All these are sanskrit words and in sanskrit words every alphabet and every combination of alphabets have a meaning. Thus the meaning of word which it refers to lies within the word. Rishi, Muni, Sadhu, Sant, and Sanyasi contribute as much to our history as elders in a happy family, because every Vedic text of Hinduism certainly mentions these highly spiritual individuals. There are four main sampradayas, or chains of disciplic succession descending down through the important acharyas, or spiritual preceptors.
These are also the main schools of thought in the Vedic tradition. They have always had particular importance in India since ancient times because they were considered to be society's guides. These inspired holy persons were always engaged in social welfare on the strength of their knowledge and austerity and used it to relieve people from problems.
Rishi
A rishi is a seer or sage who has attained a high degree of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment through meditation and contemplation. In the Vedas, Rishi is a title given to a sacred person, who knows everything about his scriptures and the science behind everything. They are considered to be at a high level of learning and understanding because of hundreds of years of penance or meditation.
The words said by the rishi never prove to be untrue and that is why the curses and boons given by them never go in vain. They are believed to have created the hymns and verses of the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. ऋषि (Rishi) refers to “ray of light, ascetic” ऋ (tri) means “who has already swimmed across" षि (shi) means “the powered appearance which appear again and again" ऋषि (Rishi) actually means “ascetic who has swimmed across the powered appearance, which appear again and again" There are mainly four types of rishis mentioned in Hindu religious texts.
(A) Maharshi: Maharishi is considered a high rank among rishis. A person who reaches the highest limit of knowledge and austerity is called Maharishi. Above them only Brahmarishis are considered.
(B) Rajarshi: If a king acquires knowledge of the level of Rishis, then he is called Rajarshi.
(C) Devarshi: If a Deva acquires too much knowledge then he is called Devarshi, like Narada Muni who is a Devarshi.
(D) Brahmarshi: Brahmarshis are those who have immense spiritual knowledge, such as Brahmarshi Vasishtha and Brahmarshi Vishwamitra who were the guru of Shri Ram.
The Seven Sages have the following seven virtues or criteria for being a Saptarishi:
1. Long life: A rishi lives for a longer period than the normal life span of a human being
2. Mantra Drshta: Like Radio boxes receive the radio wavelengths one tunes in, they receive certain mantras by fine tuning their minds. Like TV boxes they can see anything from a distance. They can see present, past and future. It is like rewinding, watching or fast forwarding a video tape. Everything is recorded already.
3. Divinity: They are almost like Gods. They have all the powers of Gods, but they don’t use it for themselves.
4. High Status: This is what differentiate them from other Rishis. They are high by virtue of their good qualities, Vedic education/studies and age.
5. Practice: They preach what they practise. They practise what they preach. Thought, Word and Deed are one and that is known as Tri Karana Suddhi.
6. Divine Vision: Perspective outlook. Always work for the uplift of the society.
7. Gotra Pravardha: The human race evolved from these seven Rishis. So each one must be in charge of one clan and devise ways for his clan based on their Time, Place and Circumstances. They can change the rules considering the above three.
Muni
A muni is a person who has renounced material life and engages in intense meditation and spiritual practices. They are often associated with asceticism and self-denial. मुनि (Muni) refers to “seer of truth" म (ma) means “I am" उनि (uni) means “dissolved" मुनि (Muni) means “(being that wherein) I am is dissolved” Muni is derived from the Sanskrit word Manan, which means to think. Muni has always been known to think very deeply and his thinking power is far ahead of us. They speak very little and take an oath to keep silent and acquire knowledge of Vedas and scriptures.
Sadhu
A sadhu is a wandering ascetic who has given up all material possessions and lives a life of spiritual discipline and devotion. Generally, a person who practices sadhana (disciplined and dedicated practice in religion) is called a sadhu.
A sadhu is said to be the person who always walks on the right path and never does wrong to anyone. Sometimes the word sadhu is also used to differentiate between a good and a bad person. One does not need to be a scholar to become a sadhu because anyone can do sadhana.
They are often seen as holy and revered by the people. साधु (Sadhu) refers to “correct (person)” स (sa) means “that (absolute truth)” अधु (adhu) means “in now, in present" साध (sadh) means “body instrument which is trying to attain" उ (oo) means “reversed" साधु (Sadhu) means “being that (absolute truth) in now, wherein body instrument which is trying to attain is reversed"
Sanyasi
A sanyasi is a person who has renounced all worldly ties and lives a life of complete detachment, focusing solely on spiritual pursuits. They are often associated with the pursuit of ultimate liberation and freedom from the cycle of birth and death. सन्यास (sanyas) refers to renunciation. स (sa) means “that (primal truth)” न्यास (nyas) means “trusting" न् (Na) means “not" आस (aas) means “all this" सन्यास (sanyas) means “trusting absolute truth, which is not all this (creation)”
Sanyasis are those people who have renounced this world and given up all worldly desires, and have chosen the only path to attain God.
A yogi is a practitioner of yoga or meditation. Yogis call themselves as saints and spend their whole life worshiping God in an ascetic discipline.
Siddha; an enlightened person who has achieved the acme of spiritual realisation.
Acharya; one who teaches any aspect of spiritual knowledge and leads by example.
Sant
The term sant is often used to refer to a spiritual teacher or guide who leads a life of devotion and service to others. They are seen as examples of virtue and piety. सन्त (sant) refers to a saint. स (sa) means “that (primal truth) अन्त (ant) means “end" सन्त (sant) means “That (primal truth) end" All these words points towards a state of being.
Sants are those who have attained knowledge through rigorous penance so that they can benefit society. A Sant always practices truth and is enlightened. Kabir, Tulsidas are perfect examples of Sants. If simply said, Sants are those who show the right path to society.
