Saptarishis are the seven ancient Vedic sages in Hinduism, who served as the custodians of all Vedic, spiritual and scientific knowledge. The seven great sages are Kashyapa, Atri, Bhardwaja, Gautama, Jamadagni, Vashishtha, and Vishvamitra.
Known to be the seven pillars of Vedic knowledge, the contributions of saptarishis in Upanishads, Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Purnas and other Vedic samhitas have preserved the Vedic knowledge and guided the path of dharma. Also, the origin of every gotra is associated with the seven great sages.
Kashyap Rishi was the son of ten Manasputras of Lord Brahma, who is named Arishtanemi in the Ramayana. He is married to the eight daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Kashyapa Samhitai, an ancient text based on gynaecology, ayurveda and paediatrics, is credited to Kashyapa Rishi.
Rishi Atri is said to be the manasputra, the one born from the mind of Brahma. In the Ramayana, Rishi Attri and his wife, Mata Anusuya, gave clothes, jewellery, and a garland that would never fade to Maa Sita, the wife of Lord Rama. Atri Rishi has composed hymns in the Rig Veda.
Bharadvaja Rishi was the father of Dronacharya, the Guru of Pandavas in the Mahabharata, and the grandfather of Ashwathamma. He is known to be a great economist, scholar, and author. The ashram of Bharadwaj Rishi is located in the Prayagraj district of U.P.
Maharishi Gautama was the son of sage Dirghatamas and is mentioned in the Yajurveda and Ramayana. He is also referred to as Mantra-drashta, or seer of mantras. He cursed his wife Ahlaya after knowing about Indra’s sexual encounter with her. She would remain like a stone (shila) until Lord Rama touches the stone.
Jamadagni is another of the seven great sages, the one who is the descendant of sage Bhrigu and the father of Parshurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Jamadagni had five children with his wife, Renuka.
Sage Vashishtha is credited as the author of Mandala 7 of the Rigveda and was the family priest of Ikshvaku king's clan. One of the greatest & oldest spiritual leaders in Vedic tradition, Vashishtha was the guru of Lord Rama and Lakshmana in the Ramayana. He even had a rivalry with King Vishvamitra.
Vishvamitra, one of the greatest sages in Hinduism, composed Mandala 3 of Rig Veda and the Gayatri Mantra. He played a significant role in the Ramayana by educating Lord Rama and Lakshman in weaponry, archery, and knowledge. Also, he took Lord Rama and Lakshman to Mithila for Sita’s Swayamvara, where Lord Rama married Sita.