The Concept of Sapta Rishi

The Concept of Sapta Rishi
Saptarshi or the seven sages are mentioned at many places in Vedic Literaure The term “Saptarishis” is NOT mentioned in Vedic Richas but they are enumerated in differenltater Vedic texts, Upnishads and Brahmanas, They are considred to be the patriarchs of Vedic Religion
Ursa Major constelleation is coterminous with Sapta Rishi Ursa Minor is coterminous with Laghu Sapta Rishi There is one more star slightly visible within the Saptarishi and it is called Arundhati
The first list of the seven sages was given by Jaiminiya Brahman The rishis are Vasistha, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, Atri, Visvamitra, and Agastya
The second list is given in Brihadaranyaka Upnishad which mentions the names as Gautama and Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha and Kaśyapa, and Atri
Gopath Brahmana enlists the 7 sages as follows: Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvāja, Gungu, Agastya, and Kaśyapa
The role played by the Saptarishis in the birth of Kartikeya, has been vividly described in Kumarsambhava of KalidasaRishi Agastya was one of the legendary sage, about whom a lot of traditions prevalent His greatest feat was the reconciliation of Indra and the Maruts after Indra had been annoyed at his proposing to give the Maruts an offering to the exclusion of Indra This feat is the subject of three hymns of the Rigveda Agastya married