Other names: Lomaśa; Lomasha. A celestial sage who came from the heavens to the Pandavas during exile, carrying news connected with Arjuna’s stay in Indra’s realm. He guided Yudhishthira and his brothers through sacred tirthas, making him a central figure in the Mahabharata’s pilgrimage narratives. “Vaisampayana said, “One day, the great Rishi Lomasa in course…
Other names: Narada Muni; Nārada. A mind-born son of Brahma and celebrated Devarishi who moves through the three worlds as a messenger between Devas, sages, kings, and heroes. He is renowned as a great devotee of Vishnu, a master of music and the vina/tambura, and a catalytic figure whose interventions set major divine narratives in…
Other names: Swetaketu; Śvetaketu. Son of Uddalaka Aruni and a key student in the Chandogya Upanishad. After returning from study with pride in his learning, he receives from his father the profound teaching on the identity of the individual self with ultimate reality, expressed through “Tat Tvam Asi.” “Great Rishi of the name of Uddalaka,…
Other names: Aṣṭāvakra. Son of Kahoda/Kahola and Sujata, daughter of Uddalaka. While still in the womb he corrected his father’s Vedic recitation and was cursed to be born bent in eight places; later he defeated Vandi at King Janaka’s court, freed his father, and became associated with the Ashtavakra Gita. Then Ashtavakra said, ‘One is…
Other names: Markendeya; Mārkaṇḍeya. A long-lived sage and great devotee of Shiva and Vishnu, traditionally the son of Mrikandu. Shiva is said to have rescued him from Yama, and later narratives remember him as the sage who witnessed the cosmic dissolution and received profound visions of divine reality. “Thus fifteen years passed by, when sage…
Other names: Brighu; Bhrigu Maharishi; Bhṛgu. One of the mind-born sages of Brahma and a great progenitor of the Bhargava line. He is the father of Chyavana and an ancestor of Jamadagni and Parasurama; Vaishnava tradition also remembers his test of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu. “It was at this time that Nahusha yoked that foremost…
Other names: Jaratkāru. An austere sage whose ancestors required him to continue the lineage. He married the serpent-woman Jaratkaru/Manasa, sister of Vasuki, and became the father of Astika, whose birth was destined to save the Nagas from Janamejaya’s serpent sacrifice. “The ancestors said, ‘We are Rishis of rigid vows, called Yayavaras. We are sinking low…
Other names: Parāśara; Parasara Muni. Son of Shakti and grandson of Vasistha, he is the father of Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa by Satyavati. He is revered as the narrator of the Vishnu Purana to Maitreya and as an important teacher of cosmic history and dharma. “Parasara said,–‘In former times I gratified Sarva, O king. I then…
Other names: Upamanyu Rishi. A disciple of Ayoda-Dhaumya and a notable devotee of Shiva. Shaiva tradition remembers him as one who received the Ocean of Milk from Shiva and propagated Shiva’s doctrine; he also appears in narratives connected with Krishna’s own Shaiva vow. “And he answered, ‘Sir, I support myself by begging’. And his preceptor…