Within the vast landscape of ancient wisdom, the Sapta Rishis stand as luminous pillars, guiding seekers toward profound knowledge. It is important to note that Rishis are generally householders and none of the Sapta Rishis are Sannyasis. These seven Rishis are: Kashyapa, Atri, Bharadwaja, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Vashishtha.

The Bhagavad Gita explains:

“The seven great sages and, before them, the four other great sages and the Manus [progenitors of mankind] are born out of My mind, and all creatures on these planets descend from them” (10.6).

Therefore, in Sanatana Dharma, when someone introduces any puja or official functions like marriage, Veda education, or any samskaras, they show the connection to one of the Sapta Rishis called a gotra. The link to such Rishis is called Gotra, which in turn is connected to a group of knowledge.

The overemphasis on Jati for the wrong reason has nothing to do with sastra or scriptures. However, during marriage, one was not allowed to marry from the same gotra. Ayurveda, Jyotishya Shastra, and tradition discouraged people from marrying within the same gotra.

The Rishis were seekers and seers of the truth and encouraged their students to experience what the Rishis experienced, rather than imposing their ideas.

Therefore, one does not see a cult-like status around the Rishis. But it is important to offer one’s gratitude to the Rishis who left behind an immense storehouse of knowledge for us to explore and experience, instead of blindly following.

Rishi Panchami marks the day when Sapta Rishis are remembered all over Bharata. Find out your Gotra and Rishi, it would be the best gratitude one can offer to the great Rishis, who have illuminated the path of wisdom for generations to come.

– Govinda Das (ISKCON Member)