10/27/2018 The extraordinary souls called rishis – Vanamali – Medium

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A published author who conducts classes on the Vedic Way of Life and The Bhagavad Gita in many
countries.
Mar 29 · 15 min read

The extraordinary souls called rishis

The Spiritual Scientists knew then what modern
scientists still do not

The Science called Hinduism is founded on a set of spiritual texts

known as the Vedas. The rst portion of the Vedas consists of sounds
known as mantras. This portion is known as the “Samhitas”. These
sounds have always existed in etheric space in the form of vibrations.
Hence the Vedas according to Hindu tradition can never be dated. They
were revealed to a set of super human beings with high receptivity,
extraordinary memory and an understanding that was way above the
intellect of even the most intelligent of modern human beings. They
were highly evolved beings who can be called spiritual scientists. The
word “ri” denotes sound and since they were the ones who heard the
sounds of the vibrations, they came to be known as “rishis” — the
hearers of the sounds. They were the ones who cognised the mantras or
sounds ever existing in etheric space and made them available to
humanity. The rishis never claimed to be the authors of the Vedas. The
fact that the names of some of the rishis are associated with some of the
mantras is because they were the ones who rst heard the mantras and
gave them to us. For instance the Rishi Viswamitra is the one who gave
us the most powerful mantra in the Vedas, known as the “Surya
Gayatri”.

The rishis were actually scientists of a very high order. Without the use
of modern equipments they were able to discover a colossal amount of
information about Nature and the cosmos which has only recently
come to be cognised by modern scientists. Though it might seem
strange to say this, the fact was that their main source of information

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came through their own minds and intellects which they had
sharpened to a laser point stage which could thus pierce through space,
time and matter. We are limited beings totally dependent on the
meagre and mainly illusory information given by our ve senses. They
were multi-sensory beings whose intellects had the power to pierce
through the veil which Nature places over everything. This veil is what
they called “maya”. It is this illusory capacity of Nature which makes us
believe in the existence of something called “matter” which we think of
as being very hard and something called “Time” which to us is a reality.
Now the physicists tell us that “matter is only energy in motion” and
“Time” is only a product of the mind. Of course the rishis knew this
long ago and that is why they dubbed the world as “maya.” Their
stupendous intellects were their laboratories. Using various techniques
of yoga and meditation they were able to penetrate into the heart of
Nature without dissecting her as modern scientists do. If they wanted
to nd out about a star they became the star and thus got rst hand and
irrefutable information. This is why their theories have never been
refuted by successive generations as have the discoveries of western
scientists. They were the greatest astronomers, botanists, physicists,
mathematicians and doctors.

They also had external laboratories called yajnashalas in which they

conducted certain mystic rituals. Using the mantras which they had
heard during their sojourn in the mountains of the Himalayas, they
performed re ceremonies known as yajnas or yagas . Their re places
were built with great geometrical precision. Only wood from certain
special trees could be used for the ceremony. Into this blazing re they
would pour ghee and o er certain herbs along with incantations which
were capable of creating a special aura in the environment which
spread to the society and which could also bring about a successful
conclusion of the desires of the person for whose sake the yaga was
being performed. For instance in the Ramayana it is said that the rishis
performed a yaga for the sake of the King Dasaratha in order to get
children. They could also perform a yaga for the sake of rain during
times of drought. They wooed Nature with these chants and rituals so
that she listened to them and happily granted their every wish. They
did not grab from Nature as if it was their right as we are doing now!
We have no rights as far as Nature is concerned. However she gives us
certain duties which if we perform to the best of our abilities, she will
see to it that we get our just results. If we out her laws, she will let
loose her typhoons and her tsunamis!! The rishis were well aware of
this and always treated Nature with the greatest of respect and
consideration. They even dei ed her as our rst mother!

