Other names: Āstika. Son of the sage Jaratkaru and the serpent-woman Jaratkaru/Manasa, sister of Vasuki. He is famous for stopping King Janamejaya’s Sarpa Satra, thereby saving the Nagas from destruction and fulfilling the purpose of his birth. “Sauti said, ‘O foremost of persons acquainted with Brahma, the mother of the snakes had cursed them of…
Other names: Ne Muni; Nemi. A legendary sage connected with the sacred history of Nepal. Nepalese chronicle traditions describe Ne Muni as the protector, or pāla, of the land; the name Nepal is explained in this tradition as the land protected by Ne, and he is also linked with the founding of an early ruling…
Other names: Bharadvaja. A great sage of the Angirasa/Brihaspati line and father of Drona. The Mahabharata connects him with advanced knowledge of weapons through Agnivesa and with the early education of Drona and Drupada; Vedic tradition also remembers Bharadwaja as a major seer. “”‘In days of yore, while the great Rishi Bharadwaja was saying his…
Other names: Rishi Pramati. Son of Chyavana and Sukanya in the Bhrigu line. Through the apsara Ghritachi he became the father of Ruru, continuing the lineage that leads to Sunaka/Shaunaka. “Sauti said, ‘O Brahmana, Chyavana, the son of Bhrigu, begot a son in the womb of his wife Sukanya. And that son was the illustrious…
Other names: Vasishtha; Vashistha; Vasishta. A mind-born son of Brahma, husband of Arundhati, chief among the Saptarishis, and priest of the Ikshvaku/Solar dynasty. His conflict with Vishvamitra over the divine cow Nandini is one of the major sage narratives showing the superiority of spiritual power over royal force. “Gandharva, saying, ‘I desire to hear of…
Other names: Agasthya; Āgastya. Born from the powers of Mitra and Varuna in a water pot, he is famed as the husband of Lopamudra and a composer of Vedic hymns. His legends include drinking the ocean to aid the Devas, subduing the Vindhya mountain, and destroying the asura Vatapi. “And, O Yudhishthira, in the country…
Other names: Vibhāṇḍaka. Son of Kashyapa and father of Rishyasringa. His son’s extraordinary birth through a deer and his isolated upbringing in the forest form one of the Mahabharata’s most unusual origin stories, emphasizing austerity, restraint, and the power of tapas. “When the great saint Vibhandaka should enquire of you about his son, ye must…
Other names: Charuśīrṣa; Alamvana’s son. A compassionate sage described in the Mahabharata as the son of Alamvana and a dear friend of Sakra/Indra. He performed severe penance at Gokarna for a hundred years and received from Sarva/Shiva the boon of one hundred long-lived, righteous sons. “After this, the Rishi named Charusirsha, that dear friend of…
Other names: Brihaspathi; Brishaspati; Vrihaspati; Guru. Son of Angirasa and Suroopa, he is revered as the preceptor of the Devas and a master of wisdom, counsel, and sacred learning. He is also associated with the planet Jupiter and with the lineage of Kacha. “Yudhishthira said, ‘Abstention from injury, the observance of the Vedic ritual, meditation,…