Maharishi is a Sanskrit word, written as "महर्षि" in Devanagari (formed from the prefix mahā- meaning "great" and r̥ṣi - sage, poet or a singer of sacred hymns), indicating members of the highest order of ancient Indian sages, popularly known in India as "seers," i.e. those who engage in research to understand and experience (and therefore know) nature and its governing laws.

Description and usage

''Maharshi'' may also refer to "seers" or "sages" in India.Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2009) Retrieved November 9, 2011 The term became popular in English literature "sometime before 1890" and was first used in 1758.Websters Online Dictionary with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation
Retrieved November 2011 Alternate meanings describe ''Maharshi'' as a collective name that refers to the seven

rishi ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" or ...

s or saptarishis (including Maharishi Bhrigu) cited in the scriptures of

Rig Veda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts (''śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only one Sh ...

and the

Puranas Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...

, or any of the several mythological seers that are referenced in Vedic writings and associated with the seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major. The only ones who can adopt the title are those who achieve the highest state of awareness in the path of evolution and completely understand the working of parabramha. The Maharshis are capable of making others as saints and impart the knowledge of the working of the divine.

Ramana Maharshi Ramana Maharshi (; 30 December 1879 – 14 April 1950) was an Indian Hindu sage and ''jivanmukta'' (liberated being). He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He was born in Tiruchuli, Ta ...

(1879–1950) was an "Indian sage" with a philosophy about the path to self-knowledge and the integration of personality espoused in books by author Paul Brunton and Ramana's own writings such as the ''Collected Works'' (1969) and ''Forty Verses on Reality'' (1978).In Chambers Biographical Dictionary (2007) Retrieved November 2011

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (born Mahesh Prasad Varma, 12 January 1918

(1918–2008) was an Indian guru, known for developing the Transcendental Meditation technique and for his association with the Beatles. The title was also used by Valmiki,

Patanjali Patanjali ( sa, पतञ्जलि, Patañjali), also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, was a Hindu author, mystic and philosopher. Very little is known about him, and while no one knows exactly when he lived; from analysis of his works it i ...

and Dayananda Sarasvati.

References

{{Reflist Titles and occupations in Hinduism

Description and usage

See also

References