The rishis made many scienti c discoveries which are only now being
discovered by modern science. The amazing amount of information
they collected about natural phenomena has been put into the second
portion of the Vedas known as “Brahmanas”. When we go into these
discoveries we are totally taken aback by the amount of information
they had acquired without the use of any modern equipment. They
were indeed the rst scientists, physicists, botanists, doctors, surgeons,
engineers, architects, sculptors, artists, teachers, preceptors and
spiritual guides. They were great astronomers and astrologers. They

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were well aware of the enormous power that the stars and planets had
over human beings. Using this knowledge they could predict the times
which were conducive to each person to bring about the ful lment of
their desires. Their knowledge of mathematics was fabulous and the
yajnashalas where built according to precise geometrical calculations
which made maximum use of the position of the planets at di erent
times. However they did not use any of the knowledge they possessed
for personal bene t. On the contrary they used it in order to create a
perfect society in which human beings could live in comfort and
harmony with each other and with Nature.

Their knowledge was not just theoretical but was applied to every
aspect of human life. Since food is a basic requirement of life,
agriculture was one of the rst things they looked into. At a time when
farming was only practiced in a most rudimentary form, they produced
new seeds, fruits, roots and spices and gave them to the people. They
were well aware of the importance of dietetics and taught people how
to eat, what to eat, how to grow and cook food in ways which would
produce maximum bene ts. They also taught physical postures which
would increase both spiritual and physical health which are now
known as yogasanas. They delved into every aspect of daily life and
taught us how to perform even the most commonplace of activities, like
sleeping, bathing, excreting, playing, idling — how to grow strong and
healthy and how to live happily both on the individual and collective
level. They were the rst to teach that a good diet and good mind
would automatically lead to a healthy body. They were the most
compassionate of all beings and thus whatever they taught had only
one thing in mind — “How all living beings could live blissfully with a
healthy body and mind.” “Loka Samasthath Sukhino Bhavantu.”

They had a rare command of the science of linguistics. The language

they spoke is sublime and is known as Sanskrit. In an age when the
written word was totally unknown, the rishis who had stupendous
memories passed on their knowledge of the Vedas to their disciples,
who in turn passed it on to successive generations.

It was the great sage Vyasa who codi ed the Veda and made it into four
— Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda so as to make it
easier for his disciples to memorise since all this happened before the
art of writing. Even though Vyasa came much after the original rishis,
he can still be called a rishi since he had all the quali cations.

Kings and emperors rushed to receive them since the power they
wielded was enormous. In fact even Nature bowed to their will.

These spiritual giants lived in the Himalayas and strode across the high
mountain regions long before the dawn of historic time. They were the
sublime expression of the perfect human being. They were the crown
and cream of Nature’s evolutionary process. No modern human has
achieved the heights that they achieved. In fact it is only now that
modern science has even begun to envisage the possibility of there
being such a type of super-human, multi-sensory beings who have the
gift of inner vision and are able to see past, present and future as one

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huge canvas. They were truly incredible beings who had the power to
choose their time of arrival and departure from this planet. The
compassion and love they bore for humanity and for this land, the land
of their birth, is inexhaustible. This holy land of India has produced
countless such amazing souls who are steeped in the divine essence
and who can be called walking gods! The reason for choosing the sub-
continent of India to manifest themselves might be because they
recognised the essential spiritual potential of this country. Thus it is
that India has maintained the longest, unbroken continuity of
civilizations in the world.

It is believed that the rishis have never ceased to exist. They were truly
travellers in time who were born centuries ago but whose ideas and
spirit still permeates the very dust of this holy land of Bharat (India).
The subtle vibrations of their voices are still inviting us to go with them
on their Time travels. It is believed that they always keep an eye of
compassion on us, poor misguided humans, still playing with the toys
of our ignorance.
All the knowledge which the rishis accumulated eventually came to be
known as the spiritual science called the Sanatana Dharma (ancient
law of righteousness). They ensured the constant renewal of India’s
spiritual tradition and culture by taking birth again and again in every
age to keep up the traditions of the Sanatana Dharma.

A verse in the Veda says, “The rishis carried out severe penance for the
welfare of all mankind and out of this was born this nation endowed
with strength and prowess. This land created by the gods and
extending from the Himalayas in the north to Indu Sarovar [i.e. the
Indian Ocean], in the south is known as Hindusthan. Everyone who
lives in this holy land can be called a Hindu. Therefore let all those who
live in this country worship it as Rashtradevata — “The divine country.”
However, since only the Hindus accept the Vedas as being the
foundation of their culture, the word Hindu has come to mean not just
one who is born on this sub-continent but also one who acknowledges
the Vedas as being the foundation of his or her faith. 
The rishis can be categorised into three types — Brahmarishi , is the
highest. He is one who is ever united with the supreme power of the
Brahman. Vasishta and Sri Shuka are two examples. A Rajarishi is one
who was once a king and became a rishi. Vishwamitra is the greatest of
these. A Devarishi is one who is both a god and a rishi. The great sage
Narada is the only one in this category.

