RISHI, amongst the Hindus, a sage, a seer, an inspired poet. In the epic period of the Hindus, a Rishi is merely a title for a historical personage ; in the Puranic period, the Rishi are seven primeval personages, born of Brahma's mind, and presiding, under different forms, over each manwantara. They correspond to the Praja pati, or progenitors of the human race. . Three lists of Rishis are given in the Upanishad of the Yajur Veda, called Vriliad Aranyaka,' each list differing from the other. Other names are given later in the Sathapatha Bra!minim, MahanIterate, and the Vayu and Vishnu Paranns- Agastya. Jamadak,mi. Pulastyn.
Angiras. Ranwa. Valmiki.
Atri. Kasyapn. Vashislithn.
Itharadwaja. Kratti. Vibhandaka.
Rhrigu. Mum. Viqvamitra.
Dakaha. Marichi. Vputa.
Gautama. rulaha.
The names of several of the Ilishi are prefixed to the hymns of the Vedas. Vashislitha is the reputed author of some of the most touching hymns of the Vedas, simple, genuine utterances, confessing sin, and yearning after an unknown God. On the other hand, Visvainitra, son of Gathi, "was a king, a powerful soldier, and is alleged to be the originator of the great religious ceremonies. According to Hindu mythology, by
his devotion he became a Rigid and capable of creating as well as Brahma. These two men became typical in ancient Hindu story, and they are made to reappev in the long subsequent liamayana.
The term Rishi is albo applied to the Vannprastha Brahmans, or inhabitants of the desert. Of these the most ancient and celebrated were the seven great Ilishi, or Mahe Saptaite Rishi astatine, who had retired in the territory washed by the Indus ; and it was to them, it is supposed, that Alexander the Great applied for instruction after invading their country.
Astronomically the Ilishi are the husbands of the six Pleiades, but how six and seven can accord it may be difficult t,o understand, yet they have had the honour of becoming the seven bright stars in the Great Bear ; and in Hindu mythology they are fabled to be married to the Pleiades, are worshipped at the festival of Shasliti, and at the sacrifice called Chitra Ketu, Swar Yaga, and a drink-offering is poured out to them at the Magha bathing festival.—Word, iv. p. 20.