Dr Uday Dokras

Culture of Ancient India-The epoch of great Rishis

The first culture of which we have definite information concerning its

cosmological ideas is ancient India, meaning the period of India's history prior
to that of the wars in the south of the Indian Peninsula. That was an epoch of
efflorescence of the Hindu spirit when the Indian nation lived peacefully in the
northern part of what is now India. This epoch carne to an end as early as
about six thousand years before Christ. It is sometimes called the epoch of
great Rishis - great teachers of India. Some scholars place them even before the
9th millennium B.C. We can reproduce the natural environment of this nation
as abundant and favorable to people who lived in rather small communities
scattered all over the country. The soul mood of ancient Indians was very
different from our own. That difference has to be grasped if we are to
understand what is today called the Cosmological Principle of Ancient India.

Ancient Indians considered all that is perceived by the physical senses as an

illusion or "maya". They felt it discomforting to have to live within that maya.
Instead, they strove toward spiritual reality, which they wanted to grasp and
experience, not by conceptual and logical thinking (logic as such did not exist
yet!) but through ardent fee1ings.
 Dr Uday Dokras
It is true that this epoch left no direct written records behind, but it did leave a
great oral tradition. The Indians up to the present day, living in the echoes of
that culture, inherited traditions richer and stronger than other nations, and
the extraordinary collective memory, cultivated by appropriate exercises,
preserved many ancient oral works for posterity. Most of those works were
written only in post-Christian times. But their content as well as the fact that
they are in Sanskrit, a language that has not been spoken for thousands of
years, is taken by Indologists as evidence that they go back to ancient times (cf.
Radhakrishnan 1951). In any case, the roots of a meditative attitude towards
the world, so characteristic for India, had formed very early, thousands of years
before the strictly historic era of India began.

Colonel James Todd (British East India Company) said of India “Where else can
we look for sages like those whose systems of philosophy were prototypes to
whose works Plato, Thales & Pythagorus were disciples? Where do I find
astronomers whose knowledge of planetary systems yet excites wonder in
Europe as well as the architects and sculptors whose works claim our
admiration, and the musicians who could make the mind oscillate from joy to
sorrow, from tears to smile with the change of modes and varied intonation?“
Indian culture and nationalism have been evolved and fostered over the
millenia by India’s ancient rishis, who at the banks of holy rivers of
Saptasindhu and Saraswati had composed the Vedic literature – the very
foundation of Indian civilization. The term “rishi” or “rsi” originally denoted the
composers and singers of Vedic hymns. However, the rishi is also a ‘sage’ to
whom the Gods revealed the Vedas (knowledge of the eternal truths about the
Creator, His creation and means to preserve it).

India’s other contributions to the world:

 India’s greatest gift to Humanity – Mathematical innovations include

ZERO; use of DECIMAL NUMBERS and DICE.
 Budhayana explained in the 6th century, the concept of what is known
as the Pythagorean Theorem, long before the European mathematicians.
 Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India; Quadratic
equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century CE; The largest
numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were (10 to the power of 6)
whereas Hindus used numbers as big as (10 to the power of 53) with
specific names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Even
today, the largest used number is Tera 1012 (10 to the power of 12).
 By 1,500 BCE, Indians used figures like square, circle, rectangle, angles,
triangle, fractions, algebraic formulae and astronomy and metaphysics.
 The art of Navigation was born thousands of years ago. The very word
Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy
is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
 Dr Uday Dokras
 The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
According to Saka King Rudradaman I of 150 BCE a beautiful lake called
‘Sudarshana’ was constructed on the hills of Raivataka during
Chandragupta Maurya’s time.
 Originated in India – Pharmacology, brain surgery, medicine, artificial
colors and glazes, metallurgy, re-crystallization, chemistry, textile
production, hydraulic engineering, water powered devices, etc.

The 4 chief classes of Rishi are the

1. Brahmarishi, born of the mind of Brahma,
2. the Devarishi and Rajarishi or kings who became Rishis through their
knowledge and austerities, such as Janaka, Ritaparna, etc.
3. The Shrutarishi are authors of shastras as Sushruta.
4. The Kandarishi are of the karmakanda, such as Jaimini. Sapta rishis are
two Sanskrit words meaning “seven sages”. Some of the great Rishis
(sages) of India are:

Some of the famous Rishis were:

1. Kashyapa: He was one of the ancient Saptarishis. He was the son of

Rishi Marichi. He was the father of the Devas, Daityas, Danavas and all
humankind.

