Rajarshi (Sanskrit: राजर्षि, romanized: Rājarṣi, lit. 'king-sage') is a title in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, referring to a sage who hails from a royal background.[1]
Description
editA rajarshi may be described to be a king (raja) who adopted a path of devotion, thereby becoming a royal sage (rishi). A rajarshi does not have to leave the kingship to become rishi, as in the example of Vishvamitra (who later becomes a Brahmarishi), but could attain the status of a sage through self-realisation during his reign. A rajarshi still performs the duties of their kshatriya class, and remain similar to most rishis, maharishis, and brahmarishis descendants in their level of spiritual knowledge.[2] Another example of Rajarshi is King Janaka, 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
- Brahmarshi
- Devarishi
Literature
editIn the Ramayana, Brahma proclaims Vishvamitra to be a rajarshi in response to the sage performing austerities for a thousand years.[3]
References
edit- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (19 October 2017). "Rajarishi, Rājaṛṣi, Rajarshi: 15 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Viśwamitra".
- ^ Debroy, Bibek (25 October 2017). The Valmiki Ramayana: Vol. 1. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 144. ISBN 978-93-87326-26-2.
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See also
edit- Hindu mythology
- Hinduism
- Rajarshi Janaka
- Ramayana