Rajarishi () is a title in

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...

and

Hindu mythology Hindu mythology is the body of myths and literature attributed to, and espoused by, the adherents of the Hindu religion, found in Hindu texts such as the Vedic literature, epics like ''Mahabharata'' and ''Ramayana'', the Puranas, and ...

, referring to a sage who hails from a royal background.

Description

A rajarishi may be described to be a king (raja) who adopted a path of devotion, thereby becoming a royal sage (rishi). A rajarishi does not have to leave the kingship to become rishi'','' as in the example of

Vishvamitra Vishvamitra ( sa, विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Man ...

(who later becomes a ''

Brahmarishi In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi (Sanskrit ', a tatpurusha compound of ' and ') is a member of the highest class of Rishis ("seers" or "sages"). A Brahmarshi is a sage who has attained enlightenment ( Kaivalya or Moksha) and became a Jivanmukta by compl ...

''), but could attain the status of a sage through self-realisation during his reign. A rajarishi still performs the duties of their

kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the co ...

class, and remain similar to most

rishis ''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 ...

, maharishis, and

brahmarishi In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi (Sanskrit ', a tatpurusha compound of ' and ') is a member of the highest class of Rishis ("seers" or "sages"). A Brahmarshi is a sage who has attained enlightenment ( Kaivalya or Moksha) and became a Jivanmukta by compl ...

s descendants in their level of spiritual knowledge. Another example of Rajarshi is King

Janaka Janaka is a character who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana. He is an ancient Hindu king of Videha, which was located in the Mithila region. His name at birth was Sīradhvaja, and he had a brother named Kushadhvaja. His father's name was Hra ...

, who is said to have attained self-Knowledge from the ascetic sage Astavakra. They belong to the four types of rishis mentioned in Hinduism and Vedas. # Rajarshi #

Maharishi 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, ...

Brahmarshi In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi (Sanskrit ', a tatpurusha compound of ' and ') is a member of the highest class of Rishis ("seers" or "sages"). A Brahmarshi is a sage who has attained enlightenment ( Kaivalya or Moksha) and became a Jivanmukta by com ...

# Devarishi

Literature

In Vedas and Holy scriptures of Hindusim, the name and Rajarshi has its own meaning and it's widely being applied for few ancient historical Hindu Legends who always and still now stood as examples of sacrifices for achieving a greater cause for the humanity and the prevalent societies. There are the mention of namely two Rajarshi in

Vedic upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...

History. * Rajarshi Mudgal * Rajarshi

Vishwamitra Vishvamitra ( sa, विश्वामित्र, ) is one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. According to Hindu tradition, he is stated to have written most of the Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Ma ...

Rajarshi Mudgal wrote 1

Upnishad The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

out of 108 Upnishads named Mudgalupnishad. Mudgalupnishad is unique amongst

upanishads The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

, as it mainly contains information and praise concerning

Lord Ganesha Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu ...

, and how to pray and perform

Yajna Yajna ( sa, यज्ञ, yajña, translit-std=IAST, sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering) refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras.SG Nigal (1986), Axiological Approach to the Vedas, Northern Boo ...

and Puja of Lord Ganpati. The great sage strongly believed in simple living high thinking and had a high level patience amongst other Rishis. That's why still today the persons belonged to Mudgal

Gotra In Hindu culture, the term gotra (Sanskrit: गोत्र) is considered to be equivalent to lineage. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor or patriline. Generally, the gotra ...

are considered highly ethical and had infinite patience in compare to average. Rajarshi Mudgal has also been cited for declaring to his wife that in her next birth she would have Five Husbands. And due to his words, his wife was born as

Draupadi Draupadi ( sa, द्रौपदी, draupadī, Daughter of Drupada), also referred to as Krishnaa, Panchali, and Yagyaseni, is the main female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata,'' and the common consort of the five Pandava brothe ...

, the daughter of King

Drupada Drupada (Sanskrit: द्रुपद, lit. ''firm-footed'' or ''pillar''), also known as Yajnasena (Sanskrit: यज्ञसेन, lit. ''he whose army is sacrificial''), is a character in the Mahābhārata. The son of King Prishata, he was ...

in her next birth. The great sage Vishvamitra was also called Rajarshi who later went on to become Brahmarshi. Another famous figure named Rajarshi in somehow present era was Purusottam Das Tandon. He was the one who is regarded as the person to make Hindi the ''Official Language'' of Independent India. He was awarded

Bharat Ratna The Bharat Ratna (; ''Jewel of India'') is the highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest orde ...

(India's Highest Civilian Award) in year 1961. Also Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur(26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) is known as Rajarshi Shahu. During his rule in Kolhapur State from 1894 till death in 1922, he worked for lower caste, education to all, social reforms, reservation, agriculture reforms & much more.

Description

Literature

References

See also