Modern Day Rishi RAMDEVBABA

 Dr Uday Dokras
2. Markandeya: Markandeya was an ancient Indian Rishi and he is known
as author of religious Hindu texts. Markandeya was a devotee of both
Lord Vishnu (Vaishnavas) or Lord Shiva (Shaivas). Markandeya is one of
the Chiranjeevin – the immortals in Hinduism. On the basis of his
interactions of people known in Hinduism, it is sure that Markandeya
lived through more yugas. He is the author of important Hindu
scriptures like Markandeya Purana, which says that sage Jaimini, the
disciple of Ved Vyasa, asked Markandeya to explain to him some difficult
parts of the Mahabharata. Rishi Markandeya composed the ‘Devi
Saptashati’ or the seven hundred hymns extolling the virtues of the
Divine Goddess at the Shakti-peetha near Nashik.

3. Kapila: Called the Father of Cosmology. Acharya Kapil was born to the
illustrious sage Kardam and Devhuti. He also gifted the world with the
Sankhya School of Thought. His pioneering work threw light on the
nature and principles of the ultimate Soul (Purusha), primal matter
(Prakruti) and creation. His concept of transformation of energy and
profound commentaries on atma, non-atma and the subtle elements of
the cosmos places him in an elite class of master achievers –
incomparable to the discoveries of other cosmologists. On his assertion
that Prakruti, with the inspiration of Purusha, is the mother of cosmic
creation and all energies.

4. Vasishtha: One of the Saptarishis. He was the Maanasa-putra (“a brain

child”) of Brahma. He possessed the divine cow known as Kamadhenu
and the Kamadhenu’s calf Nandini. Vashishtha is the author of some
parts in the Rig Veda and was the Guru of many illustrious kings like
Harishchandra, Lord Rama and King Samvarna.

5. Bharadwaja: Also known as Bharadwaj Gotra, a descendant of Rishi

Angira (Vedic sage who wrote most of the Atharva Veda). Lord Rama
along with Sita and Lakshmana (in the epic Ramayana) met many rishis
and sages including Bharadwaja.

6. Acharya Bharadwaja had a hermitage in the holy city of Prayagraj,

authored the ” Yantra Sarvasva ” which includes astonishing and
outstanding discoveries in aviation science, space science and flying
machines. He has described three categories of flying machines: (1) One
that flies on earth from one place to another. (2) One that travels from
one planet to another. (3) And one that travels from one universe to
another.
7. Valmiki: The famous poet and the author of the epic Ramayana.Vyasa:
Ved Vyasa is the most important rishi in the Hindu pantheon of
religions, for he is the one who compiled the Vedas. He is also the author
 Dr Uday Dokras
of the Hindu epic Mahabharata and the important characters in many
Puranas.
8. Sushruta: Born to sage Vishwamitra, Sushruta is the father of surgery.
Thousands of years ago, he and health scientists of his time conducted
complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs,
Rhinoplasty (restoration of a damaged nose), 12 types of fractures, 6
types of dislocations, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain
surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Author of
the book “Sushruta Samhita”, in which he describes over 300 surgical
procedures and 125 surgical instruments, including scalpels, lancets,
needles, catheters and rectal speculums; mostly designed from the jaws
of animals and birds. He has also described a number of stitching
methods; the use of horse’s hair as thread and fibers of bark.
9. Charaka: Acharya Charaka has been crowned as the Father of Medicine.
His renowned work, the “Charak Samhita”, is considered as an
encyclopedia of Ayurveda. Acharya Charaka revealed through his innate
genius and enquiries the facts on human anatomy, embryology,
pharmacology, blood circulation and diseases like diabetes, tuberculosis,
heart disease, etc. In the “Charak Samhita” he has described the
medicinal qualities and functions of 100,000 herbal plants. He has
emphasized the influence of diet and activity on mind and body. He has
proved the correlation of spirituality and physical health contributed
greatly to diagnostic and curative sciences. He has also prescribed an
ethical charter for medical practitioners two centuries prior to the
Hippocratic oath.
10. Aryabhata: Was a master Astronomer and Mathematician, born in
Kusumpur (Bihar). He wrote a text on astronomy and an unparallel
treatise on mathematics called “Aryabhatiyam” He formulated the
process of calculating the motion of planets and the time of eclipses.
Aryabhata was the first to proclaim that the earth is round, it rotates on
its axis, orbits the sun and is suspended in space – thousands of years
before Copernicus published his heliocentric theory.