The sapta rishis or the seven sages have been extolled in the Vedas and
Puranas. Their names di er slightly in every eon. Their names in the
present eon are Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulaha,Pulasthya, Krathu and
Vasishta. Another list gives their names as Viswamitra, Jamadagni,
Gotama, Atri, Vasishta and Kashyapa. The name of the great sage
Agastya is often added to this list. They are the ones who started the
gotras or lineage through blood relationship which exists to this very
day. There was a strict set of rules to be followed for marriage which
ensured that the line was pure. All Brahmins belong to one of these
gotras. Only in India can we nd people who can trace their ancestry to
thousands of years back.

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A true rishi is one who has no attachment to any objects, who can
remain immersed in a meditative state for any number of days, who can
control both thirst and hunger, whose words can be both a curse and a
blessing because his tongue has never spoken anything but the truth,
who is lled with humility and has compassion for all living creatures.

This universe is lled with the most unimaginable wonders which

human beings have only just started to discover in the last two
centuries. What can be said about these super beings who discovered
all these wonders, thousands of years ago without the use of modern
technology or instruments? Yet the amazing thing is that they were
totally without ego. They claimed no ownership for any of their
discoveries but merely said that all knowledge came to them through
the Veda which they were able to cognise and that the Veda itself was
the breath of the Brahman.

Like the divine, they lived in the eternal present and could see past,
present and future. Today quantum physicists say that past, present and
future exist all at once. The rishis were well aware of this. The river of
time owed before them in an unceasing current. They made full use of
the material that the divine has provided for us, like the planets, stars
and the ve elements. They knew well that there are intimate
connections between the outer and the inner. They declared that it was
due to these connections that we are able to know the world. Nature is
our rst and greatest teacher. The microcosm is only a mirror of the
macrocosm.

Since they were closely connected with all the natural phenomena, the
rishis opened our eyes and hearts to a world of mystery and beauty and
not one of arid facts like modern day science. Modern science may be
able to give us power and ability to control creation, but the spiritual
science of the rishis gives us the power to enjoy and bene t from it. It is
a fact that the Creator wants us to know and enjoy this fantastic
creation but modern science only makes use of it and distorts it to suit
its own convenience. There are many other creatures in this universe
and all of them have an equal right to enjoy this multifarious universe.
We do not own it. We are only allowed to use it during the short span of
our lives on this planet and leave it intact for those who come after us.
For those of us brought up in the modern world, everything is a
commodity to be used and thrown away. We do not realise that there is
nothing useless in the universe. Everything has a place and a value. We
treat the earth as dirt and therefore fail to give it the respect and
consideration owed to it. The rishis told us to treat the earth like our
mother and not to de le or denigrate her in any way. We do not realise
that our very bodies are made up of the ve elements which make up
the universe and we have to give respect to everything in the world.
The rishis were well aware of this. They treated everything in the world
as divine and thus Nature revealed her secrets to them. They had a
worshipful attitude towards everything.
They were the rst to recognise the power of sounds. Sound is the
softest yet most powerful form of energy in the universe. The rishis
were experts in the science of phonetics. They made use of sounds in
order to control Nature. Mantras are the product of their research into

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the science of sounds. Mantras are high potency sounds by using which
we can attract and make use of anything we want from the universe.
The letters of the mantras if chanted correctly constitute a potent
capsule of form, sound and power. All mantras denote that formless
Absolute, which is beyond all forms yet, is the cause of all forms. The
great mantra “Aum” is the sound emitted by the whirling of the planets
gyrating at high speed. This is the primeval sound of the cosmos. The
Surya Gayatri Mantra is one of the greatest mantras given by the rishis.
Many of the mantras of Hinduism if used properly with the correct
intonation will balance the positive and negative tendencies of the
planets and have a steadying e ect on the individual. Mantras can
create, destroy, balance and cure.

