Seven Ṛṣis (Saptarṣi) in Rigveda

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Seven Ṛṣis (Saptarṣi)

Seven Ṛṣis (Saptarṣi) is a definite numerical group of ancient seers recognized in the Rigveda. Although the name of the group occurs only a few times, these seers are treated as venerable ancestors and even as divine figures. In later Brāhmaṇa literature they are also identified with the seven stars of the Great Bear (Ursa Major), a link helped by the phonetic kinship between ṛṣi (“seer”) and ṛkṣa (in the RV meaning both “star” and “bear”).

Rigvedic mentions

  • They are invoked as “our fathers, the seven seers.”[1]
  • They are explicitly called “divine.”[2]
  • The “seven ancient seers” appear with the gods in a hymn of Book 10.[3]

Why “seven”? Parallels in Vedic ritual

The number seven likely mirrors the set of seven technical priests (the standard ritual officiants). These are elsewhere enumerated in the RV and may have served as the archetype for the group of seven seers.[4]

Identification with the stars

In the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa the Seven Ṛṣis become individualized by name and are identified with the seven stars of the Great Bear; an etiological note even says they were originally “bears.” The word ṛkṣa in the Rigveda itself can mean “star” and also “bear,” which likely encouraged the stellar association.[5][6]

Related priestly groups and counterparts

  • The same ancestral sacrificers likely appear as the seven priests (viprāḥ) who, together with the Navagvas, praise Indra in several hymns.[7][8][9]
  • They may also correspond to the seven Hotṛs with whom Manu first offered sacrifice to the gods.[10]

References

  1. Rigveda 4.42.8 — “our fathers, the seven seers.”
  2. Rigveda 10.130.7 — the seven seers called “divine.”
  3. Rigveda 10.109.4 — “seven ancient seers” associated with the gods.
  4. Rigveda 2.12 — passage used in early scholarship for enumerating the seven technical priests.
  5. Rigveda 1.24.1 — ṛkṣa in the sense “star.”
  6. Rigveda 5.56.3 — ṛkṣa in the sense “bear.”
  7. Rigveda 6.22.2 — seven priests with the Navagvas praising Indra.
  8. Rigveda 3.31.5 — parallel mention with the Navagvas.
  9. Rigveda 4.21.5 — parallel mention with the Navagvas.
  10. Rigveda 10.63.7 — seven Hotṛs with whom Manu made the first offering.

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