He is also acknowledged for calculating p (Pi) to four decimal places: 3.1416

and the sine table in trigonometry. Centuries later, in 825 CE, the Arab
mathematician, Mohammed Ibna Musa credited the value of Pi to the
Indians, “This value has been given by the Hindus.” And above all, his most
spectacular contribution was the concept of zero without which modern
computer technology would have been non-existent.
 Dr Uday Dokras

Chanakya

11. Patanjali: Called the father of Yoga. The Science of Yoga is one of
several unique contributions of India to the world. It seeks to discover
and realize the ultimate Reality through yogic practices. Acharya
Patanjali , the founder, hailed from the district of Gonda (Ganara) in
Uttar Pradesh . He prescribed the control of prana (life breath) as the
means to control the body, mind and soul. This subsequently rewards
one with good health and inner happiness.

Acharya Patanjali ‘s 84 yogic postures effectively enhance the efficiency

of the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive and endocrine systems
and many other organs of the body. Yoga has eight limbs where Acharya
Patanjali shows the attainment of the ultimate bliss of God in samadhi
through the disciplines of: yam, niyam, asan, pranayam, pratyahar,
dhyan and dharna.
 Dr Uday Dokras
12. Kanad: Founder of Atomic Theory. As the founder of “Vaisheshik
Darshan” – one of six principal philosophies of India – Acharya Kanad
was a genius in philosophy. He is believed to have been born in Prabhas
Kshetra near Dwarika in Gujarat. He was the pioneer expounder of
realism, law of causation and the atomic theory. He has classified all the
objects of creation into nine elements, namely: earth, water, light, wind,
ether, time, space, mind and soul. He says, “Every object of creation is
made of atoms which in turn connect with each other to form molecules.”
His statement ushered in the Atomic Theory for the first time ever in the
world, nearly thousands of years before John Dalton . Kanad has also
described the dimension and motion of atoms and their chemical
reactions with each other. The eminent historian, T.N. Colebrook , has
said, “Compared to the scientists of Europe, Kanad and other Indian
scientists were the global masters of this field.“
13. Bhaskaracharya: He calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit
the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart; Time taken by
earth to orbit the sun: 365.258756484 days. Born in the obscure village
of Vijjadit (Jalgaon) in Maharastra, Bhaskaracharya’s mathematical
works called “Lilavati” and “Bijaganita” are considered to be unparalleled.
In his treatise “Siddhant Shiromani” he writes on planetary positions,
eclipses, cosmography, mathematical techniques and astronomical
equipment. In the “Surya Siddhanta” he makes a note on the force of
gravity: “Objects fall on earth due to a force of attraction by the earth.
Therefore, the earth, planets, constellations, moon, and sun are held in
orbit due to this attraction.” Bhaskaracharya was the first to discover
gravity, hundreds of years before Sir Isaac Newton.

14. Chanakya or Vishnu Gupta or Kautilya (his gotra) was a teacher to

the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta – the first emperor in the
archaeologically recorded history to rule the complete Indian
Subcontinent.

He authored the ancient Indian political treatise called Arthasastra.

Chanakya is considered as the pioneer of the field of economics and political
science and his work is thought of as an important precursor to Classical
 Dr Uday Dokras
Economics. Chanakya’s works predate Machiavelli’s by thousands of years.
Chanakya was a teacher in Takshashila, an ancient centre of learning.

15. Vatsyayana: A Hindu philosopher who lived during the reign of the
Gupta Empire, is believed to be the author of the Kama Sutra. In the
second chapter , Vatsyayana describes 64 kama-kalas, or ways to make
love. These are not 64 positions, but the categories of different modes of
lovemaking, namely ’embracing, kissing, scratching, biting, the positions,
moaning, the woman playing the man’s part, and oral sex.’ As each of
these modes of sex is supposed to have eight different particular
manifestations, there are thus sixty-four ways in which a man or woman
could be said to be having sex in its broadest sense. But kama-kalas are
not just tools for successful love making, they also lie at the heart of
what constitutes an educated man.
 Dr Uday Dokras
16. Panini: Panini is known for his Sanskrit grammar, particularly for
his formulation of the 3,959 rules of Sanskrit syntax and grammar
known as Ashtadhyayi (“eight chapters”), the foundational text of the
grammatical branch of the Vedanga, the auxiliary scholarly disciplines of
Vedic religion.

