SAPTARSHIS

‘How could Sage Vasishtha attribute such an action to him? He lost control of his senses and, in turn, took water in his palm. Madayanti, who was watching in horror, approached him in one swift movement and held his hand. When Mitrasaha turned his face towards her, she shook her head. ‘No, my Lord! What is it you are doing? Sage Vasishtha is our kulaguru.’ Mitrasaha felt ashamed and sprinkled the water on his own feet. At once, his feet became spotted with black marks, and having changed into a demon, he left the palace.’ How did Gotama win the hand of Ahalya? What is the relation of Kasyapa and Kashmir? How did Vitahavya, born a kshatriya, become a brahmin? Why did Parashurama become a warrior and Visvamitra a sage? How were the two related? Saptarshis answers all these questions. This racy narrative recounts the extraordinary lives of the seven sages—Vasishtha, Kasyapa, Atri, Visvamitra, Gotama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja—known as Saptarshis. These sages may have lived eons ago but their lives were no different from ours.