All the forms found in the physical world are created by the Supreme
Consciousness through the shaping of light and sound. The rishis who
were always immersed in that pure consciousness were also capable of
conjuring any form they chose through the medium of light and sound.
But the strange fact is that even though they could materialise anything
they wished, they chose not to make anything for themselves. They did
not seek to carve in stone or wood or make e gies or temples or in any
way try to immortalise themselves in this world even though they were
perfectly competent to do so. They did not leave any chronicle of their
achievements or images that might have survived the course of time.
Even though they lived in the human body, it was obvious that they had
not even a trace of ego. The advice they gave us through the unique
culture called the Sanatana Dharma is the only way by which we can
know something about them. They have taught us that we will not gain
universality unless we are prepared to lose our individuality and we
will not experience bliss, which is our very essence, if we do not
experience this universality. We have no exclusive right to anything in
this world. Everything has to be shared with everything else. They
knew that this world is only as real as the morning mist and would melt
with the rising of the sun. The sun of their consciousness was at its
zenith and they did not desire the tri es of this world. They had
acquired the greatest knowledge, which is the knowledge of the Self
which gave them power over the whole universe but they knew that
ordinary human beings would not be able to acquire this so easily.
Hence they formulated a number of methods by which human beings
would be able to evolve and reach a state where they would be able to
lead a blissful life.

It is only in this century that modern scientists have discovered that

they can transform letters, words and pictures into sounds and transmit
these and later change them back into their original forms if necessary.
This is something the rishis discovered ages ago.

Just as mantras are sound capsules for controlling nature, they also
gave us something called yantras which are mathematical patterns for
producing certain desired e ects. A yantra actually means a tool for
helping any action. For example a wheel is a yantra for facilitating
movement. The rishis gave us spiritual yantras which are geographical
designs by using which our spiritual evolution will be hastened. Just as
algebraic symbols are used to understand di cult mathematical

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theorems, the rishis used their genius and captured the formless,
wordless Supreme into these mathematical designs called yantras. The
yantra is a geometrical gure drawn with lines, circles, squares and
triangles. Due to its mathematical precision it is a powerhouse of
cosmic energy. The Sri Chakra or Sri Yantra is the most potent form of a
spiritual yantra. Most yantras are made of metals like silver, copper and
gold since the rishis knew that these are the best for conducting
electrical charges as well as spiritual vibrations. Some are also made
out of crystal.

Meditation is another of the techniques the rishis gave us. In a state

where the mind is single pointed, it can achieve anything it wants since
it’s like a laser beam which can cut through glass. Since they loved and
respected Nature without despoiling her, Nature revealed her deep
secrets to them. If they wanted to nd out something about a plant they
meditated on it and attained union with it so that they had a direct
knowledge of the plant. Hence all the knowledge they gave to us has
never been refuted as we nd in the west. This is the only explanation
we can give for the incredible knowledge they had of plants and planets
and of everything that makes up this universe. They had direct
knowledge of these things by attaining union with them.

By using the methods given by the rishis, human beings can also have
knowledge of all the three states of time — past, present and future, as
well as manifest extraordinary powers like, telepathy, ability to y, and
live a long and healthy life, preserve youth and beauty etc. Above
everything else we can live a blissful life, in harmony with the whole of
creation. This is their great gift to India as well as to the whole world.

All this knowledge has been showered on this country of India by these
remarkable individuals who were really universals. Unfortunately the
invaders who came to this country could not understand the greatness
of this culture and tried their best to wipe it out. People always fear that
which they can’t understand. Even though they did not fully succeed in
this attempt, their constant scorn made a deep mark on the generations
that followed. We were taught to despise everything the rishis taught.
Now we are coming to a new age. It is the duty of the present
generation to see that this knowledge is brought back to the
mainstream education and that our children are made to realise that
they are the inheritors of a unique culture which is their duty to
preserve, and teach to the whole world. This is our only hope for a
united world in which everyone acts with awareness of the needs of
everything else in this universe. Only by doing this can we pay back the
debt we owe to these extraordinary souls known as rishis.

Aum Tat Sat

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