17. Nagarjuna: Born in the village of Baluka in Madhya Pradesh, his

dedicated research produced maiden discoveries and inventions in the
faculties of chemistry and metallurgy, like “Ras Ratnakar”, “Rashrudaya”
and “Rasendramangal”. As the author of medical books like
“Arogyamanjari” and “Yogasar,” he also made significant contributions to
the field of curative medicine. He was appointed as Chancellor of the
famous University of Nalanda.

18. Jaimini: An ancient rishi, a great philosopher of the Mimansa

school. He was the disciple of Veda Vyasa.

19. Varahamihira: Varahamihir’s book “panch siddhanta”, noted that

the moon and planets are lustrous not because of their own light but due
to sunlight. In the “Brihad Samhita” and “Brihad Jatak”, he has revealed
his discoveries in the domains of geography, constellation, science,
botany and animal science. In his treatise on botanical science,
Varahamihir presents cures for various diseases afflicting plants and
trees.

Some of the other sages were:

 Astika (the son of Manasa and Jaratkaru, the Vyasa of the twenty-
seventh Dwapara)
 Atri (A legendary scholar and a son of Brahma – a Sapta Rishi)
 Bhrigu (One of the Saptarishis and one of the Prajapatis (and Maanasa
Putra – a brain child) that Brahma created as facilitators of creation)
 Kraustuki (Markandeya’s disciple)
 Kripacharya (an important character in the Mahabharata; one of the
Chiranjivin (the “immortals”).
 Marichi (The son of Brahma and also one of the Saptarishis)
 Narada (A divine sage (son of Brahma) in the Vaishnava tradition)
 Parashara (A Rigvedic Maharishi and author of many ancient Indian
texts. He was the grandson of Vasishtha and the author of some verses
in the Rig Veda)
 Prahlada (amahajana – that is, a “great devotee”, in the Puranic
Vaishnava traditions).
 Dr Uday Dokras
 Pulatsya (One of the ten Prajapatis – sons of Brahma, and one of the
Saptarishis. He was the spiritual vibration through the power of which
some texts of the Puranas were written)
 Shukra (son of Bhrigu)
 Vaishampayana (the original teacher of the Black Yajur-Veda)
 Yajnavalkya (A legendary ancient sage, a pupil of Vaishampayana)
There are several notable female Rishikas who contributed to the composition
of the Vedic scriptures. The Rig Veda mentions Romasha, Lopamudra, Apala,
Kadru, Visvavara, Ghosha, Juhu, Vagambhrini, Paulomi, Yami, Indrani,
Savitri, and Devajami. The Sama Veda adds Nodha, Akrishtabhasha,
Sikatanivavari and Gaupayana.

There are several success stories like CV Raman (1930 Nobel prize for Raman
effect) and Prof JC Bose’s discovery of microwave in 1895. USA-based IEEE
reported that the pioneer of wireless communication was Bose and not
Marconi.

The Concept of the Sapta(7) Rishis

The Saptarishi (from Sanskrit: सप्तर्षि (saptarṣī), a Sanskrit dvigu meaning

"seven sages"; Sapta or Saptan - cognate with Latin Septem - seven, Rishi -
sage(s)) 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 Vishvamitr
a followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Atri,
Bharadvaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vashistha and Vishwamitra. The
late Gopatha Brahmana 1.2.8 has Vashistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni,
Gautama, Bharadvaja, Gungu, Agastya and Kashyapa.
In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these rishis[1] were
recognized as the 'mind-born sons' (Sanskrit: मनस पु तर् , 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 eight
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 asterism of the Big Dipper (part of the
constellation of 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,
 Dr Uday Dokras
known as "Arundhati". Arundhati and Vashishtha are married, and together
form the Mizar double.[2]
As per legend, the seven Rishis in the next manvantara will be Diptimat,
Galava, Parashurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and
Rishyasringa.

Manvantara in Hindu units of time measurement, on a logarithmic scale.

A manvantara (age of Manu) is a unit of time within a kalpa (day of Brahma).

There are fourteen manvantaras in a kalpa, each separated
by sandhyas (connecting periods). Each manvantara is ruled by a
different Manu, with the current seventh one ruled by Vaivasvata
Manu. Rishis and their sons are born anew in each manvantara.
Dr Uday Dokras
 Dr Uday Dokras
Saptarishis in each manvantara of the current kalpa (Śveta-Vārāha Kalpa)

Manu (manvantara)
[9] Saptarishis

 Vashishta, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishvamitra,

[10]
Svayambhuva
Bharadwaja.

