ऋषि

Monier-Williams · ṛṣi
ṛṣi m. ( √ 2. ṛṣ on iv, 119 ‖ ṛṣati jñānena saṃsāra-pāram ‖ perhaps fr. an obsolete √ ṛṣ for √ dṛś , 'to See ?' cf. ṛṣi-kṛt ), a singer of sacred hymns, an inspired poet or sage, any person who alone or with others invokes the deities in rhythmical speech or song of a sacred character ( e. g. the ancient hymn-singers Kutsa, Atri, Rebha, Agastya, Kuśika, Vasishṭha, Vy-aśva ) &c. ‖ the Ṛshis were regarded by later generations as patriarchal sages or saints, occupying the same position in India history as the heroes and patriarchs of other countries, and constitute a p