Rishi
Rishi ( Sanskrit ऋषि ṛṣi m. [ ˈRɪʂɪ ]) is a seer or mythical sage in Hinduism . According to legend, the Rishis were revealed to the holy Hindu texts ( Shruti ), to which the Vedas belong. The Rishis can be priests , authors of Vedic hymns , saints , ascetics , prophets, and hermits . The process of revelation is made possible for the seer in an intuitive vision. The special state of mind of the perceiver is described in the Rig Veda as follows:
“My ears fly apart, my eyes apart, this light that is set in my heart apart. My thinking wanders away - my senses are in the distance. What will I say and what will I see now? "
Different groups of rishis are mentioned in scriptures:
- Brahmarishis who are directly called by Brahma or who are Brahmins . They are considered the founders of the Orthodox Brahmin families.
- Saptarishis , a group of seven Rishis who, according to Atharvaveda, shaped the world through their sacrifice.
- Devarishis , who through their strict asceticism ( tapas ) have achieved almost the same position as the gods ( devas ).
- Maharishis , the great seers
- Rajarishis , the kings who have become rishis through their continuous asceticism.
The Rishis are said to have the ability to work miracles (cf. Siddhi ) or to heal diseases. Often they are considered to be the poets of sacred texts that they "heard" directly as divine revelation.
literature
- Paul Thieme : Poems from the Rig-Veda . Reclam Taschenbuch, ISBN 3-15-008930-1 (The introduction describes the special importance of poets and seers).
Individual evidence
- ^ Paul Thieme: Poems from the Rig-Veda. P. 20