Svarocisha Urja, Stambha, Prana, Vata, Prishava, Niraya and Parivan

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

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

Hirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urdhabahu, Vedabahu,

Raivata
Sudhama, Parjanya and Mahamuni

Chakshusha Sumedha, Viraja, Havishman, Uttar, Madhu, Sahishnu, and Atinama

Vaivasvata (current) Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Pulastya, Kratu, Marichi, Vashistha.

Diptimat, Galava, Rama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and

Savarni
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
 Dr Uday Dokras
Tapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and
Rudra-savarni
Tapodhana

Nirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya

Deva-savarni
and Sutapas

Indra-savarni Agnibshu, Suchi, Aukra, Magadha, Gridhra, Yukta and Ajita

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

Vasishtha is accompanied by Arundhati, a faint companion star (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.

Names
 Dr Uday Dokras

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
 Dr Uday Dokras
 Pulastya
 Kratu
 Vasistha
 Kashyapa etc.
4. Brihat Samhita gives the Seven Rishis' names as:

 Marichi
 Vasistha
 Angiras
 Atri
 Pulastya
 Pulaha
 Kratu

In Jainism it is stated that, "Once at Mathura situated in Uttar Pradesh Seven

Riddhidhari Digamber saints having 'Aakaashgamini Vidhya' came during the
rainy season for chaturmaas whose names were 1.) Surmanyu, 2.) Shrimanyu,
3.) Shrinichay, 4.) Sarvasundar, 5.) Jayvaan, 6.) Vinaylaala and 7.) Jaymitra.
They all were sons of King Shri Nandan of Prabhapurnagar and queen Dharini.
Shri Nandan king took diksha becoming shishya of Omniscient Pritinkar
Muniraaj and attained salvation. Because of great tapcharan of these seven
digamber munis the 'Mahamaari' disease stopped its evil effect and they all
gained the name as 'Saptrishi'. Many idols of these seven munis were made
after that event by King Shatrughna in all four directions of the city."
SAPTA RISHI- THIS IS WHERE INDIAN AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY   MET
INDIAN MYTHOLOGY:
 Dr Uday Dokras
According to the epic Mahabharata, the stars of the Big Dipper were the seven sages
called Rishis. These seven sages are said to be those who made the Sun rise and
shine. They were happily married to seven sisters named Krttika. They originally all
lived together in the northern sky.

But one day, the god of fire, Agni, emerged from the flames of an offering performed by
the seven Rishis and fell in love with the seven Krttika. Trying to forget his hopeless
love for the Krttika, Agni wandered in the forest where he met Svaha. To conquer
Agni’s love, Svaha disguised herself as six of the seven Krttika. Svaha could mimic
only six of the Krttika because the seventh sister Arundhati was too devoted to her
husband to be imitated.

After a while, Svaha gave birth to a child that she named Skanda. With his birth,
rumors began to spread that six of the Rishis’ wives were his mother. Six of the Rishis
divorced their wives. Arundhati was the only one that remained with her husband as
the star Alcor. The other six Krttika went away to become the Pleiades.
GREEK MYTHOLOGY

According to the ancient Greeks, the Pleiades were seven sisters. In Greek, the word
“pleiades” means “doves.” Their parents were Pleione and Atlas who was condemned
by Zeus to support the Heavens on his shoulders. One day, the Pleiades were traveling
with their mother and met the hunter Orion.
Orion fell in love with Pleione and her charming daughters. He spent a great deal of
time chasing after them, trying to win their affection. After several years, Zeus
intervened and transformed the women into doves to help them escape. They flew into
the sky to become the cluster of stars that today has their name.
However, only six stars are visible in the sky without a telescope. The ancient Greeks
explained the absence of a seventh star with several different stories. According to one
story, one of the Pleiades, Merope deserted her sisters because she was ashamed of
having a mortal husband, who also happened to be a criminal.
 Dr Uday Dokras
Pleiades, in Greek mythology, the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas and the Oceanid
Pleione: Maia, Electra, Taygete, Celaeno, Alcyone, Sterope, and Merope. They all had
children by gods (except Merope, who married Sisyphus).

The Pleiades eventually formed a constellation. One myth recounts that they all killed

themselves out of grief over the death of their sisters, the Hyades. Another explains
that after seven years of being pursued by Orion, a Boeotian giant, they were turned
into stars by Zeus. Orion became a constellation, too, and continued to pursue the
sisters across the sky. The faintest star of the Pleiades was thought to be either
Merope, who was ashamed of loving a mortal, or Electra, grieving for Troy, the city
of Dardanus, her son with Zeus.