Concept
Vishvamitra
Overview
Vishvamitra (Sanskrit: विश्वामित्र, IAST: Viśvāmitra) is a legendary figure in Hindu mythology, and one of the most venerated rishis or sages of ancient India. Vishvamitra 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.
Before renouncing his kingdom and royal status, Brahmarishi Vishvamitra was a king, and thus he retained the title of Rajarshi, or 'royal sage'.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
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The ancient teachers define _avyaktam_ as the “equilibrium of the three forces,” one of which is called _Sattva_, the second _Rajas_ and the third _Tamas_. _Tamas_, the lowest force, is that of attraction, a little higher is _Rajas_, that of repulsion, and the highest is the control of these two, _Sattva_, so that when the two forces, attraction and repulsion, are held in perfect control, or balance, by the…
Swami Vivekananda, Jnâna Yoga, Part II
States what Vishvamitra is.
But by sacred things one must not understand simply those personal beings which are called gods or spirits; a rock, a tree, a spring, a pebble, a piece of wood, a house, in a word, anything can be sacred. A rite can have this character; in fact, the rite does not exist which does not have it to a certain degree.
Émile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life
States what Vishvamitra is.
Romulus's surname Quirinus, some say, is equivalent to Mars; others, that he was so called because the citizens were called Quirites; others, because the ancients called a dart or spear Quiris; thus, the statue of Juno resting on a spear is called Quiritis, and the dart in the Regia is addressed as Mars, and those that were distinguished in war were usually presented with a dart; that, therefore, Romulus, being a…
Plutarch, Plutarch
States what Vishvamitra is.
Philosophers who discussed Vishvamitra
Related ideas
- Avatar
- Outline of ancient India
- Manusmriti
- Hinduism
- Vishnu
- Rama
- Mahabharata
- Brahma
- Om
- Bhagavad Gita
- Medical doctor
- Brahmin
- Hindu reform movements
- Shiva
- Yajnavalkya
- Tamil language
- Vyasa
- Puranas
- Rigveda
- Telugu language
- Ramayana
- Indra
- Jamadagni
Place in the tradition
Part of Timeline of Eastern philosophers.