandal or Big Dipper are
named as
 Indian Bayer Western
Name Designation Name

Kratu α UMa Dubhe

Pulaha β UMa Merak

Pulastya γ UMa Phecda

Atri δ UMa Megrez

Angiras ε UMa Alioth

Vasistha ζ UMa Mizar

Marichi η UMa Alkaid

 Vasishta is accompanied by his wife, the faint companion star Arundhati (Alcor/80
Ursa Majoris). The valid avatar's clan will be named after Ashvamedh.
 At the end of every four ages there is a disappearance of the Vedas and it is the
province of the seven Rishis to come down upon earth from heaven to give them
currency again.