Saptarishi


The Saptarishi are the seven rishis in ancient India, who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and other Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, though later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do so. They are regarded in the Vedas as the patriarchs of the Vedic religion.
The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218-221: Agastya, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Vashistha and Vishvamitra followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Gautama and Bharadvaja,Shandilya and Jamadagni, Vashistha and Kashyapa and Atri, Bhrigu. The late Gopatha Brahmana 1.2.8 has Vashistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvaja, Gungu, Agastya, Bhrigu and Kashyapa.
In post-Vedic texts, different lists appear; some of these rishis were recognized as the 'mind-born sons' of Brahma, the representation of the Supreme Being as Creator. Other representations are Mahesh or Shiva as the Destroyer and Vishnu as the Preserver. Since these seven rishis were also among the primary seven rishis, who were considered to be the ancestors of the Gotras of Brahmins, the birth of these rishis was mythicized.
In ancient Indian astronomy, the asterism of the Big Dipper is called saptarishi, with the seven stars representing seven rishis, namely "Vashistha", "Marichi", "Pulastya", "Pulaha", "Atri", "Angiras" and "Kratu". There is another star slightly visible within it, known as "Arundhati". Arundhati is the wife of Vashistha. Vashishtha and Arundhati together form the Mizar double.
As per legend, the seven Rishis in the next Manvantara will be Diptimat, Galava, Parashurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and Rishyasringa.

Names of the Saptarishis

A Manvantara is the astronomical time within a Kalpa , like the present Śveta Vārāha Kalpa, where 14 Manus reign in a Kalpa separated by Sandhyas.
Each Manvantara is ruled by a specific Manu. Apart from the omnipotent supreme almighty-Vishnu & next in line to Brahma's place-Vayu; other deities such as Chaturmukh Brahma and Shiva, Shakti, Indra, 's cycle would have completed and they would have been united with the Omnipotent supreme entity - Brahman. Later on, Vayu ascends the throne of Brahma and the process of creation thus begins again after the mahapralaya, Rishis and their sons are born anew in each new Manvantara according to the Vishnu Purana.
in Hindu units of time measurement, on a logarithmic scale.
Manu Saptarishis
SwayambhuMarichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasishtha.
SwarochishaUrja, Stambha, Prana, Nanda, Rishabha, Nischara and Arvarivat
AuttamiKaukundihi, Kurundi, Dalaya, Sankha, Pravahita, Mita and Sammita
TamasaJyotirdhama, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Vanaka and Pivara
RaivataHirannyaroma, Vedasrí, Urddhabahu, Vedabahu, Sudhaman, Parjanya and Mahamuni
ChakshushaSumedhas, Virajas, Havishmat, Uttama, Madhu, Abhinaman, and Sahishnnu
VaivasvataKashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja
SavarniDiptimat, Gslava, Parasurama, Kripa, Drauni or Ashwatthama, Vyasa and Rishyasringa
Daksha-savarniSavana, Dyutimat, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhatithi, Jyotishman, and Satya
Brahma-savarniHavishman, Sukriti, Satya, Apammurtti, Nabhaga, Apratimaujas and Satyaketu
Dharma-savarniNischara, Agnitejas, Vapushman, Vishnu, Aruni, Havishman and Anagha
Rudra-SavarniTapaswi, Sutapas, Tapomurti, Taporati, Tapodhriti, Tapodyuti and Tapodhana
RauchyaNirmoha, Tatwadersin, Nishprakampa, Nirutsuka, Dhritimat, Avyaya and Sutapas
BhautyaAgnibshu, Suchi, Aukra, Magadha, Gridhra, Yukta and Ajita

The names of the current Saptarshis are: Kashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. The Saptarishis keep changing for every Manvantara. As per Hindu Shastras, there are four yugas: Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. We are currently in Kali Yuga since 3102 BCE for 432,000 years. Dvapara, Treta and Satya last two, three and four times as long as Kali Yuga, respectively. The four yugas together make one Chatur Yuga, which lasts for 4,320,000 years. 1000 Chatur Yugas make a Kalpa, which is followed by another 12 hours Pralaya when Brahma takes rest and there is no creation. Thus one full day of Brahma constitutes 2 * 1000 Chatur Yugas lasting for 8,640,000,000 human years. Brahma has twelve 30-day months in a year. Thus 1 year constitutes 360 x 8,640,000,000 = 3,110,400,000,000 years; lifespan of Brahma is 100 years = 100 x 3,110,400,000,000 = 311,040,000,000,000 years or 311.04 trillion earthly years. The lifespan of Brahma if followed by a Maha Pralaya of equal length.
Brahma's life span seems huge but he also dies. Brahma's life in the Karana Ocean is just like a bubble. A bubble comes out during exhale and disappears during inhaling of Maha Vishnu.
This is material universe, creation and annihilation. One who is intelligent does not get bewildered by such data. He goes beyond such data and looks for eternal and starts searching who is the cause of all cause and tries to connect. One who finally gets connected is actually successful. Positions of demigod are also temporary. Hence, not beneficial.
In Hindu astronomy the seven stars of the Saptarshi Mandal or Big Dipper are named as
Indian
Name		Bayer
Designation		Western
Name
Kratuα UMaDubhe
Pulahaβ UMaMerak
Pulastyaγ UMaPhecda
Atriδ UMaMegrez
Angirasε UMaAlioth
Vasisthaζ UMaMizar
Marichiη UMaAlkaid

Vasishta is accompanied by his wife, the faint companion star Arundhati. The valid avatar's clan will be named after Ashvamedh.
At the end of every four ages there is a disappearance of the Vedas and it is the province of the seven Rishis to come down upon earth from heaven to give them currency again.

In Another Aspect

Names of Saptarishis in major Hindu texts

1. The Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad acknowledge the names of seven rishis as:
2. Krishna Yajurveda in the Sandhya-Vandana Mantras has it as:
3. Mahabharata gives the Seven Rishis' names:
etc.
4. Brihat Samhita gives the Seven Rishis' names as:
In Jainism it is stated that, "Once at Mathura situated in Uttar Pradesh Seven Riddhidhari Digamber saints having 'Aakaashgamini Vidhya' came during the rainy season for chaturmaas whose names were 1.) Surmanyu, 2.) Shrimanyu, 3.) Shrinichay, 4.) Sarvasundar, 5.) Jayvaan, 6.) Vinaylaala and 7.) Jaymitra. They all were sons of King Shri Nandan of Prabhapurnagar and queen Dharini. Shri Nandan king took diksha becoming shishya of Omniscient Pritinkar Muniraaj and attained salvation. Because of great tapcharan of these seven digamber munis the 'Mahamaari' disease stopped its evil effect and they all gained the name as 'Saptrishi'. Many idols of these seven munis were made after that event by King Shatrughna in all four directions of the city."