7 types of ṛṣi-s

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~

Namast�

We know of ṛṣi-s as seers, some call kavi. We have read of brahmaṛṣi-s and mahaṛṣi-s. We (I) typically associate them with the great saints that have cognized the veda's, or have this internal ability to do so.

• ṛṣi ऋषि - a 'seer' ; seer's of the Truth i.e. vedic hymns that were revealed , cognized or heared by these sages. Some call kavi i.e. a singer, poet.The ṛṣi is revered as saint or sanctified sage.

Tradition holds that the veda-s where one ( some call mūla-veda�) in the kṛta� age (yuga) with an uninterrupted flow of knowledge. The one veda in the kṛta age, then became three in the tretā� age (yuga) and then in the dvāpara� yuga became four, preparing for kali yuga.

We often hear of the seven ṛṣi-s or sapta ṛṣayaḥ (or saptaṛṣayaḥ).
Here's two lists of the seven ṛṣi-s :

• gotama , bharadvāja , viśvā-mitra , jamadagni , vasiṣṭha , kaśyapa , and atri
• A second list: marīci , atri , aṅgiras , pulaha , kratu , pulastya and vasiṣṭha

In jyotiṣ the 7 sages are said to reside within the constellation of Ursa Major - the 7 stars of the Big Dipper.

It is discussed that there are several types of seers. Mantra-draśṭavya� or mantra seers and mantra-smārtara� ( or smārtacarya) i.e. mantra rememberers.
Within the ṛg ( or ṛk) veda we have the mantra-draśṭavya, the kavi of satyam, the seers of truth. There are about 400 seers of the ṛg veda and some 25 of them are female.

As I understand it there is a grouping ( identification) of ṛṣi-s. Please feel free to add to the list ( new ideas or more knowledge as you see fit)
A Group of 3

• devaṛṣi देव ऋषि - a ṛṣi among the gods ; some consider nārada the 1st devaṛṣi, the mind born son� of brahmā.
• brahmaṛṣi ब्रह्म ऋषि - a ṛṣi of the brahmin varṇa (class) ; a brahmin ब्रह्मिन्, is one who possesses sacred knowledge;
  brahman ब्रह्मन् the class of men who are the repositories and communicators of sacred knowledge , the Brahmanical caste as a body ब्रह्मिन्; vasiṣṭha is considered a brahmaṛṣi.
• rājaṛṣi राज ऋषि - rājan or 'king' , or best of its kind + ṛṣi. A king such as King Janaka, father of sītā, or Daśaratha, father of Śrī Rām; These rājan-s are kṣatra ( some spell kṣatriya) or ruling/milatary varṇa (order, class or caste).

Four additions, a total Group of 7

• mahaṛṣi मह ऋषि - maha or great + ṛṣi. It is said there are/were 10 created by Manu Svāyambhuva for the production of all
  other beings including the devatā and the family of men :
  • marīci, atri, aṅgiras, pulaha, kratu, pulastya, vasiṣṭha ,dakṣa , bhṛgu , and nārada. You will see overaps bewteen the mahaṛṣi-s and other ṛṣi-s listed out in this post.
• paramaṛṣi परमi ऋषि - parama or best, most excellent, highest + ṛṣi .
• śrutaṛṣi श्रुत ऋषि- śruta or listened to , heard about or of , taught , mentioned , orally transmitted or communicated from age to age + ṛṣi.
  
  • śruta or knowledge as heard by holy men and transmitted from generation to generation, oral tradition or revelation, sacred knowledge
• kāṇḍaṛṣi काण्ड - kāṇḍa or any part or portion, section, chapter , division of a work such as separate department or subject like karma-kāṇḍa, the 'departmen't of the veda addressing sacrificial rites + ṛṣi .

praṇām

words

• mūla मूल - basis , foundation , cause , origin , commencement , beginning ; mūlāt , from the bottom , thoroughly
• kṛta कृत - the 1st of the four ages of the world ; also called satya or the golden age.
• tretā त्रेता - the 2nd yuga or silver age.
• dvāpara द्वापर - 3rd of the 4 yugas or bronze age.
• kali कलि - the 4th yuga or iron age.
  • These four yugas are considered like the markings on a die (dice) - 4,3,2,1.
  • kṛta कृत - 4 markings ( 4 spots) - dharma is full
  • tretā त्रेता - 3 markings (3 spots) dharma is somewhat full (a 25% loss).
  • dvāpara द्वापर - 2markings (2 spots) dharma is now reduced by 50%
  • kali कलि - 1 marking on the die and dharma is in decay; Kali is the time of stife; discord, quarrel and contention. These conditions are personified as the son of krodha 'anger' , hiṃsā 'injury' and as generating with his sister durukti ' calumny' and two children bhaya , 'fear or alarm, dread ' and mṛtyu 'death'
• dṛṣṭi iदृष्टि- seeing , viewing , beholding also with the mental eye; the faculty of seeing
  
  • dṛṣṭārtha दृष्टार्थ - knowing the matter or the real nature of anything; having the aim or object apparent , obvious
• smārta स्मार्त - recorded in or based on the smṛti; based on tradition , prescribed or sanctioned by traditional law or usage ; related to memory
• mind born or manasputra - manasa मनस mind ; manas मनस् is mind or thought, imagination , reflection + putra पुत्र a son or child.