Many Sadhus and Sanyasis cannot become Sants because they leave their families and go to attain salvation, which means they have already relinquished their responsibilities. In real words, the one who maintains the balance between the world and spirituality is called a true Sant.
The word Rishi means a man to whom Vedic hymns are revealed, an author of sacred hymns, a poet; a priestly singer of those hymns, a saint or sage of ancient India.
Definition of a Seer(Rsi):
In the earliest Vedic text like the Rig-Veda, the word Rsi occurs several times. There are various interpretations:
The Rig-Veda Sarvanukramani 1-4 explains the word Rsi as one who recites the mantra form of the sentence – yasya vaakyam ca risih.
Sayana derives Rsi from rs ‘to go’. In the introduction to his commentary of the Rig-Veda he connects the word Rsi with drs ‘to see’ and explains how the Veda which is beyond the scope of perception is revealed first of all to the sages through the favour of God.
In the Nirukta 2-11 Yaska quotes the opinion of Aupamanyava, ‘rsir darsanat stoman dadarsa iti aupamanyavah’. This means that the Veda is eternal and it has not been created by any agency. The Nirukta further informs us that the mantras are directly revealed to the Rsis through their meditation and prescience. So the Rsis are called ‘sukta drastarah and not sukta kartarah.
The Satapatha Brahmana derives the word Rsi from rs ‘to toil hard’, ‘to suffer from’.
The Taitriya Aranyaka explains Rsi as abhi+aa+rs ‘ to go forward’, ‘to appear’.
Besides the etymological meaning of the word Rsi, it carries the ideas relating to poetic and prophetic vision, super sensuous knowledge, righteousness and ecstasy. (Source: Bhrugu)
Rishis are inspired poets. The seven Rishis are mind born sons of Brahma, the creator. The seven Rishis are represented in the sky by the seven stars of the Great Bear (Ursa Major) constellation.
The seven great sages of old, and four elders and the Manus also are of My nature and born of My mind and from them are all these creatures in the world (Bhagavad Gita 10-6)
Atri, Brhu, Kutsa, Vasistha, Gautama, Kasyapa and Angirasa are Sapta Rishis (Seven Sages) now. They change during every Manvantara (Life of one Manu is one Manvantar. There are 14 Manus). Four Elders: Sanakar, Sanandanar, Sanadanar and Sanatkumarar. Saptarishis showed Pravruti Marga and the Four showed Nivruti Marga.
“Thus transmitted from father to son, Arjuna, this yoga remained known to the Rajarsis (royal sages). It has, however, long since disappeared from this earth”. (Bhagavad Gita 4-2)
Shri Rama, Shri Krishna, Buddha and Janaka were all kings Raja Risis who taught the highest wisdom.
Types of Rishis (seers) as per Rig Veda
How many types of Rishis (seers) are there in our scriptures? In fact the English word seer itself came from the Sanskrit word Rishi. Seer is the mirror image of Rsi.
Of the ten Mandalas of the Rig Veda, eight are attributed to eight Rishis or his family:
Mandala 2: Grtsamada (Brigu)
Mandala 3: Visvamitra
Mandala 4: Gautama (Vamadeva)
Mandala 5: Atri
Mandala 6: Bharadwaja
Mandala 7:Vasistha
Mandala 8: Kanva
Mandala 9: Angira
Mandala 1 and 10 are attributed various Rishis.
Baudhayana Dharmasutra Gives a list of different types of seers:
Sruta rsi = One who hears Vedas from their teachers
Kanda rsi = Rishis of different Kanadas (sections) of the Vedas
Tapa rsi = Those who do severe penance
Satya rsi = Those who are truthful learners
Deva rsi = Equal to devas; divine
Sapta rsi = Seven Great Sages
Maha rsi = Great/ Exalted position
Parama rsi = Supreme/ Exalted position
Brahma rsi = Rsi of Brahmana community
Raja rsi = Rsi of Kshatriyas community (Kings)
Jana rsi = Common man becoming a Rsi
Patanjali, author of Mahabhasya on Panini’s Ashtadyayi, affirmed two new categories of Rsis:
Mantrakrit = the revealers or composers of Vedic hymns
Mantrakritsama = a writer of Vedangas like Kalpasutra.
Ten Types in the Ramayana and Mahabharata:
Grihasthasramis = Householder but Risis
Urdhvaretas = who have no wives or children; celibates
Asramavasis = Hermit dwellers
Yayavaras = Continuous wanderers
Purohita- vrittikas = Priestly saints
Sadharana vrittikas = Usual type rsis
Saastras adyapakas = Teacher rsis
Sastras adhyapakas = Rsis who give arms training
Ugra tapasvis = Practising severe penance
Sadharana tapsvis = Practising ordinary austerity
Majority of the seers were householders.
Sri sampradaya- where the main exponent is Ramanujacharya (who lived in 12th century, born in 1016), propagated the doctrine called visista advaita, or oneness with varieties of the Lord and His energies. This is said to have originated from Sri or Goddess Lakshmi.
Brahma sampradaya -where the main exponent is Madhvacharya (who lived in 13th century, born in 1238), propagated the doctrine called visista dvaita, or duality with varieties. This is said to originate from Lord Brahma.
Rudra sampradaya the main exponent is Vishnu Swami, who propagated the doctrine called suddha dvaita, or pure transcendental duality; Vallabha Acharya is also a branch of this sampradaya. This is said to have originated from Rudra or Lord Shiva.
Kumara sampradaya the main exponent is Nimbarka, who propagated the doctrine called dvaita advaita or simultaneous oneness and duality. This is said to have originated from Lord Brahma’s sons, the Kumaras or which Sanat Kumara is one.
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