Rishi Bhardwaj is a noted scholar and creator of scriptures on medical science, language, and engineering. He is known as the pioneer of avionics and mechanics, including the Viman Shastra.
‘Sapta’ means seven, and ‘Rishi’ means a sage or seer in Sanskrit hence, Saptarishi literally means ‘seven seers’. Saptarishi are the Brahmarishi or scholars who wrote the scientific Indian scriptures such as Ved, Puran, and Upanishad. They created and updated them from time to time. The legends say, Brahma created a series of scholars as ‘Manas Putra’ to impart wisdom and education to human beings.
Sage Bhardwaj seated on antelope skin for meditation; Image Source: The British Museum
Bhardwaj is considered to be one of the iconic seven seers – Saptarishi. He belongs to the clan of Rishi Angiras and he is the son of Rishi Bruhaspati. He is the father of Guru Dronacharya and grandfather of Ashwatthama. His timeline is believed to be of the crossover of Treta Yug and Dwapar Yug. He was a disciple of Maharshi Gautam as well as Maharshi Valmiki. In Buddhist texts, there is documentation of Budhha’s discussions with Rishi Bhardwaj.
He was a great learner and a brilliant human being. Some of the most common girl names in India – ‘Sushila’ was Rishi Bhardwaj’s wife’s, and Mamta was his mother’s name. The second wife of Sage Yajnyavalkya – Katyayani was the daughter of Rishi Bhardwaj.
It is believed that Shri Ram and his younger brother Bharat visited his ashram while Ram was spending his initial years in exile. Rishi Bhardwaj has given immense contribution in creating Rugved and Ayurved.
Rishi Bhardwaj was a noted scholar of medical science, language, and engineering. He is known as the pioneer of avionics and mechanics. The Viman Shastra by Rishi Bhardwaj has 8 chapters and over 8000 Shloks pertaining to aircraft.
Charak Samhita mentions Rishi Bhardwaj as an inspiration for expertise in healthcare. People believe that Rishi Bhardwaj lived for several hundreds of years. There are stories that say that he was blessed with three lives.
Legends say that one of the greatest political strategists in the history of humanity – Chanakya has also derived some of his principles from Rishi Bhardwaj’s teachings. He also liberated a demon from the eternal suffering of a curse by Brahma.
Ram, Sita and Lakshman at the hermitage of Rishi Bhardwaj; Image Source: The Met Museum
Bhardwaj is also one of the most common Brahmin lineages in India – known as ‘Gotra’. Communities belonging to Bhardwaj gotra are believed to be ambitious and fierce people. Bhardwaj is probably the largest clan with more than 1400 branches.
There is a well-known entity connected to him – Bhardwaj Ashram in the Colonelganj, Prayagraj. Legends say that Rishi Bhardwaj had himself installed the Shivling of Bhardwajeshwar Mahadev here. Also, here are statues of some of the greatest scholars in Indian culture. The reforms of the Ghats and riverbank of Ganga have made this an attractive tourism destination.
Rishi Bhardwaj is believed to be the one who established the legend of Prayag. He is considered to be one of the earliest residents of Prayagraj. He had established several educational institutes and launched innovative curriculum to transform society.
A 12-ton heavy and 32 feet high statue of Rishi Bhardwaj was unveiled at Prayagraj by the hon’ble President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind, in 2019.
