AngirasAngiras or Angira (Sanskrit: अङ्गिरा / , pronounced ɐ́ŋɡiɽɐ:) was a Vedic rishi (sage) of Hinduism. He is described in the Rigveda as a teacher of divine knowledge, a mediator between men and gods, as well as stated in other hymns to be the first of Agni-devas (fire gods). In some texts, he is considered to be one of the seven great sages or Saptarishis, but in others he is mentioned but not counted in the list of seven great sages. In some manuscripts of Atharvaveda, the text is attributed to "Atharvangirasah", which is a compound of sage Atharvan and Angira.
VishvamitraVishvamitra (विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. He is one of the seven Brahmarshi. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mantra (3.62.10). The Puranas mention that only 24 rishis since antiquity have understood the whole meaning of —and thus wielded the whole power of — the Gayatri Mantra. Vishvamitra is supposed to have been the first, and Yajnavalkya the last.
KratuKratu (क्रतु) is described as one of the manasaputras, the mind-born children of the creator deity, Brahma, in Hinduism. He is also a rishi, who appears in two different ages. He is considered to be one among the seven great sages of the age of the first Manu, the Saptarishis, believed to have originated from the mind of Brahma. In another legend, he is believed to have been born from his father's left eye. In the Svayambhuva Manvantara, Kratu is a Prajapati, a son of Brahma. He is also the son-in-law of Prajapati Kardama.
MarichiMarichi (Marīci) or Mareechi or Marishi is the mind-born son of Brahma, and one of the Saptarishi in Hindu mythology. He is also the father of Kashyapa, and the grandfather of the devas and the asuras. In Jainism, he is referred to as one of the previous reincarnations of the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira. Saptarishi, a Sanskrit dvigu meaning "seven sages" are the seven rishis who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, though later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanishads do so.
Prajapativignette|Tentative pour décrire les activités créatrices de Prajāpati, gravure indienne de 1850. Prajapati (sanskrit IAST : prajāpati ; devanagari : प्रजापति ; « Père ou Seigneur des créatures ; démiurge, géniteur »), dans la mythologie hindoue, est le mot qui qualifie généralement le dieu créateur, père des devas, les dieux, et des asuras, les démons. C'est l'un des dix géniteurs, esprits issus de Brahmā (ou créés par Manu-Svāyaṃbhuva) pour peupler le monde. Il commit l'inceste primordial avec sa fille Uṣas « la Brillante », personnifiant l'Aurore.
PulastyaPulastya (Sanskrit: पुलस्त्य) is one of the ten Prajapati, and one of the mind-born sons of Brahma in Hinduism. He is also one of the Saptarishi (Seven great sages) in the first age of Manu, the Manvantara. The sage is said to have emerged from the ear of Brahma in the Bhagavata Purana. The Ramayana describes Pulastya's wedding to Manini, and the birth of his son, Vishrava. Once, Pulastya was engaged in austerities in the ashrama of Trinabindu, on the slopes of Mount Meru.
Agastyathumb|upright|Statue d'Agastya, (Musée d'art du comté de Los Angeles). Agastya (अगस्त्य), ou Agasti est dans la tradition védique un rishi : un de ceux qui ont vu la Vérité. Poète antique, de nombreux hymnes du Rig-Véda lui sont attribués. Il est né de la semence des dieux védiques Mitra et Varuna à la vue de l'apsara Urvashi dans une jarre d'eau et aurait aidé ceux-ci dans un combat mythique contre les démons. Il est également un personnage du Mahabharata. Au Tamil Nadu, il est associé à Shiva, qui l'y aurait envoyé.
Rishithumb|210px|Un rishi sculpté au bas d'une colonnette du Phra Prang Sam Yod de Lopburi en Thaïlande. Rishi (sanskrit IAST : ṛṣi ; devanāgarī : ऋषि ; ) signifie « chantre-auteur des hymnes védiques, poète, voyant ; démiurge, géniteur (prajāpati) ; patriarche, sage, ascète, ermite ». Un Rishi védique est un témoin primordial de toutes les régularités à l'œuvre en ce monde qui manifestent pour lui le Veda au sens premier de « découverte » de l'ordre cosmique. Il est celui qui a vu les vérités éternelles.
